For those of you who may not know me, my name is Adam Wright, and I serve as the acting principal of the College of Emmanuel & St. Chad in Saskatoon. I have had the privilege of working at the college for nearly 10 years as the professor of New Testament, and I am excited to explore the possibilities of this next chapter of service as acting principal.
As we look ahead to the approaching 150th anniversary of preparing Christian leaders on the Prairies, I am pleased to share a few developments and to thank you for your continued support for this important work.
The first development I would like to highlight is a series of courses that we have developed at the intersection of theology and health care. This past autumn, we launched A Theology and Ethic of Healthcare, taught by Erika Mills, a member of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Fifteen students joined us on three different Saturday mornings to talk about the theological implications of our approach to spiritual care within the health-care system, the effects of trauma and ministering to that trauma, as well as MAiD, among other topics.
It was a wonderful time of sharing, and I, for one, learned a great deal from Erika and from the students. It gave me many things to think about and I continue to carry these conversations into my own ministry.
Building on that strong beginning, I am pleased to share the next course in this series, entitled Addictions Ministry, taught by Dr. Andrew Yang, also of the Saskatchewan Health Authority.
Dr. Yang brings extensive experience in addiction treatment and a deep understanding of the psychology of addiction, ministering to those who are affected by addiction, and current treatment protocols. This course marks an incredible opportunity to learn and ask questions about the nature of addiction as well as how we can speak to the increasing number of drug-related deaths that affect so many of our communities.
If you, or someone you know, would like to learn how to think about, and minister to, addictions, please let us know, and we would be very glad to welcome you.
Finally, I would like to share how you can help us continue this work. We cannot offer high-quality courses that educate and prepare Christian leaders without the support of the wider Church. There are two meaningful ways to be involved.
The first way is by taking a course with us. We are currently offering bursaries to Anglican students, which makes each course in this series available for $250. These courses are a great opportunity to come together and learn while we continue to build community. So, you can learn a lot, make new friends, and use the knowledge in your ministries! Is there a downside to such a thing? To enrol, please visit https://emmanuelstchad.ca/addictions-ministry.
The second way to support this work is through a financial partnership. To offer these important courses, there is a cost, and we rely on your giving to help us continue our work. If you would like to partner with us in the form of a financial gift, please visit https://emmanuelstchad.ca/donate.
Once again, I wish to thank you for your continued support, and I would also like to express my personal gratitude for the many letters of support that I have received. I invite you to join us as we carry forward the long tradition of theological education on the Prairies!
May God continue to bless you and comfort you. May you continually be reminded of His steadfast love and compassion for us, and may you reflect that love and compassion towards others.
