President's Pen - Spring 2025

Learning to Lead Like Jesus

At Northwest College and Seminary, we stand at a significant turning point in our history. With the difficult but necessary decision to close ACTS in May 2026, we face both challenges and opportunities as we chart our course forward. During this pivotal moment, we are committed to leading into the future with clarity of vision, strategic planning, financial sustainability, and a renewed dedication to serving our stakeholders—especially Fellowship Pacific.

To ensure our path forward truly reflects the needs of our community, we embarked on a comprehensive discernment process that included surveys to our churches, pastors, students, and alumni, as well as consultations with key stakeholders. Through this collaboration, a compelling new vision emerged: "Learning to Lead Like Jesus."

This vision serves as our North Star, guiding every program we develop, every student we mentor, and every resource we steward. "Learning" reminds us that we are all disciples first—faculty, pastors, and students alike—continually growing in our understanding of Christ-centered leadership. "To Lead" speaks to our commitment to form leaders for the next generation of the church—a mission that has never been more critical. Recent research reveals that in Canada we need "625 new pastors per year over the next 12 years just to deal with retirement attrition."[1]

"Like Jesus" establishes Jesus as our standard for all that we seek to do. “Like Jesus” speaks to the way He led with servant-hearted humility and encompasses how He related to people with compassion and truth. It calls us to model His character of integrity and love, His intimate personal walk with the Father, and the way He reached out to others—especially the marginalized. Jesus embodies the leadership model we aspire to in every dimension.

The ancient practice of apprenticeship finds its expression in our Competency Based Theological Education (CBTE) model, with students training in local ministry settings guided by three mentors who walk alongside them. Our community welcomes men and women from all walks of life united in their pursuit of Christ-like leadership who can navigate complexity while remaining rooted in character.

To bring this vision to life, we need the support of churches and individuals who share our commitment. Will you partner with us as we equip leaders for the future church? Your investment will directly impact the formation of leaders who integrate theological knowledge with practical ministry skills, producing graduates who reflect Jesus in both their inner life and outer ministry. We cannot do this work without your support but together, I am confident that we can not only resource the 625 pastors needed in the next 12 years but grow the Church in Canada and beyond to reach more people with the gospel. The future of the church depends on leaders who are learning to lead like Jesus.

[1] https://digital.faithtoday.ca/faithtoday/05062024/MobilePagedArticle.action?articleId=1972547#articleId1972547