SUPPORTING YOUR STUDENT
Dear Parents and Guardians
A message from Columbia President Dr. Steve Brown
Dear Parents and Guardians,
As your student begins this new chapter at Columbia Bible College, I imagine you’re experiencing a swirl of emotions—joy, gratitude, maybe a bit of grief, and a touch of nervous anticipation. I’ve been there myself. When I moved each of my daughters into residence at Columbia, I felt all of those things and more. It’s a big moment—for them, and for you.
Let me offer a word of encouragement.
At Columbia, our heart is to come alongside your student as they lean into their faith, discover who they are in Christ, and begin to step into all that God has for them. We consider it a sacred trust to walk with them during these formative years—and we’re grateful to share this journey with you, too.
The core value we’ve selected as our theme this year is Pursuing the Truth with Humility. In light of that, our prayer is that every student who comes to CBC will grow in four key ways:
- Spiritual vibrancy grounded in the truth of God’s unchanging Word
- Christlike, resilient character shaped by challenge, grace, and growth
- Rootedness in community through meaningful relationships and shared life
- Equipping for service to make a difference wherever God leads them
We believe this season at CBC will lay a foundation for a lifetime of discipleship, ministry, and leadership.
As your student settles into campus life, one of the best ways you can support them is by encouraging their growing independence. This is their time to learn how to navigate new relationships and responsibilities, whether it’s asking for help, connecting with the right staff member, or managing practical matters like payments and scheduling. You can always point them in the right direction (you’ll find a list of key staff members on the back of this page) but encourage them to take the lead in reaching out.
And finally, we invite you to pray. Pray for your student as they grow and stretch in this new environment. Pray for our faculty and staff as we seek to serve faithfully. Pray for God’s continued provision, protection, and presence over our campus community.
Know that we are praying, too—for your student, and for you.
With eyes fixed on Jesus,
Dr. Steve A. Brown
President
“When I first came to CBC fresh out of high school, I was shocked that everything I was learning was directly applicable to my everyday life. Not only that, but my teachers were living examples of their lessons. This authenticity and practicality have profoundly changed how I experience and follow the living God every single day, from spiritual disciplines to relationships with my peers. CBC is great!”
—Michael F, QUEST
“I came into Columbia as someone who lacked conviction and didn’t even really know where I was headed in life- or why. At the same time, I desperately wanted to appear like I had it “all together”, so I often kept others at arms-length. The greatest growth I have experienced is in the fact that I now have a very solid sense of purpose, and I no longer live in a mindset of having to solve every problem by myself. This capacity to accept help and guidance has also allowed me to experience a greater sense of connection in my relationships, and to be more vulnerable. By God’s grace I was nudged out of my comfort zone and drawn into classes, roles, and relationships that allowed me to grow. Of course, I’ve had failures along the way, but there was always support to get back up and keep at it. It has truly reshaped how I see myself and others.”
—Donnel S, Psychology Program
Your Support Team
Our staff and faculty are here for you and your student every step of the way.
Student Development
Dean of Students
Adrian Warkentin oversees the Student Development Department and is responsible for the overall coordination and quality of Student Services which includes Athletics, Counselling, Chapels, and Residence and Commuter programming. Adrian also oversees student leadership. With a heart for mission and ministry, Adrian brings a pastoral presence to campus and is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support.
Associate Dean of Students
Shar Warkentin leads the Campus Life Team, provides primary oversight of student leadership and orientation programming, as well as Spiritual Formation on campus (including Chapel and Vespers), and gives additional leadership support across the Student Development department.
Women’s Residence Director
Donnel Schmidt oversees all the female students living on campus. She lives in Redekop Hall and is an alumna of Columbia. Donnel is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support and is also certified in first aid. Her focus is to provide leadership to the Resident Leaders and build relationships with the women on campus.
Men’s Residence Director
Ben Smith oversees all the male students living on campus. He lives in Redekop hall with his wife, Karah and his daughter Joanna, and is an alumnus of Columbia. Ben is a great resource for emotional and spiritual support and is also certified in first aid. His focus is to provide leadership to the Resident Leaders and build relationships with the men on campus.
Academics
Student Records & Accounts, Executive Assistant for Academics
Corina Penner helps with all academics related questions and will help students choose their courses for the second semester. She’s also your go-to person for student accounts. She makes sure that bills are accurate, up-to-date and sent out on time
Additional Support
Pray with Us
Sign up to receive prayer updates from CBC, and commit to praying with and for our students and community.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I get information about my student?
We can’t give out any information, so we recommend reaching out to your student directly to ask them to provide the information. Our student handbook helps guide them in the right direction.
When are tuition payments due?
Payment deadlines and other information is available on our website on the Payment Information page. Please contact Corina Penner for any questions about payment info!
Where can I find the bill for each semester?
Students can log into their myCBC SONIS portal to see billing and transaction history.
How can tuition be paid?
Tuition payment information is available on the Payment Information page. Please contact Corina Penner for any questions about payment info!
Where can we request a statement for a bank withdrawal?
The student can send Corina Penner an email or a message on Teams, and she’ll pass along a semester statement PDF, usually via email.
How can I send a letter or parcel to a student?
Every student in residence has their own mailbox for letters. Please ask your student about their mailbox number. Add the students full name and mailbox number on the envelope along with Columbia’s address: 2940 Clearbrook Road, Abbotsford BC, V2T 2Z8.
Packages and letters that are too big for the mailbox can be picked up at Reception.