“I am the Lord, and there is no other, besides me there is no God; I equip you, though you do not know me, that people may know, from the rising of the sun and from the west, that there is none besides me; I am the Lord, and there is no other.” This passage from Isaiah 45 vividly tells the story of Carey Theological College’s current building project.
Our story began over two decades ago when Carey’s main building was constructed with the intention of further developing the campus on the northeast corner of the University of British Columbia in Vancouver. There were numerous attempts to initiate the current building project with various uses and partnerships proposed, but none succeeded in moving forward. As time went on, Carey faced financial strain due to the changing landscape of theological education, that almost brought Carey to bankruptcy. The urgency to construct the new building to generate revenue and "save Carey" became critical, especially as it started borrowing money to meet payroll obligations.
Throughout this challenging period, the board and management team at Carey remained faithful, trusting that God is Lord and that His good and purposeful plans would come to fruition in time.
A new management team was brought in and embarked on a journey to alleviate the financial strain independent of a new building. This helped to ensure that when the new building was constructed, it would be based on a stronger foundation of financial stewardship. Initial positive results encouraged the board to make the bold decision to take time and raise the necessary funds for Carey to construct the new building on its own to solely support its mission. With the support from key donors, including the CBWC Foundation, and board contacts, Carey was introduced to a stellar team of project managers, a lead architect, financing advisors, and up to 30 consultants to tackle the monumental task of designing and constructing the new building amidst rapidly rising interest rates and skyrocketing construction costs post-pandemic. Despite these immense challenges, God equipped Carey’s dedicated consultants. The work the team is doing beautifully illustrates how God moves in the hearts of those who know Him and those who do not. I believe it’s because every person working on this project set aside their egos, allowing God’s invisible hand to move through the project—patiently waiting at times, actively overcoming at others, and systematically softening hearts when needed.
But for what end? Carey’s ministry throughout its 65-year history has focused on one single goal: so that people may know from the rising of the sun to the west that there is none beside God; that He is Lord, and there is no other. Thousands of student residents have been impacted by God through Carey’s student residence program. Each year, they speak about the community they are proud to be a part of, the lifelong friendships they are forming, and the spiritual growth they experience living with other Christians. Ultimately, they sense God’s presence when they walk through Carey’s doors. This story continues as the all-powerful, all-knowing, and ever-present God brings people together from all walks of life to fulfill His purpose for His people to relate towards others so that they commit to live for Christ and to live like Christ; the Great Commission.
Carey asks for your prayers as it approaches the completion of construction in the spring of 2025. We request that you prayerfully consider donating to provide a welcome package for students, sponsor a Bible verse for a prayer path, or furnish a student room or community space. You can contribute by following this link. Thank you for your generous prayers and support.
