Standing with Students

Dear MCS Family,

I am writing to share an important development affecting students at Master’s College and Seminary, and to invite you to stand with them in prayer.

On October 6th, the Ontario government announced a pause on Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding to private post-secondary institutions, following concerns arising at certain private career colleges. We support the government’s responsibility to protect the integrity of student assistance. However, MCS is not a private career college or part of the sector under investigation. We are an accredited Christian post-secondary institution established under our own provincial legislation, yet our students have been affected by the broader pause.

Approximately 45 of our students are affected, representing an estimated $150,000 in tuition funding this fall alone. If the pause continues, we anticipate a comparable shortfall in the winter semester, with further impacts in the spring. Some students also rely on this assistance for living expenses.

Behind those numbers are people preparing to serve as pastors and Christian leaders, the next generation of ministry workers for our churches and fellowship. We are committed to caring for them by absorbing the current tuition shortfall, rather than passing this unexpected burden on to them, but this is not a sustainable solution.

This challenge comes during an encouraging season of growth. Through our partnership with Horizon College and Seminary, combined enrolment has grown 22% over last fall, and our church hub network continues to expand.

We do not want this disruption to interrupt the preparation of future Christian leaders. We are working with other affected Christian institutions and engaging constructively toward a resolution, but with no clear timeline, we must also consider more enduring and dependable ways to make Christian higher education affordable.

For now, would you pray with us?

Pray for the students facing uncertainty, for wisdom as we discern our next steps, and for a constructive resolution.

We will share more as our response takes shape.

Our mission remains unchanged: preparing Spirit-empowered leaders with the church, for the church.

Thank you for standing with our students.