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A SELECTED "NORTHERN LIGHTS"
MAGAZINE ARTICLE
(from Issue #480)
Life in His Body
N.C.E.M. & N.E.F.C. - MAKING
DISCIPLES AMONG CANADA's FIRST PEOPLES
 Bible
camps & Bible school, television & radio, linguistics &
literature, "Faces & Places" ... summer missions ... aviation
(and all the other ways of "Getting There") ... and more.
Whatever you read in Northern Lights, we hope NCEM's mandate
remains clear: the evangelism & discipleship of Canada's First
Peoples. But there's an accompanying underlying purpose in all of our
involvements and it, too, is at the heart of all we do. That is to see
indigenous churches established.
In NCEM we've always believed that The Great Commission is more
than a command to "make disciples" -- it includes a method. "Baptizing"
and "teaching" (Matt. 28:19,20) signify that it is through life in
His Body -- the Church -- that we become the disciples that Christ
desires us to be.
The second chapter of Acts describes true disciples as those "devoted
... to the apostles' teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking
of bread and to prayer." And that's where our partnership with the
Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada comes in.
NEFC had its beginnings at NCEM's Island Lake (Manitoba) Indian
Bible School's annual summer gatherings of Native Christians
throughout the 1960s. It was there that teaching on the importance of
establishing indigenous churches took place -- help for moving Native
believers on mission stations into autonomous churches. An accompanying
desire for an organized fellowship of Native churches was also
expressed, and NEFC was the outcome.
NCEM and NEFC have partnered in various ways since then. Some Native
NCEM missionaries have served as pastors of NEFC churches, or as NEFC
Board members. But NEFC is much more than a "fellowship" of Native
churches. Its members have provided valuable resources on NCEM fields
through music/evangelism teams, the "Rising Above" Conferences (on
abuse issues), culturally relevant publishing, and in many other ways.
Fellowship groups initiated by NCEM missionaries, when developed
sufficiently, are encouraged to take membership with NEFC. We both
believe that a healthy local church is the best testimony in a
community. And most often these are locations where no other biblical
church exists.
Our Mission's 56-year history shows that growing local Native
churches is a long and faith-stretching venture. There are many
challenges at each stage. So pray for us, and for NEFC ... that our
partnership would result in many disciples of Christ among Canada's
First Peoples!
+ + + + + + + + + + + +
My Father's Business
Terry Hall was recently appointed Executive
Director of NEFC. On a stopover in Prince Albert this spring he shared
with our staff about his life and his calling:
 I
was born in Bella Coola, on the BC coast, and am of Nuxalk ancestry.
There are only about 1200 of us now and, at the time I was born, there
were only about 300. So I've always viewed my people as special -- just because there are so few of us!
As a little fella I couldn't imagine myself living anywhere but
Bella Coola. I had no idea what the rest of the world might be like, but
somehow I had the idea that it must be very dark. Later in my thinking
came a lot of fears, doubts, inadequacies and "down-thinking" ...
until I found the Lord.
Through the ministry of a pastor, my wife and I prayed to receive
Christ at the same time. I came to Christ knowing I was a sinner, an
unworthy person. It's by God's grace I'm serving Him today.
I worked in Burnaby and later in Langley (BC) for many years in an
electrical business. As I trusted the Lord, He helped me to work with
some very sophisticated equipment. The Lord gave me some experience as a
sub-foreman for a group of men from many ethnic backgrounds, and I was
the only Native guy -- this little fella from an almost unknown tribe
in Bella Coola!
God showed me some lessons during those years that are a help to me
now. I remember working on a large hydro dam, and being impressed with
the huge amount of water pushing on the weakest part -- the hole where
the turbine sat. But it was through that weak spot that a great amount
of power was generated. Similarly, I try to serve God from a point of
weakness, rather than a point of strength because, as the Apostle Paul
said, it is in our weakness that God's strength is shown.
When I decided to retire early from my employment, I prayed about how
I could best explain to my boss and my co-workers about my plans to
serve the Lord. God gave me these words to say: "I'm going about my
Father's business, and He's given me an offer that I can't refuse!"
Terry previously served as an NEFC Board member for 15 years. He
and his wife, Pat, are parents of four children.
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