Why Go to the Arctic?
We could offer several answers. We should go because of the need:
Isolation - there are relatively few people scattered over a large area in a few isolated communities at the “end of the world”. Transportation is difficult. There is really only one road which provides access to three of these communities for nine months of the year. A few of the communities have ice roads built (Ice Road Truckers anyone?) which provide access for two to three months each year. For the rest, if you don’t fly, you don’t go with any regularity.- Hopelessness - Over the last 200 years, these people (the Gwich’in and the Inuit) have been drug into the white man’s world. They have many of the conveniences. They have power and lighting. They have Canadian welfare to survive on. They live in Western style homes. They have television, telephone and internet. They have broken families. They have very high rates of abuse, alcoholism and drug use. They have a confused, mixed up belief system that combines animism, ancestor worship, Darwinism, works salvation and self improvement. Though having much the West offers, the majority live hopeless, purposeless lives.
- To take the Good News - Included in ‘all things western’ taken to these people is the Good News. Over 150 years ago there was a strong Gospel witness in the Arctic. However, the church participated in the Canadian residential school system in an attempt to assimilate First Nation people groups (a.k.a aboriginals, Indians, natives, and Eskimos). Due to grave abuses at the residential schools, many First Nations people across Canada have abandoned the Church. In many of our target communities, there is no “church” though there may be an abandoned building where a church once met. In some communities there exist a small remnant of faithful believers crying out for encouragement and hope. In Inuvik several churches stand, but teach a ‘Gospel’ of slavery to good works.
We should go because of the opportunity available:
- Many in these villages have heard no clear presentation of the Good News of Jesus Christ. Many are searching desperately for hope and purpose in life.
- Much preparation of the hard ground has been accomplished by the Hanthorn’s. For 16+ years, they have been a positive witness of the Christ’s love in Ft McPherson. They have a superior reputation among the people and have built a strong body of believers in Ft McPherson. Their reputation makes a positive reception of the Gospel in all of these communities more likely.
We should go because of the vision:
- Travel to each community praying God will lead us quickly to those who He is calling to Himself.
- Enter into discipleship relationships with those God has granted gift of faith in His Son.
- Train these believers to make disciples among their people.
- Walk with these new believers and disciplemakers as Christ builds His church in each community.
- Build a sense of community within the region among fellow believers and facilitate mutual support and encouragement.
- Leave a church that is so strongly connected to Christ that it is sending “missionaries” to other regions.
We should go because of the command and the promise:
- “I sent you to reap what you have not worked for. Others have done the hard work, and you have reaped the benefits of their labor.” (John 4:38)
We should go because we want to know Christ:
- “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.“(John 14:21)
Why go to the Arctic? Ultimately, we want to experience the reward of knowing Christ. In following His clearly communicated command for our lives, we fully expect to know Jesus more deeply, intimately and personally. We expect to enjoy the blessings of the love of the Father.
How about you? What is God directing you to do in your life? My advice — do it! You will never regret obeying Christ’s command out of love. The reward of knowing Christ is well worth any ’sacrifice’ you may be called to make.
Prayer Requests:
- That God would prepare the hearts of the people in Northwest Canada to receive the Good News.
- That God would move 1000 people who will pray for one of these communities (100 people per community) each day.
- That God would provide abundant resources for to allow us depart Orlando in April to begin our work in Canada in early June.
Blessings - Jim