On the eve of Convocation, alumni and friends of Crandall University gather for a banquet - an annual affair held to recognize outstanding alumni who have lived their lives as excellent representatives of Crandall in the world. This is the evening of the presentation of the Distinguished Alumni Award.
The Distinguished Alumni Award celebrates the contributions Crandall alumni make to their communities and professions. It recognizes truly outstanding accomplishments of Crandall's alumni in their personal and professional lives. Each year's recipient(s) are selected from nominations received from the alumni community.
For 2019, the recipients of the Distinguished Alumni Award are Rev. Dr. Darrell and Mrs. Laura Lee Bustin.
Left to right: Crandall President Dr. Bruce Fawcett, Distiguished Alumni Award Recipients Rev. Dr. Darrell and Mrs. Laura Lee Bustin, and Crandall Chancellor Mr. Donald Simmonds
Rev. Dr. Darrell and Mrs. Laura Lee Bustin
Darrell Bustin, the third child of Don and Peggy Bustin, was born and raised in Moncton, New Brunswick. He grew up attending Moncton area schools, graduating from Moncton High School in 1985. He and his family attended Highfield Baptist Church. He earned his Bachelor of Arts (Biblical Literature) from Atlantic Baptist College in 1989. While a student, Darrell was heavily involved in various areas of student life, including serving a term as President of the Student Association and singing on several student ministry teams.
While at ABC, he met his wife Laura Lee (Crummey) who was originally from Pugwash, Nova Scotia, the first child of Don and Penny Crummey. She entered Atlantic Baptist College in 1983 following her grade 11 year. Like Darrell, she earned a Bachelor of Arts (Music) from Atlantic Baptist College, graduating in 1987. She was active in her student days as a Resident Assistant and in student ministry teams. They were married in 1988.
Upon completion of undergraduate studies, Darrell and Laura Lee moved to Massachusetts where Darrell earned his Master of Divinity from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. While studying at GCTS, they ministered at East Baptist in Lynn, Massachusetts. After graduation, they moved to New Zealand for one year where Darrell completed a Certificate in Theological Studies from Auckland Consortium of Theological Education. In 1994 they came back to the Maritimes where Darrell served at Hillside Baptist Church as Associate Pastor for eight years. After attending CBM's Conference on Overseas Ministries in January 2002, Darrell and Laura Lee felt that God was saying "now is the time" to move toward fulfilling the call to overseas ministry that both have felt since childhood.
The Bustins joined the Global Field Staff of CBM in 2002 to teach at the Kalimantan Theological Seminary in Pontianak, Indonesia, where they helped to train and mentor future leaders for the local church. They moved to Rwanda in August 2012 to work with CBM's church partner, the Association of Baptist Churches of Rwanda.
Darrell's primary focus is in pastoral training and church leadership development. He works both with pastors, as well as those studying to be pastors and church leaders. Laura Lee is responsible for overseeing the administrative details for the short-term mission teams that come to Rwanda. Since serving in Rwanda, Darrell has earned his Doctor of Ministry from Gordon Conwell in the area of preaching.
The Bustins have two children, Bronwyn, a double graduate of Crandall University, and Caleb who is a current student at Crandall University.
Given to honour alumni for outstanding accomplishments, devoted service, and loyalty to Crandall University, this Distinguished Alumni Award is presented this 3rd day of May 2019 to Rev. Dr. Darrell and Mrs. Laura Lee Bustin.
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