Building on Persistent Witness
While many Canadians were longing for milder temperatures this past spring, after an abnormally cold winter, one of our missionary teams was hoping for the opposite.
Gilbert (centre) and Jon (right) with Denesuline friend.
It was because the ice roads on which they were traveling were on the verge of melting and becoming impassible.
By air or winter road, NCEMer Gilbert Bekkatla has been regularly visiting Denesuline communities in northern Manitoba, Saskatchewan and the NWT.
In many of these places there has not been a wide open door to share the Gospel in the past but, with a burden for his own people, Gilbert has persisted. Being Denesuline himself hasn’t given him an automatic “in.”
Things are changing, though. In March Gilbert visited several northern Saskatchewan communities accompanied by NCEM Central-Field Director, Jon Siebert, and Changsub Kim, an SIM missionary to Canada from South Korea.
Gilbert and Changsub (centre) getting ready to enjoy caribou meat offered them in a home.
“This time we were able to have Bible studies in home after home, something less likely in the past,” reports Jon, who has assisted Gilbert before.
Jon believes that Gilbert’s faithful witness over 20 years has helped prepare hearts to listen to the Gospel. Another factor, Jon notes, is that a number of elders who rigidly opposed evangelicals are now gone, and the younger generations are more open.
“For me a highlight was being able to open God’s Word and teach for an extended time in several homes,” adds Jon. “Also, we brought our guitars and used music a lot.”
Gilbert tells how Changsub’s testimony was listened to closely by the Dene people as he shared how, for thousands of years, his fellow Koreans “prayed a lot,” but had no relationship with God. Then missionaries came with the Word of God. His grandfather got saved, breaking a cycle of alcoholism and domestic violence.
The team helped bring in netted fish.
Besides in homes, on these outreach trips Gilbert often finds opportunities to meet residents in Band offices, which serve as daily gathering places. In one place a Band Councillor requested additional Christian literature. In many homes, as well, Christian magazines and Tribal Trails DVDs were gladly received.
Jon tells of meeting a local man who said, “We are in darkness. We need people like you to come talk to us.”
So we ask you to pray that the Lord would continue this work He has begun, and draw many Denesuline to a saving faith in Christ, the Light of the world.
The Denesuline
Formerly known by outsiders as Chipewyan, the Denesuline (pronounced “Den-eh-sooh-lee-neh”) live in northern Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories, and in several Canadian prairie cities.
Among Canada’s First Nations there are comparatively few born again Denesuline believers. Portions of Scripture have been translated, and church planting teams are needed as doors are opening. Please pray with us for God’s moving in this nation.
Prince Albert is home base for Gilbert & Laura Bekkatla where both are involved in local and prison outreaches.
(from Northern Lights issue #528). Note: some of the locations and involvements of our missionaries may have changed since the original publishing of this article.