View source for Kawartha Lakes Bible College

Kawartha Lakes Bible College was an evangelical Bible college that met in [[Ontario#Peterborough County|Peterborough County]], Ontario, [[Canada]] from 1973-2005, founded primarily by open brethren residing in the area.

=Founding=
It was founded in 1973 as Kawartha Lakes Bible School, offering night classes in the form of "intensive Bible studies".  In 1977, local [[Edmison Heights Bible Chapel, ON|Edmison Heights Bible Chapel]] hosted its development into a full-time day school, offering a one-year "Diploma of Biblical Studies".  

By 1994, it expanded to offer a second year program with a Diploma of Advanced Biblical Studies.  As per KLBC's [[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawartha_Lakes_Bible_College Wikipedia], thirty-five courses were offered in total, including seventeen in Bible & Theology, and eighteen in General & Practical studies.  At some juncture, it was relocated from EHBC to its own site at 2225 Lansdowne St. W.    

=ICETE membership=
KLBC was recognized by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/International_Council_for_Evangelical_Theological_Education International Council for Evangelical Theological Education] (ICETE), founded in 1980 by the [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Evangelical_Alliance World Evangelical Alliance] (WEA). In 2023, the ICETE was networking 850 member schools representing 113 countries.

A notable significance of this association which has supported many Brethren initiatives since its founding in [[London, England]] in 1846, the WEA's Secretary-General from 2005-2014 was [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Geoff_Tunnicliffe Geoff Tunnicliffe], who was himself raised among the PB. Among many other organizations, Dr. Tunnicliffe served many years as the executive director of [[International Teams]], an open brethren founded initiative that today serves some of the impoverished in (Southern & Eastern) Africa, South America and the Caribbean via [https://www.brighthope.org/ Bright Hope International] and short-term missions endeavors around the globe via [https://content.onecollective.org/ One Collective]. See [https://www.amazon.com/Nothings-Too-Hard-Kevin-Dyer/dp/B000JUI7JC "Nothing's Too Hard For God"] by Dr. Kevin G. Dyer for the origin story of International Teams.

=Closure=
KLBC closed in 2005, and within two years its site on Lansdowne Street was serving the community as a detoxification center.  Since 2021, it has been functioning as the  [https://ehnguardians.ca/ehn-guardians-gateway/ Gateway campus] for the [https://ehnguardians.ca/ehn-guardians-gateway/ EHN Guardians], which seeks to provide specialized treatment and recovery for first responders, correctional officers and military (active & veterans) dealing with symptoms of trauma, addiction, eating disorders, depression, anxiety and PTSD in some form since its founding post-WWII as Glenmaple in Toronto by RCAMC veteran Dr. Gordon Bell, as per its [https://ehnguardians.ca/our-history/ bio].  

The organization has facilities in several provinces of [[Canada]], and is a subsidiary of [https://www.edgewoodhealthnetwork.com/ Edgewood Health Network Canada] which strives to provide "full-spectrum care dedicated to the best outcomes... help patients address the root causes of their concerns through evidence-based care, provide a safe, inclusive, and comfortable environment for recovery, help families heal" and "support the public care system".  

=Aftermath=
KLBC's final President (and alum) [https://www.emmaus.edu/meet-our-faculty Dr. Dan DeGeer], in recent years joined the Bible & Ministry Faculty at [[Emmaus University]] in [[Iowa#Dubuque|Dubuque]], Iowa. See [[Who's Who at Kawartha Lakes Bible College]] for other praiseworthy stories of "where are they now" and other blessings.

[https://www.emmaus.edu/ Emmaus] is also currently preserving the academic records and transcript records for KLBC, see [https://www.emmaus.edu/klbc-transcript] to submit a request.

=Sources=
* adapted from [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kawartha_Lakes_Bible_College Wikipedia]