When it’s All New

Think back to your first day at a new job … maybe it was summer employment, or maybe the first day of your career. So much was unfamiliar. You weren’t sure what exactly was expected of you. Your coworkers were all new.

Our new missionaries experience all those things – and more. They have moved, leaving all that was familiar to them. There are social customs and sometimes an unfamiliar language they don’t yet understand. For some of our church planting missionaries, there may have been no team member to welcome them. They have been raising financial support, but perhaps wondering – with no regular pay cheque from employment – will there be enough to cover their living costs?

This is when the prayers of God’s people are crucial. All missionaries need prayer, but it is especially important in their first weeks and months. This may be the time when the new missionaries might even think that they made a big mistake.

On these next few pages you will hear from several new missionaries who have joined NCEM in the last year or two. Most of them are already fully involved in their new ministries. So how is it working out for them, you ask?

CONFIRMED CALLING … CONFIRMED

When you are called by the Lord to a ministry, you launch out despite the challenges. That’s what these new missionaries have done. Things may not be working out smoothly or on schedule, and that’s when confirmation that God is still with them means so much.

A couple years ago, Dan Engel spent a summer in northern Saskatchewan First Nations communities with Child Evangelism Fellowship. “We came away from it knowing God wanted us working with kids and youth on the reserves north of Prince Albert,” says Dan and his wife, Pam.

It was, in fact, CEF leaders who directed them to NCEM. That these ministries could work in partnership was confirmation they needed, say the Engels. Confirmation came to them in other ways, too, as they moved from Regina to Prince Albert even before they began raising their support.

“When we moved up to PA, God supplied a place to rent, food, and part-time employment as we started out. We sold our house in southern Saskatchewan, lifting a financial burden. We have seen many blessings come when we needed them the most … not only monetary, but emotionally, physically and spiritually.”

Marcus & Kameron Cook moved from southern Ontario to serve at NCEM’s Arrowhead Native Bible Center in New Brunswick. They say, “God has opened many doors for us that have confirmed things and given us a peace about our decision. We had many supporters join our team right away and tell us what a perfect fit they thought it was. Temporary housing was also provided for us very quickly in a town where renting options are very limited.”

Caylea Selke had been thinking about full-time missionary work for awhile. “I was always waiting for that ‘one’ calling,” she says. “I had interests in camp work, youth, media, and music, and wondered which one the Lord would call me to. It turns out that my role with NCEM allows me to be involved with all of these! This could have only come from the Lord who guided me and, at the right time, had this opportunity open up with NCEM.”

Caylea’s primary ministry is coordinating NCEM’s social media communication. She lives in Regina and is involved in local youth outreach.

For Peter Constant, confirmation of his calling to ministry came early. “I had always known I would someday join NCEM,” he says, mentioning the impact that missionaries, Dennis & Amanda Anderson, have had on his family and community at The Pas, Manitoba.

“It was on my heart to minister to my home community. The Lord confirmed my calling when we joined the NCEM family.” Peter’s wife, Charlene, says, “Through prayer, God’s Word, and other people, I know we are where God wants us to be right now.”

Ron & Sandra Eagles joined NCEM to serve among First Nations, and to challenge Canadian Christians to get involved. “The Lord has confirmed our calling to our present ministry by opening doors, and invitations to minister in both Native and non-Native churches,” say the Eagles. As this article was being written, Ron was traveling with Cree Bible teacher, Bill Jackson, visiting communities and churches in northern Manitoba.

H..E..S..I..T..A..T..I..O..N..S?

When a person follows God’s call to service, the sacrifices and things he or she initially gives up may fade in importance over time. But there was a time when each of these new missionaries counted the cost. It was clear to them what they were giving up.

“What we left behind was certainty and security in life,” say the Engels. They mention how they were enjoying their existing ministry connections and close friendships, and wondered what would replace them.

The Cooks tell how they knew they were called to missions, but there were several options of places to go and sending agencies to choose from. Their concern was, “Is this the right mission to join?” As far as things they had to let go of, they list: “Living near family, a career as a helicopter pilot, and the pride of ‘making your own living.’ ”

Caylea describes her hesitation this way: “I was joining a Mission that I wasn’t really familiar with, and not knowing what I was fully getting myself into – also, because it was a new role within NCEM.” As others joining a “faith” mission express, there is giving up the assurance of a consistent pay cheque. “I knew that raising support is a task that takes awhile before a sufficient income is flowing in,” Caylea shares.

As far as hesitations, when someone commits to missionary service, they want to know that they and the mission are on the same page. The Constants say, “We saw that NCEM was moving forward.”

“One of the biggest hesitations for us,” say the Eagles, “was that we would need to raise our own support.” There were other sacrifices. Back in 2012, Ron & Sandra first joined NCEM short-term to serve at the former Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute. That required them leaving their home in New Brunswick to move cross-country to Alberta. “Some of our children had a difficult time adjusting,” they acknowledge.

WHEN TO PRAY … & HOW

These new missionaries need and appreciate prayer – as do our missionary candidates, those who have recently joined us in the past several months.

Dan & Pam say that their biggest challenge right now is having patience. They’re still at the support raising stage, and having trouble waiting to become fully involved in ministry. In the meantime they’re visiting northern communities as much as they’re able. “We know there is no limit to how prayer is vital daily to what we do. Pray that God will give us servant hearts for what He has prepared for us.”

Marcus & Kameron say they are still adjusting to living in a comparatively unpopulated area, and raising a young family away from their grandparents and other kids their age. “That’s a concern of ours,” they say, “and we are trying to be faithful in raising our boys well despite these circumstances.”

“Being a young single missionary can make it challenging to raise support alone,” says Caylea. Also, serving in a role that’s brand new to NCEM, she appreciates prayer as she gets to know all of the missionaries. “It’s a big task to be able to share about their ministries through various media.”

Ideally, our new missionaries will have raised 80% of their support level before launching out. But because our workers serve in Canada, it happens that some begin their full-time ministries without reaching that goal. Ron & Sandra are among them, and also request: “Please pray for strength as we travel. Also for our health, because we both have concerns.”

Peter & Charlene have the advantage of already knowing their community, with Peter having grown up there. They both have close connections with local people through part-time work and community service. But those close connections are not always easy, they say. Charlene says she faces toxic negativity in one of those places. “Pray that I would view these situations as ripe opportunities to share and shine Christ in and for people to recognize and respond to Him.”

It’s people’s indifference to the Gospel that the Constants primarily ask prayer for. “They think they are saved just because they believe that Jesus exists, and because they were baptized as a baby, or later confirmed. Our desire is that people will experience who Jesus really is, and will follow Him in total life commitment.”

That Canada’s First Peoples would know who Jesus really is – this is why these new missionaries have launched out. Karl & Ana Kruse shared in their recent prayer letter: “These last few months have been a whirlwind of change for our family … We have been settling into our new ministry and asking the Lord to show us what He would have us do, and where He would have us serve. Our Father is faithful and has opened up many doors for sharing the Gospel!”

(from Northern Lights issue #551)