TANNER HNIDEY

Tanner Hnidey is a Lay-Theologian, Bible Teacher, and Industrial Organization Economist. He is the author of “True Christianity,” an introductory treatise on the fundamentals of his Christian faith. 

Proudly born and raised in the jaded and extreme climate of East-Central Alberta, Tanner grew up in the countryside, where he was instructed with the values and beliefs that are the foundation of his life today. From an early age, his family stressed the importance of Christ, the Bible, prayer, and salvation. Because of his parent’s testimony and the logical consistency of what they taught, he accepted Christ at a young age. No matter what the family was doing, Christ had precedence over everything. In addition to this, intellect and common sense were nurtured and championed as vital in his home. From an early age, he recognized that he specifically enjoyed reading and learning about all things, if only for the sake of knowledge. Living outside of the city provided an accessible solitude required to contemplate things without distraction comfortably, and his interests in studying, reading, and thinking were able to flourish.

Descended from a family of pastors and missionaries, Tanner spent eight weeks every summer helping his family run Bible camp. Throughout his 15 years at camp, he has counselled thousands of campers, taught Bible classes, preached numerous sermons, and has witnessed the indescribable power of the Lord Jesus transform even the most broken of lives. During the school year, he loved to teach Sunday school and regularly played bass with the church worship band. 

The paradox of how co-operation, charity, and mutually beneficial trade are able to exist in a world of sin and evil intrigued Tanner. Thus, he studied the dismal science of economics and obtained a degree from the University of Calgary. Although his schooling provided invaluable influence in shaping the way he now thinks, his education's most significant value was introducing the real world. Having grown up near a hard-working, humble, trades-focused town, it wasn't until he went to university that he was continually exposed to the plethora of unique cultures, beliefs, and lives—each one as fascinating as the other. As a consequence of interacting with more people each day, it was during his time at school that he began to wonder exactly how people think, why they live the way that they do, and what their values in life are. 

The more he studied and the more he saw, the more he concluded that all things temporal were vain and meaningless in the grand scheme of the cosmos. Now that he was interacting with more people, he recognized just how alone sinful man really is and how desperate their efforts of finding meaning are. Thus, he entered into intense scriptural study and prayer to discover the truth of life. After years of research, by the grace of God alone, the true necessity and wonder of Christ became apparent in a way it never had before, and Tanner's life was transformed. Though he was a Christian from a young age, it wasn’t until this study that the gospel became alive. His previous desire to tell others about Jesus became an absolute necessity.

Because this salvation is so great, he has now dedicated his life to tell others about the good news of Christ that they too might be eternally saved from their sin and receive a place in the Kingdom of Heaven. 

Tanner has taught at numerous Christian events, camps, and church schools. His favourite Biblical books are Ecclesiastes and Hebrews and he loves to read sermons by Rev. C.H. Spurgeon. In his free time, Tanner loves to study scripture, write, play music, and read.