Gareth Brandt

Freelance artist / itinerant speaker / independent scholar

www.garethbrandt.wordpress.com

YouTube Channel

garethbrandt61@gmail.com

EDUCATION

S.T.M. Pastoral Theology, University of Emmanuel College, Saskatoon, SK, 1997

Concentrations: spiritual formation, integration of psychology and spirituality, history of spirituality

Thesis: The Spirituality of Young Adulthood: A Faith Transition from Adolescence to Maturity

M.T.S. Theology, Tyndale Seminary, Toronto, ON, 1988

Concentrations: theology, church history

B.A. Psychology, Brandon University, Brandon, MB, 1985

Concentrations: developmental psychology, sociology

Diploma Biblical Studies, Steinbach Bible College, Steinbach, MB, 1982

EXPERIENCE

Professor of Spiritual Formation, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, BC, 2005-2022

Courses: Spiritual Formation & Discernment, Spiritual Formation & Discipleship, Anabaptist History & Thought, Psalms, Peace & Justice Issues, Church & Culture

Director of Youth Work, Columbia Bible College, Abbotsford, BC, 2000-2005

Courses: Faith Formation & Spirituality, Spiritual Formation & Discipleship, Introduction to Youth Work, Vocational Youth Work, Christianity and Contemporary Thought, Jeremiah, Introduction to Biblical Studies

Responsibilities: departmental administration, conference planning, community relations, youth work committee

Adjunct lecturer, Associated Mennonite Biblical Seminary, Elkhart, IN, 2000-2002

Course: Spiritual Formation of Youth & Young Adults

Conference Youth Minister, Alberta & Northwest Mennonite Conferences, Calgary, AB, 1996-2000

Responsibilities: training youth workers, preaching and teaching, resource management, planning and directing conference youth events, pastoral support for youth workers, leadership development, networking with national and international youth ministry leaders and structures

 Dean of Students, Swift Current Bible Institute, Swift Current, SK, 1994-1996

Responsibilities: supervision of residential life, counseling, developing student leadership

Courses: Current Events, Spiritual Disciplines, Community Life, Mark

Adjunct Lecturer, Providence College, Otterburne, MB, 1992-1994

Course: Adolescent Development

Youth Pastor, Braeside Evangelical Mennonite Church, Winnipeg, MB, 1988-1994

Responsibilities: direction and administration of youth programming from junior high to young adult, teaching and preaching, leadership recruitment and development, visitation, pastoral counseling, worship leading, denominational and Mennonite World Conference planning committees

Youth Pastor, Mount Salem Evangelical Mennonite Church, Aylmer, ON, 1986-1988

Responsibilities: direction and administration of youth programming, teaching and preaching, visitation, pastoral counseling

Youth Care Worker, Westman Child and Family Services, Brandon, MB, 1985-1986

Responsibilities: supervision of youth in a residential facility

PUBLICATIONS

 “Roots of Belonging” and other daily devotional writings in REJOICE! Magazine, MennoMedia, 2008 – 2022.

 “How Experiencing History Contributes to Spiritual Formation.” Mennonite Historian, December 2019.

“Men in Community.” In Peaceful at Heart: Anabaptist Reflections on Healthy Masculinity, ed. Don Neufeld and Steve Thomas, 158-168. Eugene, OR: Resource Publications, 2019.

“Bible Characters as Spiritual Companions.” Canadian Mennonite, October 22, 2018.

“Poetry and Power: The Language of Spiritual Formation.” Theodidaktos, July 2016.

“Revolutionary Sabbath.” REJOICE! Magazine, MennoMedia, March/April/May 2016.

“Wisdom from the 16th Century: An Anabaptist Approach to Scripture.” Leader Magazine, Summer, 2015.

 Spirituality With Clothes On: Examining What Makes Us Who We Are. Eugene, OR: Wipf & Stock, 2015.

“Hospitality, Holiness & Homosexuality: How can Christian colleges and universities with traditional views of marriage be welcoming for students who identify as sexual minorities?” Presentation to Ecclesia and Ethics Online International Biblical Studies and Theology Conference, St. Andrews University, May 25, 2013.

“Lost Boy.” In Fifty Shades of Grace, ed. Melodie Davis, 144-147. Waterloo: Herald Press, 2013.

“Somewhere to Belong.” Purpose Magazine, June 2013.

“The Gray Afternoon of the Soul.” Dreamseeker Magazine, Winter/Spring/Summer/Autumn, 2012.

“Heaven is a Place on Earth.” Geez Magazine, Spring, 2012.

“Man to Man.” Seven Magazine, January/February, 2012.

Review of Christmas: Festival of Incarnation. Minneapolis: Fortress, 2010. Conrad Grebel Review, Winter 2011.

“Men and Women of the Bible as Spiritual Companions.” Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology, Fall 2010.

“How Anabaptist Theology and the Emergent Church Address the Issue of Individualism.” In New Perspectives in Believers Church Ecclesiology, eds. Abe Dueck, Helmut Harder and Karl Koop. Winnipeg, MB: CMU Press, 2010.

Under Construction: Reframing Men’s Spirituality. Waterloo, ON: Herald Press, 2009.

“Strange Bedfellows: Anabaptism and the Emerging Church.” MB Herald, October, 2008.

“Peace by Memory.” (On-line worship resource package http://www.mcc.org/peacesunday).  Mennonite Central Committee. November, 2007.

“The Abomination of Desolation Found!” Canadian Mennonite. June 11, 2007.

“Born Again?” Rhubarb: A Magazine of New Mennonite Writing. Spring, 2007.

“Top Ten Reasons Why I Like/Don’t Like Being Called an Evangelical.” Geez Magazine. Winter, 2006.

“Transformation: Becoming Who God Created Us to Be.” The Messenger, July 5, 2006.

“Copernicus was a Heretic and So Am I.” Clarion Journal, June 2006.

“What’s Most Important in Youth Ministry: Personal Formation, Methodology or Theology?” Youth Worker Journal, January/February, 2005.

“Let’s Party: A Baptismal Sermon with some Reflections.” Vision: A Journal for Church and Theology, Fall 2003.

“Lost Boy: The Journey of Healing from Childhood Sexual Abuse.” Youth Worker Journal, September/October, 2002.

“A Radical Christology for a Radical Youth Ministry.” Direction Journal, Spring 2002.

“Prejudiced Against Postmodernism?” Youth Guide, Winter 2000-2001.

Awesome God. Fastlane Bible Studies. Newton, KS: Faith & Life Press, 1998.

SPECIAL SKILLS

 Leading retreats:

  • Experienced in speaking and leading retreats for men, adults, young adults, and youth.
  • Certified user of Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and trained in the use of the Enneagram.

Public speaking, preaching, art exhibitions, poetry readings, workshops:

  • Art exhibition: “Stories of the Anabaptists” at Mennonite Heritage Museum, Abbotsford, BC, Fall, 2019.
  • Poetry reading and art exhibition: “Hear and See: Poetry and Art for Mental Health” at The Reach Gallery, Abbotsford and O’Connor Gallery, Chilliwack, May 2018 and January 2019.
  • Presentation: “Both Sides Now: A Spirituality of Mid-Life” at Deep Faith Conference, Elkhart, Indiana, October 2016.
  • Presentation: “From Munster to Menno” at Trinity Western University, Langley, BC, November 2015.
  • Presentation: “Spiritual Formation & Vocational Discernment” at Christian Higher Education Canada conference in Winnipeg, MB, May, 2015.
  • Men’s workshops and retreats in USA and Canada, 2010—present.
  • Preaching in Mennonite and Mennonite Brethren churches in BC, ongoing.
  • Plenary speaking and workshops at Mennonite Church national assemblies in Canada and USA, 1999, 2005, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2016.
  • Poetry reading at “Manifest” Vancouver Arts Network Festival, November, 2004.

HOBBIES & INTERESTS

Painting water colours and framing, poetry, folk music, biking, hiking, rock collecting, gardening.