Caronport, Saskatchewan – April 19, 2010 – Rev. A.F. Bud Penner and Paul Brandt, a Canadian country music artist, will both receive a Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa, from Briercrest College and Seminary April 24.

Dr. Dwayne Uglem, Briercrest College and Seminary’s president, will confer the degrees at the institution’s graduation ceremonies.

“Both of these men exemplify what it means to live lives of service,” Uglem said.“The board wants to commend both of these individuals as examples of how God uses people and as two individuals who embody our mission.”

Bud Penner: Bud Penner has given his life to the service of the church as a pastor, as president of the Associated Gospel Churches of Canada, and now with Partners International. He served on the Briercrest Advisory Council from 1980 to 1990. “He is such a clear testament of having lived his life as a servant of the church,” Uglem said.

As an alumnus of Caronport High School, Penner credits the influence of his roommate and the exemplary lives of the staff and faculty at Briercrest with helping him begin his Christian walk.

“The school both helped me make a radical life change and directed me into a life of dedicated service,” he said.

Paul Brandt: Paul Brandt has lived his faith on the public stage as a brilliant musician with a heart to point people to Jesus and as an eager participant in the building of the Kingdom.

“Our objective is to honour him as someone who lives out our mission on a daily basis,” Uglem said.

Brandt, in addition to being the most awarded male artist in Canadian history, is a great ambassador for the Christian faith. His faith is recognized by people throughout the music industry, and he was recognized by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences when they presented him the Allan Waters Humanitarian Award at the 2008 Juno Awards.

Briercrest College and Seminary honours at least one individual each year with an honorary doctorate degree.

Briercrest College and Seminary’s mission statement is as follows:

“Briercrest College and Seminary 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.”

For more information, contact
Rob Schellenberg
Director of Communications
510 College Dr.
Caronport, SK S0H 0S0
rschellenberg@briercrest.ca
(306) 756-3448 or (306) 690-6908