B ULLETIN THE OPEN BIBLE
A Powerful Saviour
By Matthew Little, President
ENCOUNTER 2026
Three Dates!
February 20-22, 2026
March 20-22, 2026
March 27-29, 2026
Someone has aptly said, “The achievements of the Saviour through His incarnation are so astounding and so numerous that anyone wishing to describe them in detail would be like one who gazes at the expanse of the sea and attempts to count its waves.”
standing,” “counsel,” and the “spirit of knowledge.” The birth of Jesus Christ ushered in a flood of answers to our most desperate questions.
most astonishing miracle is that God would extend this incredible grace to people like you and me. Embrace it, and let that truth fuel your love for your Saviour this Christmas season!
1st Semester Highlights
Isaiah 11:1 says, “And there shall come forth a rod out of the stem of Jesse, and a Branch shall grow out of his roots.” God makes an awe-inspiring promise through the prophet Isaiah, declaring that a “rod” or “branch” will emerge from the house of Jesse. This “rod” symbolizes a “twig” or “sprig,” representing something small, tender, and easily overlooked. Yet within its unassuming form lies profound strength. Isaiah 10:33 refers to God’s enemies as “boughs,” signifying the dominant branches of a tree. How amazing it is that this fragile “twig” would triumph over the towering “boughs.” God chose to use a newborn in a manger— the very Son of God—to dismantle the destructive systems of our world that are steered by evil.
Secondly, He administers justice with absolute accuracy and impartiality. He will judge the wrongdoers and reward those who feel their righteousness has been overlooked. His judgment transcends the surface, discerning the hidden intentions of the heart. Isaiah 11:5 proclaims, “And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.” No one can deceive Him, distract Him, or dissuade Him from His righteous course. The arrival of Jesus Christ heralded the promise of justice and equity that our world so desperately needs.
The Scriptures herald the moment when God will establish His millennial reign, and Isaiah reveals three powerful qualifications of Jesus, our Saviour. First of all, He possesses the answers that mankind has long sought but never found. Political leaders may gather to tackle society’s greatest challenges, yet they remain divided and lost. In stark contrast, Jesus, from the moment of His birth, carried all the answers humanity craves. Why? Because He is the answer. He does not merely point us toward the truth; He embodies it. He is endowed with “wisdom,” “under-
Thirdly, He will bring the peace and rest that the world craves. Isaiah 11:10 declares, “And in that day shall be a root of Jesse, which shall stand for an ensign of the people; to it shall the Gentiles seek: and his rest shall be glorious.” The gospel cries out to men and women everywhere, beckoning them to embrace the glorious rest Jesus offers—a gift of immense value. No wonder Jesus, during His earthly ministry, invited the weary to come to Him for rest (Matt. 11:28-30). His birth bestowed upon us a divine rest that only God Himself could provide.
Believer, regardless of the unanswered questions in your life, the justice that feels elusive, or the restlessness that weighs on your heart, remember this: Jesus came into this world, born of a virgin, destined for a brutal cross of sacrifice, so that you might discover everything you need in Him. The
Custom or Culture
By Gary Long, Part-time Faculty
~From a Children’s Ministry Perspective
practices within that culture.” Is the activity a part of our culture? The answer lies in the purpose of the activity.
to teach them about Who God is and what He has done. It is also our responsibility to make a connection between our customs and our beliefs to the upcoming generations.
One activity that our family has enjoyed together at Christmas since our children were of schoolage is to come up with a Scripturally-based question centered around the Christmas Narrative, with the goal of stumping everyone else. The questions have certainly become deeper and more obscure over the decades. When reminded to come up with a question, sometimes individuals grumbled, but now we have a second generation joining in. It has become one of our family’s Christmas customs, but we also want it to be a part of our culture.
January 2026
The AI-enhanced definition for culture versus custom is “Culture is the broad ‘way of life’ of a group, encompassing beliefs, values, and creative works, while customs are specific, repeated behaviours or
In Deuteronomy 6 and Exodus 12, the adults of Israel were given guidelines that could have been seen as an annual custom but were meant to be a part of their culture. They were instructed to talk about the Word of God to their children. “Repeat them again and again to your children. Talk about them when you are at home and when you are on the road, when you are going to bed and when you are getting up.” (Deuteronomy 6:7 NLT) “And in the future, your children will ask you, ‘What does all this mean?’ Then you will tell them…” (Exodus 13:14a NLT)
God was also telling those adults, “When children ask you ‘tiresome’
College For A Day
This FREE event is for Grades 10 and up. Come sit in on classes and tour our campus!
January 30 - 31, 2026
Speaker: Deric Bartlett
Family File Births
To Andrew (BTh ‘23) & Lydia (Boyd, BRE ‘20) Brillinger, a boy, Montgomery Andrew & a girl, Louisa Mae (born sleeping), on September 7, 2025.
Alicia Trites (Assoc. Dip. ’25) and Caleb Smith (Assoc. Dip. ’24) on October 4, 2025 in
John Boyd (’66) on October 10, 2025 in Saint John, NB. John’s life reflected his deep faith, love for family, and dedication to others. With his wife, Lillian, he served faithfully in ministry for over 50 years. For 35 years, he taught Pastoral Theology, Personal Evangelism, and Discipleship at NBBI and served on its Board of Directors. He is lovingly remembered by his children James (Karen) of Rothesay, NB; Nathan (Catherine) of Wilton, NH; and Jennifer (Michael) Shaw of White Head, NB, as well as 11 grandchildren: Kyle, Rebecca (Caleb), Kailey, Cody (Becca), Caleb, Rachael (Liam), Jeremy, Abigale, Janie-Lynn, Isaac (Emma), and Allison (Jarren).
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Lorna (Steeves ’87/BRE ’24) Ralston, on October 13, 2025 in Saint John, NB. Lorna was predeceased by her husband, Michael, with whom she served 18 years as a missionary in Italy through Child Evangelism Fellowship and Bible Centered Ministries. After returning to Canada, she continued ministry at Valley Christian Academy in Quispamsis, NB, as an early childhood educator, then administrator and vice principal, where her leadership and warmth impacted many. Lorna will be remembered for her adventurous spirit, humour, and steadfast faith—a life marked by perseverance, grace, and joy.
Somerville, NB.
To Joanna (Frost, BTh ’20) and Calvin Austin, a boy, Reid Thayne, on October 4, 2025.
Rebeccah Allen (BTh ’18) and Braidon Sheldrick, on October 11, 2025 in Hantsport, NS at Horton Bluff Lighthouse.
To Caleb (’16 BTh) & Rebecca (Boyd, ’19 BTh) Wentzell, a boy, Wesley John, on October 17, 2025 in Nashua, NH.
Andrew Hess (BTh ’25) and Amanda Komulainen (’23) on October 17, 2025 in South Paris, ME.