Bryan Hagerman
Bible, Class of 1971
Arts, Class of 1973
I began my post secondary education journey in 1970 when I attended Atlantic Baptist College. I graduated in 1971 with a one year diploma in Bible and graduated again in 1973 from the Arts program. This season served as a turning point for my whole life. Dr. Ralph Richardson gave me my first ministry opportunity when he was Pastor of Lutes Mountain and Hildegard Baptist Churches. He encouraged me to be their Youth Pastor. This was my beginning in ministry. I went on every ministry team that I could at ABC, travelling all over the Maritimes with Dr. Stuart Murray.
After graduation, I moved to Fredericton where I attended St. Thomas University to pursue education in teaching. It was in Fredericton where the second major turning point in my life happened. In 1980, God directly spoke into my life at a CBM event at Brunswick Street Baptist Church. My life was set on course towards a divine purpose. That purpose took me from my family, my country, and my friends, to a war zone in Kenya where I taught two years as a volunteer for CBM. I said yes to God, to go and do whatever he would ask me to do, and I have not wavered. During my years with CBM in Africa, I worked in three war zones. I was one of the Canadian Baptists who were assigned to work in The Republic of the Congo, after the Rwandan genocide of 1994. This was the most traumatic experience of my life and God protected my life on many occasions. If not for His grace and protection I would have lost my life a long time ago.
Throughout the years, the Lord has allowed me to use my passion for teaching, writing, ministry and counselling. I completed my Doctor of Ministry degree from Acadia and I have served at several churches since 1995. In addition, I have had the opportunity to write for Baptist publications to tell of what the Lord has done in my life. In 2017, I went back to school at Acadia for further education in the field of counselling. This has been such a meaningful way to minister to people. I have loved every aspect of my journey. I am so thankful for my wife Janine who has been on this journey with me since 1995. Our two children, Christianne and Liam-Patrick, have enriched our lives in love and joy.
It is difficult to express how important ABC was in my life. I would not be where I am today without the influence of that small school of about 100 students, staff and faculty. The influence of Mr. Walter Debow, Winston Steeves, and Rev. Elwood Bannister, Vice Principal, on my life is unknowable. The friends made at ABC were instrumental in my growth. This was for me social discipleship. Growing socially in those three years played a huge part in my life. I have remained friends with many of those people up until today 50 plus years later.
