NORTHERN  CANADA  EVANGELICAL  MISSION  (NCEM)

NCEM: What in the World Are We Doing to Reach Canada's First Peoples

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NCEM NEWS & NOTES FOR PRAISE & PRAYER

Winter 2010

 

COME SEE US AT THESE MISSION FESTS !

Please stop by our NCEM display at one of the following upcoming missions gatherings! (Check these web sites for locations/times.)

Missions Fest Vancouver
January 8-10 www.missionsfestvancouver.ca

Missionfest Manitoba (Winnipeg)
February 5-7 www.mfest.mb.ca

Missions Fest Alberta (Edmonton)
February 19-21 www.mfest.ab.ca

Jesus to the Nations (Halifax)
March 26-28 www.jesustothenations.com

MissionFest Toronto
April 16-18 www.missionfest.org

Harvest Fest (Saskatoon)
April 16-18 www.harvestfestsaskatoon.com

... and thanks to all who dropped by at Missions Globales (Montreal) in November!

 

FOR FIRST NATIONS VIEWERS ... EXACTLY!

MiLin Lau works behind the scenes in our Tribal Trails TV Department in Prince Albert as a program planner.

What's involved in her ministry? Every day she selects video-recorded testimony segments, Bible messages, and music. And, with each program being exactly 28 minutes and 50 seconds long, she has to make exact decisions as to what to include!

MiLin also must choose Scriptures that support the program's theme, and write "bridging" script that will best challenge viewers to wholeheartedly follow the Lord. So she appreciates prayer for the Lord's strength and wisdom.

A S K : Like some other departments in NCEM, Tribal Trials is presently short of staff, especially in program-planning. Pray that the Lord will send workers to join our TV production crew.

 

DISCIPLING at BIG RIVER BIBLE CAMP

A scheduling change at Big River Bible Camp this past summer is impacting lives.

Teen camp, usually held later in the summer, was held first this year, report Jason & Anita Boucher, who manage the Camp located west of Prince Albert National Park. They say it resulted in a number of First Nations teens wanting to come back to help with the camps for younger children.

It was a great way to observe and get to know potential staff, the Bouchers say. "It's a great discipling tool, and we were able to witness the teens mature spiritually. It doesn't get much better than that!"

In recent years there's been an increased number of First Nations young people serving on Big River summer staff. The Bouchers rejoice that one of them was baptized last summer and is now attending Bible college. Others are considering Bible school training.

A number of short-term mission teams also helped staff the Camp's one-week sessions held in July and August -- one team from Las Vegas, Nevada, and two teams from Alberta.

A S K : Jason & Anita regret that some teen campers had to be turned away last summer because of lack of staff. Staffing teen camp is always a challenge because more mature leaders are needed -- please pray about this need for the upcoming summer. Also pray for the Bouchers' year-round ministry involvements.

 

EXPLORING GOD's PLACE for YOU

For the past four years Brian & Rosalie Kent have been representing NCEM in Ontario and eastern regions.

Along with dropping in to chat with pastors, the Kents have found mission conferences to be a good way of communicating the Great Commission challenge. Visiting Bible schools and Christian high schools is also a great way to connect, they say.

"We try to be 'mission consultants' as God directs us into conversations," say Brian & Rosalie. "Exploring, exhorting, encouraging and being encouraged. Many people, young and old, want to know 'God's place for them,' so it's exciting to go 'exploring with them' ... and to see their expressions at the realization that there is a place of service for them!

"That's more interesting than just talking about 'the Mission.' It's far more fulfilling to find out where 'God' wants us, than where 'we' think we should be."

However, the Kents have discovered a serious challenge to missions: student debt. Through conversations they've found that this has become a roadblock to many -- a student graduating with $20,000 or more debt is not uncommon today.

"The challenge for us," say Brian & Rosalie, "is to keep the prospective missionary interested and excited about serving while they work through their debt repayment time. So, once again we become 'the consultant' working with students, schools and churches as we together explore ways and means to accomplish a debt-free start in ministry.

A S K : "Pray with us for God to supply the workers for His harvest," request the Kents.

 

NCEM: SOUTH of the BORDER

Billings, Montana is home to our NCEM United States Office.

After managing our Mission Printshop for several years, it's where the Elfords moved in 2004. Kit now serves as our US Financial Officer, taking care of acknowledging/receipting financial gifts from American donors.

Kit & Debbie also handle the mailing of our Northern Lights magazine and other Mission publications to US addresses. Each mailing is done prayerfully. "It is our prayer that each [printed piece or video] will be used in such a way that it will help draw people to Christ, and lives would be changed."

The Elfords have also found opportunities to represent NCEM at church and college missions conferences, most recently at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis, and Moody Bible Institute (Spokane, Washington campus) where Kit led a "Native Awareness Seminar."

A S K : "Pray for supporters of NCEM during this economic crisis," request Kit & Debbie, "that they would be able to maintain their jobs, as well as continue to support NCEM and our missionaries."

 

SERVING among the STO:LO NATION

Not all of our missionaries serve in northern or isolated locations. Vikki Lukasewich, along with her ministry partner, Doris Erickson, are located at Chilliwack, in British Columbia's more heavily populated lower mainland.

About a dozen Aboriginal Bands, part of the Sto:lo Nation ("People of the River"), live in the area along the Fraser River.

Vikki and Doris have served among them for several years with the Sto:lo Christian Fellowship -- involved in ministries such as home visitation and group Bible studies.

Though the Fellowship has struggled at times, Vikki reports that lately they've been "extra encouraged" by an increase in attendance at their weekly Sunday evening services.

A S K : Pray for the Sto:lo Christian Fellowship to continue to grow in number and maturity. Pray for the developing of local church leaders.

 

ON the MOVE to KEY-WAY-TIN

At the end of December Andrew Siebert moved from our Tribal Trails TV Department in Prince Albert (SK) to join the Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute staff at Lac La Biche (AB).

At KBI Andrew will serve as Assistant Dean of Men, in Public Relations (for both Key-Way-Tin & NCEM), multi-media assistance, computer/network, and campus maintenance.

Andrew began full-time service with NCEM in 2008.

 

IN APPRECIATION

Following 17 years of service with NCEM, Bill & Doris Dyck have retired.

Bill initially served as Secretary-Treasurer, and Doris in the Printshop, for five years in the 1980s. They then served with CSSM (Manitoba Office) and returned to Prince Albert in 1997.

Into their senior years they managed NCEM's "Mission Distributors" (Bookstore) until this past fall.

Their commitment to seeing Bibles and other Christian resources in the hands of First Nations people has been greatly appreciated.

 

With the Lord

Former missionary Norm Taylor passed away in November in Yorkton, Saskatchewan.

Norman is survived by his wife, Nellie, their three sons and their families.

Together Norm & Nellie served with NCEM from 1956-65 at Pickle Lake (ON) and at the Island Lake (MB) Bible School. The Taylors were later involved with urban Native ministry in Regina, SK.

 

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