535-03 Page 80The building in use for Faith Haven was once a nursing home, and contains safety features such as
emergency lighting and smoke detection systems, ideal for a resident school.
Faith Haven- aY unique ministry
BY KAREN MONCK
A Bible Training Centre that
is the only one of its kind in
- Ontario operates in Ingersoll._
Faith Haven is completely a
faith venture, says the
Reverend William Hickson,
founder and director of the
unique school.
The school, which opened in
September of last year, is
"financed by prayer and faith",
said Mr. Hickson, There are no
regular tuition fees, he said, but
the students are asked to pledge
$100 per term as an expression
of their faith. Other money
comes from outside sources.
In the first term of the
school's operation, about $25,000
had been donated by different
sources around the area.
Faith Haven is a non-
denominational school that
teaches the Bible. The students
there come from widely
diversified faiths.
The main emphasis is on the
individuaIIs spiritua
development coupled with th
academic to lead them into a
deeper devotional life, said Mr.
Hickson.
There are 14 resident students
at the school now, and one who
commutes from Embro. The
course at Faith Haven will train
them to be ministers,
evangelists and missionaries,
said Mr. Hickson, to prepare
those who feel they have a
calling to the ministry of God.
"The school came into being
in a miraculous way," said Mr.
Hickson.
He said he was supposed to
take a job at Pinecrest Bible
College in New York but "we
found a need, particularly
among young people here in
Canada, because they didn't
have the financial wherewithall
to go to Bible College in the
States, because they couldn't
get a work visa to work while
they went to school."
All teachers at Faith Haven
are ordained ministers, and
Mr. Hickson said a minister
comes in every Thursday
morning as well to teach, There
will be two more teachers
arriving for the fall term when
he expects enrolment to almost
double, he said.
One of the students coming in
the fall will be from British
Guiana, he said.
There will be two levels of
study next year because there
will be first and second year
students, he said.
Every term there are five or
six units of study, this term
being Minor Prophets, Romans
and Galatians, the Gnsnel of
John, Psaln
Christ, and
scripture is i
content, i
denomination
The course
after which
completes it
a diploma. Th
of advanced
1r'.ontinuec
Faith Haven
(Continued from page 10)
teacher -disciple relationship to
lead the individual into the
ministry in the Body of Christ.
The completion of the third year
is rot based on a set curriculum
or a period of time but on in-
dividual progress.
In spite of the diversity of
faith among the students, there
is a "wonderful unity among the
staff and the student body" said
Mr. Hickson.
"God is blessing us to find our
way to him and to each other,"
he said.
Because of the small
enrolment the school lends itself
to a family atmosphere, said
Mr. Hickson. He would like to
see about 30 or 40 students
eventually, but wouldn't like to
see enrolment exceed that
because of the limited space
available.
The purpose of the school is to
provide an atmosphere con-
ducive to worship, prayer, Bible
study and Christian fellowship;
to develop sensitive and mature
Christian leadership and
vision of God's purpose in th
Church and on earth today; to
(Continued on page 12)
TRAINING CENTRE
I .
i
Faith Haven Bible Training Centre, as the sign out front clearly
reads, is completely a faith venture that is financed by "prayer
and faith" says Reverend William Hickson.
Faith Haven
(Continued from page 11)
teach the five -fold ministry gifts
as being restored and revived in
the Body of Christ; to encourage
the development of a vital
relationship and walk with God
as the most important aspect of
a person Is life; and to impart a
vision for end -time revival,
restoration and visitation.
Faith Haven seeks to ac-
lighting and a smoke detection
system.
The group, both students and
staff, have been working on
renovations to the building since
the school opened. All the work
is done by the group, with some
outside donations of materials
and help.
As well as the course for full-
time students, there are two
Grouped together for a Gospel sing -along are some of the students at Faith Haven. Back row (L. to
R.) Steve Scott, Gerald Span, Lawrence Bernstein. Front (L. to R.) Debbie McMahon, Coleen
Konoby, Nora Cullen ( seated at piano) and Arlene Anderson.