Finding a Voice
Wednesday, February 08, 2006
Dr. Henry Hildebrand goes home ...
This year I am writing a thesis to finish a degree at Briercrest Seminary: Oral Histories of Women from the Early Days of Briercrest Bible Insitute. In November 2004 in Abbotsford, BC, in addition to several women I also had the privilege of interviewing Dr. Henry Hildebrand. He was 92 at the time. This makes the news below especially poignant for me. The write-up is a combination of two announcements made to students at Briercrest College & Seminary and Caronport High School.
Yesterday (February 7, 2006) Dr. Henry Hildebrand, first principal of Briercrest Family of Schools, passed away in Abbotsford, BC.
Born in 1911, Henry Hildebrand migrated from Russia to Canada with his family in 1925. In 1935 he accepted an invitation to come to the small town of Briercrest, Saskatchewan, to lead the newly formed Briercrest Bible Institute. Dr. Hildebrand served as principal and president of the schools until 1977. On October 24, 1979, he was given membership in the Order of Canada for his leadership in Christian education and his impact upon Canadian youth and society.
Dr. Hildebrand cared for our faculty, staff, community, and students. He was known for knowing us. Over the years, many of us were amazed as he would ask about each of our children or our spouse by name. He could do this because he prayed through the Caronport phone directory daily. Dr. Hildebrand was a man for God’s people.
Dr. Hildebrand had a passion to honour and share God’s Word; hence the motto of our institution: The Word of Our God Shall Stand Forever. Long after Dr. Hildebrand has been gone, long after we are gone, others will continue the work he was instrumental in initiating, the work of spreading the Word of God through Briercrest.
Dr. Hildebrand was committed to Briercrest. He offered up his life to see a dream break into reality. He laboured diligently to extend the vision of these schools far and wide. As his passing reminds us, now that vision is ours to extend.
Dr. Hildebrand was also a man who modelled the life of Christ in his private life as well as his public life. He was a man of seemingly unbroken consistency. To this his children will testify. Now through his death, he has joined precious family members, including his beloved wife, Inger.
A model of faithfulness has been set before us, a pattern for our steps. Let us honour Dr. Hildebrand’s memory by following Christ as he did.
A funeral service will be held in Caronport sometime next week. Students will be requested to form an honour guard from the Hildebrand Chapel to the cemetery.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
Yesterday (February 7, 2006) Dr. Henry Hildebrand, first principal of Briercrest Family of Schools, passed away in Abbotsford, BC.
Born in 1911, Henry Hildebrand migrated from Russia to Canada with his family in 1925. In 1935 he accepted an invitation to come to the small town of Briercrest, Saskatchewan, to lead the newly formed Briercrest Bible Institute. Dr. Hildebrand served as principal and president of the schools until 1977. On October 24, 1979, he was given membership in the Order of Canada for his leadership in Christian education and his impact upon Canadian youth and society.
Dr. Hildebrand cared for our faculty, staff, community, and students. He was known for knowing us. Over the years, many of us were amazed as he would ask about each of our children or our spouse by name. He could do this because he prayed through the Caronport phone directory daily. Dr. Hildebrand was a man for God’s people.
Dr. Hildebrand had a passion to honour and share God’s Word; hence the motto of our institution: The Word of Our God Shall Stand Forever. Long after Dr. Hildebrand has been gone, long after we are gone, others will continue the work he was instrumental in initiating, the work of spreading the Word of God through Briercrest.
Dr. Hildebrand was committed to Briercrest. He offered up his life to see a dream break into reality. He laboured diligently to extend the vision of these schools far and wide. As his passing reminds us, now that vision is ours to extend.
Dr. Hildebrand was also a man who modelled the life of Christ in his private life as well as his public life. He was a man of seemingly unbroken consistency. To this his children will testify. Now through his death, he has joined precious family members, including his beloved wife, Inger.
A model of faithfulness has been set before us, a pattern for our steps. Let us honour Dr. Hildebrand’s memory by following Christ as he did.
A funeral service will be held in Caronport sometime next week. Students will be requested to form an honour guard from the Hildebrand Chapel to the cemetery.
I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith. Now there is in store for me the crown of righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, will award to me on that day—and not only to me, but also to all who have longed for his appearing. (2 Timothy 4:7-8)
posted by Colleen McCubbin at 2:50 PM
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