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A SELECTED "NORTHERN LIGHTS"
MAGAZINE ARTICLE
(from Issue #489)
NCEM: A Team Widespread
 Scientists
estimate that Canada geese can fly up to 70 percent farther because of the
updraft produced by flying as a group. An independent and self-reliant
goose doesn't go near as far nor as fast!
That's a great illustration of the benefit of teamwork. In NCEM we
have to admit, though, that maybe "independent" and "self-reliant"
is exactly the way we've sometimes thought of ourselves.
Many of Canada's First Nations live in small and widely scattered
communities. Geography demands that our missionaries be self-reliant and
resourceful, as many find themselves serving far from coworkers.
 It did
take the independent spirit of Stan Collie, our first missionary, to
launch out like he did back in 1939. He traveled North by boat with his
young family, built his own home, caught and shot his family's food, and
preached the Gospel where no one else was doing it.
But even Stan Collie was not a loner. For one thing, he knew the task
of reaching Canada's Native peoples was too much for one man. And he
understood that the first missionary bands in the New Testament had
demonstrated powerful effectiveness as tightly-knit, task-oriented groups.
So he began praying for team members to join him.
Psalms 133 says, "How good and pleasant it is when brothers live
together in unity!" God has promised to bless when His people serve
together. But how can a mission as spread out as NCEM function as a
unified "team"?
 We'll
be the first to admit that the challenges in seeking that blessing are
many -- but the benefits are even more!
Certainly, communication is key. We all need ongoing mutual
encouragement, especially for those times when we may feel like giving up.
We also need reminders from our coworkers to stay on task, to keep focused
on reaching First Nations for Christ.
There are many ways to stay connected: phone, mail, etc., but we've
learned that nothing can replace face-to-face conversation and fellowship!
 That's
why "conference" is held in such high regard. It's only at our
workers' conferences that our Mission body can be together physically. "Field" conferences take place once or twice a year, and our
"general"
conference every three or four years. That's really not very often, and
that makes these times seem even more special.
This past August we saw vehicles with Yukon, Quebec, and BC license
plates pulling on to the Bethany College campus at Hepburn, Saskatchewan.
Besides these, some missionaries had flown in to the Saskatoon airport.
At conference you see long-time workers reunited. And it's an
opportunity for the Mission family to meet our newest members. There are
special sessions for children and teens, and our "MKs" go home having
developed friendships with those of common experience. Bible messages from
guest speakers are always appreciated -- especially so because
missionaries have been on the "giving" end of ministry all year. It's
a spiritual boost -- one of our past general directors called conference, "Family Devotions."
 We share
reports from our fields and departments -- the victories and the
struggles. There's just something special about getting together -- the
noise of friendly (even exuberant) conversation in between meetings makes
that apparent.
… which may cause us to take the "goose" comparison a little too
far … but those same scientists do believe that the continual honking of
geese serves no other purpose than mutual encouragement!
GETTING TOGETHER
No matter who or where they are, there is always a reason when people
get together. Worldwide, that's what Christians do, for the Lord has
called us into one Body, the Church. This oneness is most often expressed
in local gatherings. And while the local church group will place its
attention primarily on the needs of its own people, the missionary "group"
has its focus predominantly on a task. (That is not to say that a local
church has no task, or that a mission has no relationships!)
Though we are
physically spread out, our NCEM team has "banded" together for a
specific task: reaching Canada's First Peoples for Jesus Christ.
NCEMers ON CONFERENCE:
"It's always a good time of fellowship with missionaries we don't
get to see very often."
"We were challenged, encouraged, and had a lot
of fun together."
"It's a good time of fellowship and encouragement,
and being fed from the messages ... we leave refreshed and rejuvenated,
and ready to go back to work."
FINDING FELLOWSHIP
Of course, NCEMers find fellowship outside of conference, too! We
experience meaningful fellowship with Native believers year-round in our
communities (of course, harder to find in pioneer settings). Some
missionaries find fellowship in evangelical churches located close to
their stations, and NCEMers also find fellowship with other IMCO
missionaries (IMCO is a cooperation of about 10 missions with a similar
mandate).
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