“The weekend was a wonderful celebration of the good work that God has been doing in the lives of this year’s class,” says CBCE President Robert Auger. “It was so fun to celebrate with families and friends. There was also quite a contingent of alumni that came to bid farewell to CBCE this year.”
The weekend events included:
• Friday Evening – Windows Concert, a glimpse into life at CBC through the vehicle of ministry arts, including the Ensemble Choir pictured here.
• Saturday Morning – Baccalaureate. The worship service featured a student worship team and the message was delivered by the entire faculty.
• Saturday Evening – banquet. The evening featured music by Causa y Canta, an Ecuadorian folk group that includes Jorge Pilacuan, one of the national staff members; several student awards; and special greetings.
• Sunday Morning – worship in local churches.
• Sunday Afternoon – commencement. The speaker was Evangelical Covenant Church President Glenn Palmberg.
• Sunday Evening – Closing Circle, a final gathering for students and staff.
CBC announced earlier this year that its campuses in Ecuador and Strathmore, Alberta, would close May 31 due to financial difficulties. School officials were determined not to let that reality dampen the ceremonies.
“The closing of CBC was a small part of the focus of the weekend, so as not to take away from students’ own celebration of their year,” Auger says. The national and North American staff members as well as alumni were recognized at the banquet and Baccalaureate service.
Faculty members team-preached the Baccalaureate address from Ephesians 4, asking the question, “Will you live a life worthy of your calling?” The faculty focused on the ideas of being called, united, equipped and sent out to remind the students of many key ideas studied over the course of this year.
In his commencement address, Palmberg exhorted the students to live lives that have no regrets. He stressed the importance for students to let their personal relationship with Christ lead them to make a difference in the world, especially in fighting world poverty.
Relationships among the students’ families also were developed during the weekend, Auger says. “The atmosphere at the Ecuador campus is very family oriented, as most families do not rent cars and we often provide the transportation to events that provides some good bonding time for families. It is fun to see families emerge from the weekend with close bonds, similar to those of the students who have been together for these eight months.”
On Monday, many of the people engaged in one last CBCE tradition – traveling to local indigenous markets for a day of shopping. “This is a traditional after-commencement trip, which has been a favorite for years,” Auger says.
With the activities having finished, Auger recalls that “While a bittersweet time, we were definitely able to celebrate God’s goodness to this final graduating class of CBCE.”
