From the Office of the President March 2013

Dear Friends of Briercrest,

Briercrest College and Seminary, including Caronport High School, is a community of rigorous learning that calls students to seek the kingdom of God, to be shaped profoundly by the Scriptures, and to be formed spiritually and intellectually for lives of service.

This learning community is of tremendous worth. It has been for me in my life, in the life of my family, and in the lives of countless students over the decades. You just need to eat a meal in our dining hall and talk to four or five students and you will get a quick glimpse of the very good work that is going on in the lives and hearts of our students. This also holds true for our 23,000 alumni. Although they are scattered across the globe, they are bonded together by their experiences at Briercrest and are equipped to serve and represent the Church as Christian citizens who reflect character, competence and imagination.

Why?- Because the learning community at Briercrest gathers people with an interest in God. It stirs up conversations about who God is, who we are, and why we are here. It enlarges worlds - helping us appreciate the wonder and awe of creation and God's purpose. It focuses responsibility - helping us see ourselves as God's creation, His workmanship, and complete only in Him. It shows us the unfolding of God's plan, and our understanding of Him as shaped and developed by Scripture and the experience of the Church (those who have gone before us). Ultimately our Briercrest schools invite us to confront some of life's important questions such as: "What now?" "How do I serve?" and "What does preparation look like?"

I have been one of the benefactors of this education. Through college, through seminary, and through the invitation to stay and live in this space - my life has been profoundly changed. From the scholarships I received to study here in college, to the general donations that enabled this place to continue onward, to the capital gifts that have furnished offices I've occupied and provided facilities I have used -I personally owe you a deep debt of gratitude. Your willingness to stand by this place has been one of the significant reasons Briercrest is still here serving our high school, college and seminary students in a context and with a strength and resilience that defies human logic.

I want to thank you for standing with Briercrest and encouraging me as one of the presidents of this great Christian learning institution. It is with a genuine sense of delight, hopefulness and enthusiasm that I commend Dr. Michael Pawelke as our next president and ask that you show him the respect and support that you have so graciously shown me. It speaks volumes of Michael that his personal vision states:"My calling is to love, lead, feed and seed; and to love people and empower an ever increasing number to realize their highest potential as disciples for Jesus Christ."

We have a great future ahead of us at Briercrest. The Lord has opened doors of opportunity to expand our degree offerings even as we affirm again that our core curriculum and commitment to ministry preparation continues. Briercrest is committed to be a place that urges people to seek the kingdom of God, to be profoundly shaped by scripture, to be formed intellectually and spiritually for lives of service.

Our great needs moving forward are to boldly proclaim this mission and our unique place in Canada; to identify students who want this mission; and to gather our constituency of support to anchor our future. These are great days. We have remarkable students with great promise for the future.

We have so much to celebrate!

Over 1400 young people filled our campus at Youth Quake's 50^th celebration last month.

Briercrest was listed in Macleans's magazineas Saskatchewan's top overall academic institution for the level of academic challenge, student-faculty interaction, enriching educational experience and supportive campus environment.

Our music students have had the honour of performing at Carnegie Hall and with the Regina Symphony Orchestra.

The Briercrest Clippers have three college teams in playoffs, including men's basketball which was ranked #1 in the nation, while the Cougars of Caronport High School continue to be perennial powerhouses in all of their team sports.

In addition to drawing remarkable students to join us each year, Briercrest is truly, truly blessed to have the calibre of esteemed faculty and loyal, dedicated staff to serve. Together, we form a community committed to learning and serving.

Briercrest is building for a strong future. We are aware of our changing times and conscious of the challenges facing the church, our society and the world. We are convinced that the best way forward is by the transforming of our minds - to know and appreciate God's purpose in this world and God's call on our life. We want to offer students a chance to understand God's Word and His world, so that they might work building on what has been given to us by previous generations.

So at this great moment in the history of Briercrest I ask you to stay with our mission and continue to offer your support, with your head, heart and resources, as we courageously step into the future.

Yours faithfully,

Dwayne Uglem, Ed.D

President