Stan Collie stared at the sinking scow. The flat-bottomed boat had been loaded with all their family’s earthly belongings and supplies to last the winter in Buffalo Narrows.
It was October 1940. Stan and Evelyn had sold their farm, loaded up their five children and, assisted by Evelyn’s 18 year-old brother, set out on this journey. Stan had already traveled north from their Meadow Lake homestead two times previously. The Lord had given him a vision for First Nations people who had no one to tell them the wonderful plan of Salvation.
The trip north started off by team and wagon for the first 120 miles. The children thought it an adventure, but the hours of bone-jarring travel only emphasized the remoteness of their final destination. Unloading the wagon at Beauval and loading onto an old, flat-bottomed scow was in preparation for leaving in the morning for Buffalo Narrows.
As the final items were being loaded, the scow started taking on water and the adults barely got the children off before the scow had sunk.
This was just one of the many challenges the Collies would face as they pursued their desire to fulfill the vision that God had given them.
Visionaries are people who rarely see the obstacles, but rather choose to focus on the need that they are wanting to fulfill. They are willing to risk it all and often do not see the cost, but rather see the opportunities that are before them. They do not let hardships, setbacks or opposition deter them from the task that is set before them.
Every spring NCEM runs our Candidate Orientation and Training program for new workers. The first session is always spent telling the original vision of NCEM. We tell the stories showing our candidates the rich history of faith and prayer on which NCEM was founded. As new NCEM missionaries, they now share in the history and also the present realities. It is during these weeks of Orientation that each new missionary is encouraged to pray and seek God to affirm the calling and vision that each had in joining NCEM.
COMPLEMENTING THE GREATER VISION
It is always interesting to see how each missionary candidate has specific skills and giftings that complement the greater vision of NCEM. We have a rich history of facilitating individual vision in fulfilling the greater vision of the Mission.
For example, we were one of the first missions in Canada to utilize aircraft for outreach. Our missionaries saw the need for Bible camps for First Nations young people and families, and worked to establish camps in several locations.
Tribal Trails was initiated because of a vision for First Nations television. Discipleship and Bible training led NCEM to start Bible schools through the years in a number of locations.
The need for printed materials specifically for outreach led us to develop our own printshop. NCEM missionaries have been involved in Bible translation, including producing the JESUS Movie in several First Nations languages. We are still facilitating visionary missionaries as we develop YouTube channels and use social media. One of our visionary missionaries on the East Coast has started a podcast featuring testimonies and training.
VISION FROM THE HEART OF GOD
“Vision” comes from the heart of God and is focused on restoring the relationship between God and humanity. It calls us to engage in Kingdom ministry through the power of the Holy Spirit. God’s vision will always have God’s blessing and God’s resources when done in His way.
Really, as Christians, we are all called to be visionaries in our spiritual journey. We are to “fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). In Philippians 3:14, Paul tells us to “press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.” God calls us all to be followers of Him and to fulfill the “good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Eph. 2:10).
Paul also gives us a glimpse of his visionary values in Philippians 3:8 when he said, “For his sake I have discarded everything else, counting it all as garbage, so that I could gain Christ and become one with him.”
Stan Collie stood on the riverbank, watching bubbles come up as much of their flour, sugar and dry goods sank in the water. Then, after several days of drying and repairing, they resumed their trip to Buffalo Narrows. On his previous trip north Stan had secured a tiny fishing caboose for their family to live in. Upon arrival, with winter rapidly approaching, he was disappointed to discover that it was no longer available! They eventually found a log workshop that would temporarily serve as their home.
The Collies went north with no supporters, no mission organization, and no farm to go back to. Stan had a vision for bringing the Gospel to the North, which led him forward by faith and prayer. It is this same vision that challenges us to press on.
