“They Loved Our People”

One Couple’s Ongoing Mission: 25 Years After Retirement!

During Paul Giles’ career with a Colorado phone company, summer family vacations were spent at scenic Dore Lake, in northwest Saskatchewan.

Early retirement in 1987, and an invitation from a First Nations mother there to teach her kids the Bible, were the beginnings of a life-changing missionary effort now extending to several other communities!

Pat & Paul Giles

Paul & Pat now had a reason to live at Dore Lake year-round. And when their ministry there became self-sustaining, they sensed God’s call to another northern community. After consultation with NCEM and village leaders, they moved to Stanley Mission in 1993.

How they gained the trust of many in that community is a story in itself. They served there five years before Pat’s post-polio condition forced a return to Colorado.
Not surprising, they left their hearts behind, and it has kept them coming back each summer. But not just them – many others have joined in reaching Stanley Mission and surrounding villages for Jesus. Last year marked 13 years of summer team ministry in Stanley Mission, Sucker River, and Grandmothers Bay. Some summers as many as 45 folks from Colorado have come with Paul & Pat (serving on several teams).

The impact? That’s best answered by someone like Keisha Cook. Keisha tells how she first got to know Paul & Pat in 2008, though she’d seen them in her community as early as 2004. “It was at Sucker River. I was 18 years old. All I knew was that they were missionaries from Stanley Mission. I met them at the school where their summer team was staying.

“I instantly loved them,” says Keisha. “They were full of life. They were lots of fun, and very caring. I remember them having ‘elders’ Bible studies, Vacation Bible School for kids, and visiting homes. I came to their Bible studies, and they asked if I would consider helping them with their VBS.

“I was impressed with their dedication to sharing the Gospel, even though they were retirement age. They loved our people,” says Keisha.

“Because it was God who sent them, I’ve seen fruit. Through their ministry there’s been a decline in suicides. And I’ve seen a hunger for the Word that hasn’t always been there. I’ve seen adults saying, ‘Teach us.’ I’ve seen young moms asking advice in parenting. I’ve noticed a change.”

Paul and Pat both began struggling with health. When the Stanley Mission folks heard that it was becoming too difficult for them to drive up, and that 2013 could be their last summer, they bought them airline tickets. Their doctor, however, refused to give permission unless they traveled with a health professional. The Lord did provide a professional … that same doctor!

Year-round contact continues between the summer volunteers and these northern residents through phone and internet. Paul & Pat’s prayerful longing is for these adults and families to continue with Bible studies throughout the winter. They were recently very encouraged to hear some express their desire to do just that, but they said, “We don’t know how.”

Back in Colorado, that fuels the Giles’ prayers for someone to further encourage these northerners in Christ. Note: Paul passed away in 2016.

(from Northern Lights issue #526). Note: some of the locations and involvements of our missionaries may have changed since the original publishing of this article.