The Light Under The Northern Lights

Few sights are more spectacular than the Northern Lights, except for the Light of Jesus shining in the North.

The Goodness of God

When was the last time you pinched yourself to see if life was just a dream? Can’t say that I pinched myself this week, but life sure felt like a dream.

Spending a week just south of the Arctic Circle.

Visiting the most northerly church in our District.

Walking on water on the mighty Mackenzie River, which flows north to the Arctic.

Being in the community where Ken Gaetz planted a church 70 years ago, around the same time I was born.

Preaching about the goodness of God and seeing a guest to the church make a decision to follow Jesus.

Participating in a live radio broadcast.

Working with volunteer leaders who persevered through incredibly difficult years.

Observing the way God is working in the lives of many people who were once addicted and now so free you would never guess their previous experience.

Feeling sobered by the widespread influence of substance abuse and family breakdowns.

The only addition that would have made the trip better was having Jocelyn here.

Dolly

Dolly’s story is fairly representative of many stories here. She was controlled by alcohol. Suffered a marriage breakdown. Then started afresh by following Jesus. Over the last two decades she became influential in the community, serving in the church and on a number of community boards.

On the Sunday I arrived, she was healed of chronic chest pain following a heart attack in 2024. The congregation prayed for her and something happened. There was no more pain. She slept that night for the first time in months with no pain. A week later she explained that she has been pain free.

Guests

On Sunday, four guests attended the service. That caused a bit of a stir. A good one.

At the end of the service one of the women made a public decision to follow Jesus. There was a pretty joyous celebration.

Following the service (3 1/2 hours long) there was no time for lunch. Off to the radio station for the first of weekly broadcasts. The team shared music, testimonies and some teaching. The phone in the studio ran during the broadcast. A listener wanted to know if she could come over to the station to receive prayer right away.

While others kept the broadcast going two of us prayed with her.

And such is a Sunday in the North.

On Monday night we met at the church with the Director of Housing to discuss some community issues. Tuesday night was prayer. Wednesday night was a Bible study. Thursday was a team meeting. Saturday night was a movie night at the church. We showed The Forge to 25 people.

During the daytime, two handymen from the south worked on repairing burst pipes in the residence and shoring up the foundation of the church as well as fixing a leaky ceiling.

Friday, we discovered that someone had stolen the computer out of the church. Seems as though that is not uncommon from people desperate to find money for drugs.

Stories in Pictures

I’ll let the pictures tell the rest of the stories and save a couple of thousand words.

When it comes to mind, please pray for the North.

Sunday afternoon radio.

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