About Us
To learn more particulars about Cornerstone Bible Institute please click below.
Our History
Cornerstone Bible Institute began with a vision for prison ministry by a few people in southern Ontario who had already been informally involved in prison outreach.
A steering committee was formed to consider the options before us and to help guide the founding process. In less than a year following the first discussions of the vision, Cornerstone Bible Institute was founded in Cambridge, Ontario through the appointment of a Board of Directors, the hiring of an Executive Director, and the setting up of our home-based office.
The Bible correspondence program was launched immediately and Canadian inmates began to enroll.
In time, our Executive Director began to meet with our students to provide face to face contact, to engage in discussions about the courses and to enjoy times of encouragement, teaching and prayer.
By 2001 Cornerstone Bible Institute’s ministry was continuing to grow and expand across the country. This required a move and we were blessed with an opportunity to purchase a building in Cambridge which would meet our office space requirements as well as provide substantial space for a fundraising thrift store. This was purchased and we simultaneously expanded our office ministry staff from one to two.
In time it became evident that it would be a blessing to some of our students, who were being released from prison, to have a reintegration program. In 2004 our "Stepping Out” program was launched to meet this ministry opportunity.
Our ministry and thrift store are substantially upheld by the many hours of dedicated volunteers. One small army of volunteers is trained to correspond with inmates and another is trained to assist our fundraising efforts in the Thrift Store.
It is the prayer of the Cornerstone Bible Institute Board of Directors and Staff that our Lord God would continue to use us in his gracious and sovereign will for the temporal and eternal blessing of Canadian inmates.
Our Executive Director
Our Executive Director is Hans VanDoodewaard.
Our Executive Director is Hans VanDoodewaard. Since 1990 Hans has been involved in one way or another with managing business and people. He has a Bachelor of Christian Studies from Redeemer University College in Hamilton Ontario. It is his heartfelt desire to be involved administering the work of Cornerstone Bible Institute for the sake of the Gospel. Seeking the blessing of the Lord, Hans looks forward to furthering the ministry of Cornerstone Bible Institute in reaching and teaching those in Canada who are incarcerated.
Our Minister
Our minister is Reverend Rudy de Vries. During his seminary studies from 1992 until 1996, Rudy de Vries began his involvement in prison ministry by leading regular in-prison Bible s studies and chapel services as a volunteer. Simultaneously he was also grading Bible correspondence courses for inmates.
It was while Rudy was involved in that ministry and while finishing up at seminary, that he was asked to direct the ministry of Cornerstone at its inception in 1996. Given Cornerstone Bible Institute’s growth since 1996, and in an effort to free him up for more in-prison ministry, Rudy has gladly accepted this current pastoral role for Cornerstone Bible Institute. Pastor Rudy’s desire to be used by God in the lives of Canadian prisoners continues to grow with every visit he makes and with every new inmate contact across Canada.
Our Purpose
Cornerstone Bible Institute continues today with a purpose to work for meaningful and lasting change in the hearts and lives of men and women in Canadian prisons through the study of the Bible and its life changing message of Jesus and his love.
The Bible provides us with purpose and direction in the following passages:
John 3:14-17
"And as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, even so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life. For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have everlasting life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world through him might be saved."
In place of condemnation, God promises eternal life to every human being who places their trust in Jesus.
Matthew 22:9-10
"Therefore go into the highways, and as many as you find, invite to the wedding. So those servants went out into the highways and gathered together all whom they found, both bad and good. And the wedding hall was filled with guests."
On behalf of Jesus we are privileged to invite all kinds of people in this world to enjoy his kingdom pleasures.
Matthew 25:36, 40
"I was naked and you clothed me; I was sick and you visited me; I was in prison and you came to me… And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me."
When we serve our fellow human beings in prison, we are also serving Jesus.