Faces & Places

News & Notes for Praise & Prayer …

NEW in NCEM

Jordan Blodgett has joined his wife, Linsey, in NCEM as an Associate Member. Jordan works in the media industry out of Regina, Saskatchewan, while also serving with NCEM’s new social media outreach “Generation Hope.”

 

LIFE-CHANGING STORIES

Blaine & Rachel Witherow have been serving with NCEM’s Tribal Trails TV ministry for over 40 years. As you can guess, there have been many changes in audio-visual technology during those years!

Looking back, Blaine explains that Tribal Trails began broadcasting before the days of home video recorders/players, before personal computers, long before cell phones, and the list goes on. The program was recorded on various tape formats before digital formats came into use.

What hasn’t changed is that program guests still share how they have found salvation and hope in Jesus Christ. They share their testimonies, songs, and Bible-based messages. It is primarily First Nations and Métis believers who share, and they do it with the purpose of reaching their own people with the Gospel. Some Indigenous believers in Canada are physically isolated, with very little Christian fellowship. Tribal Trails serves as an encouragement to them.

“Real People, Real Life, Real Hope” is Tribal Trails’ slogan, and it is reflected in the testimonies of everyday people. An additional benefit is that viewers from many other cultures and ethnic groups are watching regularly … facilitating First Nations believers reaching the world! Besides TV, Tribal Trails can also be viewed online (www.TribalTrails.org and YouTube).

Blaine works primarily in technical areas, and Rachel with follow-up, which includes the spiritual help phone line and printed resources sent by postal mail and email.

PRAY … for new media missionaries to join our small and overloaded Tribal Trails staff to help with program planning and video editing. Training is provided for new workers.

 

YOUNG ADULTS TAKING INITIATIVE

Originally from Saskatchewan, Venus Cote has served in the Maritimes for almost 35 years. She has served in Mi’kmaq and Wolastoqiyik (Malecite) communities, and also at NCEM’s Arrowhead Native Bible Center.

She has loved time with the youngsters at Arrowhead’s summer camps, also helping in the kitchen. Lately, Venus’s health challenges have limited her involvement at Arrowhead, and she carries on personal ministries in and around St. Mary’s First Nation, near Fredericton, New Brunswick.

Venus is happy to visit homes, sharing the Gospel and encouraging believers. Some of them are seniors who are lonely and appreciate the daily visits. There is also a seniors group on St. Mary’s that meets every week.

On the other end of the age spectrum, there’s also a young adults group that meets weekly. Along with fellow missionaries, and a couple of local leaders, Venus enjoys the Bible teaching and fellowship that is shared. “What a blessing to work with young people who are faithful. They come every Friday night. It’s been great to see them following the Lord, and for me to be part of their baptisms in a local church. It’s exciting to see them take initiative in getting to church services.”

Venus says, “I’m reminded that ‘Greater is he that is in me than he that is in the world.’ I serve a holy and living God who is on the throne. He knows all things even before we ask.”

PRAY … for Venus’s health. “God knows my condition,” she writes. “He knows what I need, whether He chooses to heal or not. It’s entirely up to Him, and I have peace.”

 

TRANSLATION & MORE

Bobby & Veronica Moberly live in the First Nations community of Quilchena, near Merritt, BC. Along with outreach opportunities there through home visitation and literature distribution, Bobby takes his turn preaching at the Native Fellowship in Merritt. The Moberlys also assist with taking phone calls from Tribal Trails TV viewers seeking spiritual help.

Time is also devoted to Dene language Bible translation. Originally from northwestern Saskatchewan, Bobby works alongside NCEMer Tim Gradin, translating Scripture into his first language, Denesuline.

This work is done online, with the Gradins living in Saskatchewan. While the books of Genesis, Luke and other portions are complete, there is more to be translated.

An exciting project in the meantime is the Dene translation of “God is Reaching Out to Us,” an illustrated Bible study book, written by NCEMer Naomi Epp. Unexpected ministry opportunities have come about as Tim Gradin has some Dene men he visits at the Saskatchewan Penitentiary in Prince Albert helping with translation!

PRAY … for the Moberlys as they look for a reliable vehicle, and for better health as they deal with varying issues.

 

CRAZY ROLLER COASTER RIDE

Karen Emke joined NCEM in 2012 and says that these years have been “a crazy roller coaster ride with lots of changes!” Karen has served at two of our Bible camps, primarily as a cook, and has also served at NCEM’s main office. She adds, “Despite those changes, God has walked with me and has proven faithful along the way.”

Karen now lives and serves in Nipawin, Saskatchewan, and is part of our team of missionaries working to plant a church there. She says that working alongside others is very helpful in building on each other’s strengths, while also helping with weaknesses. Karen writes, “No matter what comes my way, I am thankful we don’t walk it alone.”

PRAY … for Karen’s involvement in the lives of those she is meeting through her ministry at Open Arms Bible Fellowship.

 

NCEM’s MANDATE … & NUMBER CRUNCHING

Bob (& Doris) Laird live in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan, where Bob serves at NCEM’s main office as Chief Financial Officer. When asked to describe his work, Bob responded, “Well, this is what I’m doing today …

“There is an email discussion with the auditor, finalizing amounts and notes for NCEM’s Audited Financial Statements. A new accounting system has been developed … It is really paying off with … access to information … This makes serving missionaries and managers much easier … However, there have been things to work out … As our auditor summarized, ‘Each year is a learning year and moving towards greater things and easier times.’ Financial reports have been completed today … and bank reconciliation by one of our bookkeepers.

“But what can we learn from these reports? How can NCEM’s ministry be managed well? That is the real benefit from all this number-crunching.

“Tomorrow morning I will teach our newest missionaries about how finances affect NCEM as a corporation and charity … but mostly how that affects our roles as missionaries, working to fulfill our mandate of reaching First Nations with the Gospel.

“Getting to meet and speak with the new missionaries face to face will result in smoother processing and less questions later. When they understand the flow of finances through the organization, it will [help them] concentrate on their ministry to the people they serve. It has been a great day, and tomorrow will bring new important challenges.”

PRAY … for our current need of additional bookkeepers at our Headquarters Office in Prince Albert.

 

“YOU’RE THE MAN I WANT TO SEE IN JAIL!”

Tony & Janet Ens serve in Whitehorse, Yukon. Several years ago, someone said this to Tony … “Hey, Tony. You’re just the man I want to see in jail!” Those words from the part-time chaplain at Whitehorse Correctional Centre back in 2013 (shortly after the Enses moved back to Yukon from Alberta) were the first step toward Tony becoming involved once again in jail ministry as a volunteer.

In 2022 the same chaplain phoned Tony to say that he was needing to step down as chaplain due to his health, and that Tony should consider chaplaincy at WCC. Tony did, and applied to serve as part-time chaplain. Now Tony provides and coordinates spiritual support for the inmates. This mainly involves one-to-one visits, leading a couple of chapel services a month, and responding to requests from inmates from a variety of faith backgrounds.

Almost three years ago, Janet sensed the need for a ministry to the grieving in Whitehorse. She got in touch with GriefShare, and in late January 2023, the first GriefShare group in Yukon met. Janet and Tony, along with friends from their church, have facilitated three 13-week GriefShare cycles so far. It has been a joy to see the impact of God bringing healing and growth in the lives of the participants. Participants feel safe sharing their personal experience of grief, and are pointed to the Scripture and to Jesus. They are being encouraged in their grief journey and becoming equipped to comfort others in theirs.

With the support of their local church, Tony and Janet are involved in outreach to Pelly Crossing (pop. approx. 400) where they lived and served from 1992 to 1998. Ministry doors have opened through officiating funerals, and the Enses have led summer Bible Day Camps. Beginning February 2024, they have added a monthly church service that includes singing, prayer, Bible study, and a fellowship meal. Six to seven adults have been coming out to these services, sometimes bringing children.

PRAY … for more people to attend the Pelly Crossing services, to hear the Gospel and grow closer to Jesus Christ.