As a student at Trinity Western University back in the 80s, I became heavily involved in student leadership. During one of my trips home to visit family in Caronport, Saskatchewan, I had a conversation with Dr. Henry Hildebrand, the founder of Briercrest. I told him how I felt overwhelmed because I was such a young leader. I wasn’t sure how I could manage all of my responsibilities. With the utmost humility and a twinkle in his eye, Dr. Hildebrand said, “Ah, don’t worry, Randy. By the time I was your age, I had started a Bible College.” It was just what I needed to hear. If God wanted me to do something, He would provide the resources to do it. Sometimes, one sentence can shape us in remarkable ways.
"We are, however, anxious to obey God rather than men. If He continues to lead us in this direction, we will follow, regardless of man's opinion. We fully realize that under the economic conditions prevailing here it will require a great deal of faith to proceed. We have had six crop failures. Ninety percent of the people are on relief. We are, however, blessed with some dozens of praying Christians who are endowed with enough faith to move mountains" (a quote from Dr. Hildebrand as he contemplated starting Briercrest - http://www.briercrest.ca/college/about-briercrest/history).
Several years ago, one of my students used a quote from Hugh Hewitt’s book, In, But Not Of, to express her personal calling. “Given this perspective, that each soul is immortal, changing the trajectory of a soul’s path is a matter of infinite consequences” (Hewitt, 2012, p. 19). She went on to say that “walking in wisdom, I desire to be a soul-nudger.”