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