Fort Good Hope’s stunning location along the Mackenzie River in the Northwest Territories, will initiate me into the breathtaking views of the surrounding wilderness and the hardy souls who live there.
To The North
I get to travel to Fort Good Hope for eight days in January 2025. FGH is 1,621km north as the crow flies, but there are no crows in FGH. I’ll fly to Yellowknife which is 1,452km north of our home and then another 803km northwest to FGH.
My friends remind me that it will be a bit chilly. Fort Good Hope is 145km south of the Arctic Circle. The average temperature high in January is -24C. There’s usually not much wind chill. Usually. Sunrise happens around 12pm and daylight lasts about 2 hours and 53 minutes.
My job will take me to the most northerly church in our District. Fort Good Hope is a community of 500 people on the banks of the MacKenzie River. The North West Company established it in 1805 as the first fur trading post in the lower Mackenzie Valley and became the centre of a vast trading network, extending north to Herschel Island and west to Russian Alaska. 
In the Flesh
I’ve been coaching the local volunteer leaders, Rose and Robinson Kelly for over a year. Zoom calls, video messages and emails. Being present in their community is important. I saw that when I went to Ukraine a year ago.
Telling people that you support them is one thing. Showing up in person sends a message on a different level.
Jesse Snow is a 34-year-old follower of Jesus from Texas who gets it. He is employed for a 2nd term at the public school in Fort Good Hope and volunteers to preach, runs community movie nights at the church, and takes youth on day trips on the winter ice road.
The church parsonage will afford me all the comforts of home, except for Jocelyn.
Good Hope is known for a 19th-century Gothic Revival style church, Our Lady of Good Hope. The Church was built between 1865 and 1885 and designated a National Historic Site in 1977.
It is the oldest permanent structure in northern Canada. 
Ken Gaetz
The church I’ll be going to was planted by Ken Gaetz in the 50s. Ken attended Central Tabernacle in the 40s, the church we would pastor 50 years later. Ken was a legend. We heard about his work planting churches in Hay River, Fort Resolution, Fort Providence, Fort Norman, Coppermine, Pine Point, Fort Smith and establishing and staffing the first hospital in the NWT. His kind of grit and faith is what built a good reputation for Christian work in the North.
We want to extend that work and reputation through the 21st century.
Ken and Sarah Gaetz displayed a plaque in their home— “The will of God will not take you where the grace of God cannot keep you.”
I would appreciate it if you would join Jocelyn in praying for me and for God’s purposes in this trip. Thank you.
Have you been the NWT? Have you been to Fort Good Hope? Any advice for me? Please join the conversation and post a comment below. Thank you.
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I met Ken Gaetz in 1977. Within a few days I found myself in Coppermine, a village built on the shores of the Coronation Gulf, and the Sub Arctic Mission’s most northern outpost. I had been a Christian less than two years, but was discovering the vistas God will lay open before you if you are willing. The earth is the Lord’s and everything in it, which makes the world a small place indeed. He can move us where He purposes with little effort. My first visit to the far North lasted 4 months. After five years of Biblical and aviation training I returned again to the North. It was Fort Simpson this time, which is south of Fort Good Hope located on the banks of the same Mackenzie River. I was now a pastor/missionary with the PAOC and serving the Sub Arctic Mission. Married and with a 6 month old son, we arrived in February of 1982. Yes, it was very cold when we arrived. This next stay in the North would be four years. Our second son James was to be born at the nursing station in Fort Simpson with a skilled British nurse presiding over the event. Many years later James was to be baptized at NorthPointe Community Church where Bob Jones was the senior pastor. Our calling was to evolve into more of an aviation focus subsequent to Fort Simpson, but until only a few years ago I continued to fly the length and breadth of our Canadian North piloting several different aircraft types. Our land North of the 60th parallel as an incredible wonder. As are the people who live there. Enjoy your stay Bob. It will be an adventure you will not soon forget!
Love your stories of the North. Thank you, Wayne for all your assistance in getting to FGH.
Good Morning Pastor Bob. I always enjoy the stories of where you are travelling to..next. Always busy & always another journey somewhere. Sometimes with Jocelyn and sometimes without. Safe travels to your next destination. There will be more stories & photos to share with us…on the next blog. Thank you for sharing this blog with us. ❤️ Have a great week!
Fort Good Hope was home for us for 3 1/2 years in 1992-1995 while we pastored there.. Rose and Robinson are a great couple. FGH is very beautiful. And the Twilight of January is worth experiencing. Be yourself. Northerners like genuine. They also like tea, coffee and homemade cookies.
Thank you Sherry. I remember all your newsletter from FGH. They have a new parsonage now. I’ll reach out to connect this week before I go.
Amazing !!! I’ve heard such good things about helping there . It can be life changing . I’m so glad you’re going .