While employed as an aircraft mechanic in the North, Derek McDonald recalls flying over communities en route to maintenance work and wondering, “Are there believers down there? A Bible teaching church?”
It’s not surprising he would be thinking that way. After graduating from Bible college and marrying Katie, Derek had trained as a pilot/mechanic with the goal of missionary service. In 2023 the McDonalds joined NCEM and moved closer to the Mission’s Airbase at Nipawin, SK.
One particular community had stuck in Derek’s mind. He thought, “Why not stop there? It’s not too far a flight from our Airbase.” He shared those thoughts with fellow NCEMer, Jonah Sawatzky, who serves in Nipawin. They began praying about it, and asking around about who might know someone there – but to no avail.
“We still didn’t know much about the place,” says Jonah, “but we felt led by the Lord to stop in there unannounced.” Not knowing what to expect that early fall day, they found friendly airport staff, and an offer of a ride to town, averting a long walk. While explaining why they had come, Derek and Jonah mentioned NCEM’s “Tribal Trails TV program.”
“We’d thought we might be walking around the community,” they say, “but the locals had other plans. Our first ride took us to the Band Office, and from there to the Northern Store. Each place people were curious about us.”
Their ride took them next to the Health Centre, where they were invited to join the staff in a large room to get acquainted, and to sing (and sing, and sing). For an hour and-a-half Jonah led with his guitar, along with conversation in between the songs requested.
TRAVELING TIME
Derek and Jonah flew home encouraged. The people were welcoming, and seemed open to more visits. And now they knew more about the community, home to almost 2,000 people.
They had met some who identified as Christians, but there was no Bible teaching church, and no one mentioned a Bible study or fellowship group. Derek and Jonah had met the leader of a mainline church there, and his beliefs definitely didn’t line up with Scripture. Though he had been friendly, now that he knew their biblical stance, he was probably wishing they wouldn’t return.
Among some there seemed to be some spiritual confusion and mixing of beliefs. These people needed Bible teaching, and Derek and Jonah guessed that visits from other evangelicals have been few and far between.
A little later, the two made their second visit, just as encouraging as the first. To their disappointment, though, further visits still haven’t happened (at time of writing). On their third attempt the weather turned bad and, with the plane collecting ice, they had to turn around. Then Derek broke his hand and was in a cast for three months. Last summer’s forest fires had the community evacuated for several months.
Pray. At press-time, plans are for return trips, but there’s an added challenge because their main contact person has moved away. And with the time gap, Derek and Jonah say it might feel more like a “restart.” They’re asking prayer for a local man to serve as their primary contact person, and for a suitable meeting location. There’s weather to consider when scheduling trips, and other ministry obligations (Jonah is also overseeing two church groups this winter).
PLANES, PILOTS, PARTNERS
Noah Wahlstrom serves as NCEM’s Aviation Administrator. Along with Derek, he and others on the Aviation team: lead mechanic Dan (Val) Moulton, and part-time pilots Albert (Barb) Heal, Naomi Wahlstrom, Gary (Wanda) Brown – all share the desire to spread the Gospel and strengthen believers using aircraft.
The Lord has provided NCEM with three Cessna planes, and we thank Him for these workers. These missionaries have spent extra years and dollars training to be pilots and mechanics, and have a heart for reaching people. What Derek and Jonah have done – stopping in northern communities unannounced – is similar to when NCEM began.
Aviation makes it possible to reach isolated communities where there may be very few Christ followers, or none at all. Noah, who joined NCEM in 2019, has been doing this, having partnered with missionary Gilbert Bekkatla to visit numerous Denesuline communities.
It’s true that more northern communities are now accessible by road year-round, but there’s still a role for aviation. With the high cost of commercial flights in the North, there’s also the important ministry of flying like minded workers such as Native Evangelical Fellowship (NEFC) leaders to visit their churches, and Child Evangelism Fellowship workers for 5-Day Clubs.
We’ve focused on just one community in this article. Derek and Jonah have other places on their hearts, too. Last year they flew to a community where the school principal invited them to present a Gospel program in four classrooms. Elsewhere, they recently delivered a box of Bibles requested by a bi-vocational missionary who leads a fellowship in a northern community.
Pray. Praise God for opportunities made possible through aviation. Pray for logistical challenges like securing “av gas” fuel in the North, increasing aircraft maintenance costs, safe flying weather, and young families at home. Most of all, that the Good News of Jesus will reach and touch many lives.
