Sonrise 2011 – hosted in Phoenix, Arizona by the Indigenous ministry CHIEF – brought together about 150 Aboriginal church and ministry leaders from North, Central and South America. NCEM was privileged to be at the four-day conference in mid-March with 13 delegates, primarily First Nations members.

So what’s a predictable topic when north meets south? The weather, of course! Most of our workers came from -20C-or-so temperatures into +30C highs. “It feels good, just like summer,” one NCEMer commented, to which a local replied, “Then you probably won’t survive our Arizona summer.”

More warming than the weather was the fellowship enjoyed by Indigenous believers who live far from each other, but share much in common. A highlight for Gilbert Bekkatla was meeting his “southern Dene brothers.” Though thousands of kilometers apart, Gilbert (from northwest Sask.) says his language is very similar to Navajo of southwestern USA.

Conference attendees and speakers came from countries including Peru, Guatemala, USA and Mexico. Besides the Americas, was one from Asia.

Bold Battar is one of the first Christ followers in Mongolia, and the first evangelical pastor. The Mongolians have intriguing cultural similarities with some Native Americans, noted CHIEF’s Tom Claus. Twenty years ago Mongolia’s small group of believers requested a visit from Tom and his son, Huron. Today there are a reported 100,000 believers!

As is the practice at CHIEF conferences, ministry elders are honored. NCEM members Bill & Shirley Jackson were presented with gifts in recognition of a lifetime of service among Bill’s own Cree Nation, and across the continent.

Several of our delegates mentioned the impact of Craig Smith’s talk. In 2009 Craig and his wife, Ladonna, who serve with the Alliance (USA), were involved in a serious highway accident that resulted in 18 subsequent surgeries for Craig. Still not sure if he will walk again, Craig spoke on, “Trauma, Trials & Timeless Truths.” Craig was our NCEM staff conference speaker in 2004, and has ministered on our Tribal Trails TV.

Among our NCEM delegates were Conrad & Florence Flett who enjoyed twice as much southern hospitality as the rest. Conrad had been asked to speak at “The Gathering,” a First Nations assembly in Oklahoma the week prior, and in a local Indian Baptist church.

Conrad says he is impressed by the comparatively more developed Native church in the southern States, but noted how his brothers and sisters there are facing many of the same social, cultural and spiritual issues that First Nations face in Canada.

For more about CHIEF, and to hear audio recordings from Sonrise 2011, visit www.chief.org

Adapted from our Northern Lights magazine (#515)