introducing our Governing Board members ...
Eric & Michelle joined NCEM in 2002 to serve full-time in our Tribal Trails TV ministry and on staff at Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute.
A few years ago they transferred to associate membership, and with their two teenage children moved to Kenora, Ontario. Eric is employed on his home Reserve as a Family Well-Being worker, and Michelle is working for a consulting agency that is partnering on the same Reserve.
Eric is now a member of NCEM’s Governing Board, and Michelle serves as an associate missionary. Their children, Matthew and Amy, are both attending college. The fall of 2024, Matthew began his first year of Health Sciences, and Amy is off to Peace River Bible Institute.
Read here how the Lord led in their lives:
Eric: Always in my early years I questioned, “Why is life like this for me? Where is there hope for me?” My addictions had loosed their hold on me by 20 years of age, but I still felt unworthy of God’s forgiveness. It was the love a missionary on my Kenora (ON) reserve showed to my cousin that drew me to Jesus Christ in June, 1996.
After this I craved Christian fellowship. I knew nothing about Bible schools until the singing group, CrossBearers, from KBI toured through my reserve. My pastor requested an information packet from KBI for me. I was intrigued especially by the yearbook. Here were photos and testimonies of other young Native believers. I wanted to meet these students!
In February 1998 I took a 19-hour train trip to KBI’s NorthQuest. There were the students I felt I already knew from the yearbook! “Hey, Frank!” I greeted a guy I recognized from his picture. I was all excited. He gave me a weird look!
Years later I felt like I’d returned to something like my birthplace — where I really met the Lord, where I learned more of grace and more of God’s truth. I came as a missionary to give back some of what I gained during my Bible school days. I first served as Dean of Single Men, and then as Administrator to encourage thee students. Sometimes they were struggling — and I’ve been there. I love to listen to people and try to help them.
Michelle: When I was 19 or 20 I progressed from the nonsensical, dark and depressing “party scene” to the much tamer “bingo scene.” Then my Aunt Stella arrived to visit us in Thompson (MB). Her life was so different. I could see it in her eyes and her smile. I thought, “This is the lifestyle I want.” Aunt Stella opened up a whole new world to me — AWANA, kids’ club, Bible study and KBI. When she died I felt I’d been handed a baton to carry on.
After several years (and some training at another Bible school) I could no longer ignore the desire I had to go to KBI. The job I had didn’t go as I’d expected so I only managed to save $600.
Still, I had come to a point where I broke down to myself and my way of thinking. Though I had no idea how I would travel to KBI, or even pay for laundry soap when I arrived, I decided to trust God and go. He met every need on time. I wish my life was always filled with the kind of trust I had then!
KBI was a simple, not a luxurious, school. What mattered, though, was the discipling (the solid foundation of being a Christian) and the teaching (which has eternal value). I believed in KBI’s teaching. The main textbook was the Bible itself. The school was small enough that the staff can’t hide their strengths or weaknesses.
God blessed my obedience, in faith, to go to KBI as a student. Now I have a husband, two children, and a ministry!
