Stand with Students

Dear Horizon Family,

I am writing to share an important development affecting our students and our partnership with Master’s College & Seminary (MCS), and to invite your prayerful support.

On October 6th, the Ontario government announced an immediate pause on Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP) funding to private post-secondary institutions, following investigations involving certain private career colleges.

Although MCS is not a private career college or part of the sector where these concerns arose, its students have been caught in the broader funding pause.

What does this mean for our students and our partnership?

Approximately 45 MCS students have been affected, representing an estimated $150,000 shortfall in tuition funding this fall alone. If the pause continues, we anticipate a comparable shortfall in the winter semester, with additional impacts in the spring.

Behind these numbers are students preparing to become pastors, missionaries, and Christian leaders who will serve our churches and communities. Some are also facing the loss of financial assistance they depend upon for living expenses.

Our commitment is to care for these students and protect their preparation for ministry. We are absorbing the immediate tuition shortfall rather than passing this unexpected burden on to them.

Unfortunately, the province’s latest announcement has not changed the situation. We are working constructively toward a resolution while actively developing plans to support students through the winter semester.

This challenge matters to all of us at Horizon.

Our partnership with MCS means we share leadership, educational resources, and financial responsibilities. When students at either institution face challenges, we face them together. The financial impact of this disruption affects our shared capacity to serve students across both institutions.

Continuing the work God has begun

This challenge comes during an encouraging season of growth. Our combined MCS–Horizon enrolment has grown 22% over last fall, and our expanding Church Hubs network is helping us prepare more Christian leaders more accessibly all across Canada.

We are seeing the fruit of years of strategic work, and we don’t want this unexpected disruption to interrupt that momentum.

We are also seeing wonderful examples of God’s provision. At two of our Church Hubs, the churches and individual supporters have stepped forward to help students continue their preparation for ministry, including through financial assistance and paid ministry opportunities.

We’re so grateful for these churches who are modelling a way to come alongside the students serving with them.

Your help would make triple the difference

First, please pray with us. Pray for our affected students, for wisdom as we navigate the coming months, for a constructive resolution with the province, and for God’s direction as we discern lasting solutions.

Second, would you consider investing with us? We are inviting our supporters to help raise $200,000 in new or increased giving to care for affected students, sustain our growing ministry, and strengthen our future.

This is a time for our MCS–Horizon family to stand together—not only for the students directly affected, but for all those God is calling us to prepare for ministry.

Thank you for your faithful partnership. Together, we can care for today’s students, sustain the remarkable growth we are experiencing, and continue preparing tomorrow’s leaders.