Communiqué Farel | CF-3.1 E (March 2024)
March 2024
In response to your prayers, Reformed teaching and training continues in the province of Quebec!
Effective Learning Online
Like it or not, theological instruction in Quebec often takes place online. Besides the convenience of studying from the comfort of one's own home, the students of our partner seminary (FTE) are spread throughout the province of Quebec and the French-speaking world. Furthermore, most of the students study part-time, taking one course every semester to grow in faith and to better serve the churches. We need therefore to teach better online.
The FTE leadership asked me to lead two workshops for the professors about teaching and learning online. Thanks to my doctoral studies in virtual teaching and my growing experience, I was able to help the teachers understand the three interactive axes of effective learning: student -- content; student -- student; student -- teacher. I also shared several, simple best practice tips to be used in their courses. Pray for our professorial team. We want to offer the best learning experience possible.
Please be assured, the FTE and Farel have not abandoned in-person teaching. This summer, the FTE will begin renting new facilities better situated in Montreal. The goal is to create a learning community for the professors and the students.
Reformed Worship
This summer I will teach on Reformed and Presbyterian worship. The course is particularly designed for men who will preparer and lead a worship service that glorifies God and brings joy to his people. However, I also hope to receive other students desiring to explore the Reformed liturgy and its biblical and pastoral foundations.
Thanks to financial gifts, Farel has recently translated and published In The Splendor Of Holiness: Rediscovering the Beauty of Reformed Worship. This will be the principal text for the class.
Since this is a class on practical theology, I will experiment with hybrid or blended learning. One third of the classes will be taught online. The rest will be offered in-person for three weekends. Besides enabling a better exchange with the students, we'll be able to stay over on Sunday and attend worship at the local Reformed Church.
Student Associated with Farel: Georges-Émile
Born into a Christian family, I grew up under the watchful eye of devout parents who instilled in me a faith in God and the Scriptures. Quite early on, from my earliest memories at the age of 3, I was gripped by a fear of God, an acute awareness of my sinfulness, and my need to receive forgiveness through Jesus Christ.
In churches where many children growing up in Christian families abandon the faith, God granted me to persevere. My father, who was also my pastor, ensured the primacy of faith at home. Our faith was not compartmentalized, but radically integrated into our whole life.
In my early twenties, the Lord granted me Stéphanie Lemay's hand in marriage. He gave us 6 children, all boys, to whom we in turn pass on the heritage of faith.
Faced with the immense needs of the churches in Quebec, the call to ministry became ever more pressing in my heart. In God's providence, St-Paul's Reformed Church in Repentigny offered me a pastoral internship to serve the church there. Against this backdrop, I resumed my studies at Farel to complete my theological training for the pastorate.
- Georges-Émile Durand
Pray that the Lord of the harvest would raise up even more workers for his harvest in Quebec!
Bernard Westerveld, MTh, DThP (candidate)
Director, professor
Ps. With thanksgiving, I can report that 2023 ended with a $16,800 deficit, instead of the projected $41,000. For 2024, the board has adopted a budget with a projected $13,700 deficit. Thank you for your contribution to the development of the Farel mission.