Pursue

The purpose of this program is pretty simple. We focus on 3 main objectives which are to help people ground themselves in their faith in Jesus, allow people to experience and see the world in a new way, and to help students figure out what God is asking them to do with the rest of their lives! Everything we do is designed and done with the hope that God will be able to speak to you so that you actually hear and understand what He is saying. His Word. His Heart. His Mission.

- Students who can handle longs days of travel in vans and on planes to do anywhere from 10 days to five weeks of ministry.
- Students that are able to dedicate a year to reflect and discern the leading of God for what's next in their lives.
- Students who want to deepen their relationship with Jesus Christ and try some college-level academic study.

Each person in the Pursue program will have opportunity to be pushed in gifts that they have including public speaking/preaching, leading games and small groups, leading worship and music, working with children and youth, as well as working with New Comers to Canada. So if you are musical and can sing well, there is opportunity to lead worship, and be developed more in that as well!

Vancouver – Working with homeless, drug/alcohol addicts to share Jesus with them and literally give hope to the hopeless on the streets of the inner city in Vancouver (East Hastings is the poorest postal code in Canada). We partner with lots of organizations that have feeding programs, and other organizations that help the people by giving clothes, showers, and places to sleep.

Africa – Where we go exactly will depend on how many students are in Pursue, but people will be on teams of approximately 4-6 people where you will go to 1 specific country in Africa for 4 weeks to work with Global Workers on field, and help in their ministry. You will have possible opportunities to work with children, feeding programs, church ministries, local outreaches and gatherings, and a variety of other programming that we will prepare in Canada prior to going on field.

Local Ministry – We will be partnering with a variety of ministries and non-profits in Edmonton that work with New Comers to Canada, homeless in Edmonton, and other Local Church ministries. The goal is to help expose people to a variety of ministries, as well as working in teams, and developing community all while trying to further the Kingdom of God in Edmonton.

Tuition and fees will be $6,688. 

Program fees will be $600.  This includes:  a fall retreat in Jasper, a winter retreat, local ministry experiences, pursue program social events and the Activate Retreat (1st-year retreat)

The 5 week trip to Africa will be approximately $3500. (This amount can be raised through fundraising).

Textbooks and living expenses will be extra.

Yes!  This will be a program recognized by our accrediting agency and eligible for student loan funding.

Yes!  Scholarships and bursaries are available to new and returning students.  New students can get up to $3,500 in scholarships and bursaries.  Check out our Scholarships and Bursaries page for more information. 

17 credits from the Pursue program will transfer into a certificate, diploma or degree at Vanguard College.

No, we do not have dorms.  Instead, we have student housing.  These are houses within walking distance to our campus that are leased to first-year students.

Yes please!  You can come for a day to experience campus life first hand.  Each tour is tailored to your preferences and provides you the opportunity to be involved in classes and chapels as well as meet students, professors and program directors.   We will show you around the campus and answer any questions you may have.  As a bonus, your application fee of $75 will be waived just for hanging out with us!

Twice a year we offer Preview Days where students can join other students on campus for the day.  You can find more information on our Preview Days page.

Don’t worry! Calvin and Hannah always open up their home for family movie nights, Holiday meals and dinners, as well as just a good place to hang out. Pursue will become part of your family, and will be a place where lifelong friends are born. If you don’t know anyone when you first get to Edmonton, that will not last long. The Pursue year experience begins with our 4 day retreat specifically designed to help develop and build community!

It’s pretty simple, to ground yourself in Jesus. There is no better investment and no better way to spend your time and resources than growing and deepening your faith in Christ. You will never regret taking a year to learn more about the Bible, as well as see and experience a different country and way of living!