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FACES&places
NCEM NEWS & NOTES FOR PRAISE &
PRAYER
Spring 2008
PROFESSIONALS
& PARTNERS
 When
Eastern/Inuit-Field Director Phil Welch, and his wife, Gracie, lived
in northern Quebec, they often prayed for Christian professionals
(teachers, nurses, etc.) to come and be part of God's work.
This past winter, while
visiting in the North, they saw answer to that prayer.
One evening they were
invited by friends to a music program rehearsal at a mainline church,
and noticed Bible story pictures and Scriptures on the walls that
looked very familiar. They were, in fact, visuals the Welches had left
behind years before, hoping somebody would use them!
They were told a new
school teacher had begun a Sunday school. Gracie looked up the young
lady, told her about seeing the pictures, and thanked her for what she
was doing.
As they got acquainted,
Gracie noticed a tear in the teacher's eye. She explained that she'd
just received an anonymous letter saying she shouldn't be teaching
"Bible stuff" to the children, just "traditions."
She was very discouraged
about it, but Gracie told her about the local people who had just
expressed how happy they were with the new Sunday school, and prayed
for her encouragement.
A S K : Ask
the Lord to send more Christian professionals to Native communities,
where they can have great impact for Christ among adults and youth.
Along with our missionaries they, too, need encouragement and prayer.
(If you know of professionals seeking locations to partner with
missionaries, please write or call us.)
CROSSTRAINING
 Sixty
kids seems like a good-sized Sunday school. That's an average
attendance ... meeting in Tim & Sue Hoffman's home!
The Hoffmans serve as
pastor/missionaries in northern Manitoba. One of their disappointments
has been seeing kids quit coming to church when they reach junior and
high school ages.
But that's been changing
since last fall when an AWANA program for grades 6-8 began. A number
of the young people who had stopped coming are now attending "CrossTrainers."
"We're thankful they
still have a desire to come to church and learn about God and His
Word," say the Hoffmans. Now CrossTrainers for the younger age
group has started, too.
RuthAnne Abbott, a short-termer
from London (ON), has been part of this turnaround. Two summers ago
she served with an AWANA high school group in this same community.
Wanting to experience "missionary life" before beginning
Bible college, she's returned for several months.
RuthAnne also teaches
Sunday school classes and volunteers at the elementary school one day
a week. "She has won the hearts of our church family and is doing
a great job of ministering to the children, young people and
ladies," say Tim and Sue.
A S K : Pray
that young people will keep on with the Lord and become a contributing
part of the Bible Chapel. Also pray for construction of a new Sunday
school building, planned for this summer.
WAYS TO
GO
 With their northern
Manitoba community situated on several islands connected by bridges,
driving can be quite time consuming, say Ed & Karen Lytle.
In the winter, however,
the waterways become roadways, making it possible for people (and
animals) to get around much more freely. Not all these ice roads are
maintained, so snowfall is a factor. But these shortcuts are great
time savers, and often cut the Lytles' travel time at least in half.
In fact, travel time to
their weekly Wednesday and Thursday evening Bible club and youth
outreach in a school gym is reduced from 25 minutes to 5
minutes!
Traveling by snowmobile
can be even faster, but not entirely uncomplicated. A recent report
mentions how Ed and their son, Brad, lost their ministry equipment one
evening, falling off their sled. Thankfully, it was recovered
undamaged, and the snow brushed off, just in time to use it.
"Just another
occasion to carry on when the unexpected happens," say Ed &
Karen. "Try not to lose focus; God is right there!"
A S K : The
Lytles appreciate prayer for God's protection, salvation and
spiritual strength for each member of their family. Their local church
appreciates prayer for its present outreach, and for building
renovation projects underway. There's also preparation for summer
ministries.
TIMBER
BAY's GETTING READY
 "We're always
getting ready for something," says Brian Langendoen, who oversees
NCEM's Timber Bay Bible Centre in north-central Saskatchewan.
Most recently it was
preparation for the SnowBlast teen weekend in early March, followed by
an NCEM staff conference.
Preparation at TBBC now
turns to the annual eight-week IMCO-sponsored cross-cultural training
program "MDP," for missionary candidates.
MDP is followed
immediately by Bible camps for children and teens in July.
And that's just part of
the picture. There are other weekend gatherings, and hosting
short-term ministry teams who help with local outreach and facilities
maintenance.
"It's busy, but it's
good," say Brian & Sandy.
A S K : There
are ongoing facility repair/replacement needs at TBBC, "but our
biggest prayer concern is for the local church," say the
Langendoens. There is a new effort involving Native believers to start
a fellowship on nearby Montreal Lake Reserve, and Timber Bay staff
would love to see that progress.
This
year they've appreciated the partnership of Ben & Nikki Clarke (NAIM
missionaries) who are still in need of financial support.
TRIBAL
TRAILS: BEYOND TECHNICALITIES
 You won't see Phil Reimer's
face when you tune in to Tribal Trails, but he's one of our
missionaries who helps make this Native television ministry happen.
Phil has technical tasks
such as operating camera, transcribing and cataloguing raw video,
closed-captioning, and duplicating broadcast tapes sent to TV
stations.
There's also the
duplicating of Tribal Trails programs on DVD. He says over 5,000
videos were sent out last year, some to viewers who request a program
to watch again, and also to people who distribute them as a ministry.
(There is no set price for the DVDs mailed out -- donations received
usually cover the costs.)
A technical matter on the
minds of Tribal Trails staff is the upcoming change to High Definition
(HD). Phil says they're still not sure when Canadian TV stations will
require it, but they want to be prepared. The staff is already looking
into purchasing HD cameras, and there will be other HD equipment
needed.
Along with care of their
four children, Elsie has been spending time helping develop a lending
library at NCEM Headquarters. It has books and videos accessible to
our field missionaries and their children, as well as HQ staff.
A S K :
Beyond the technicalities of their ministries, the Reimers ask prayer
that Tribal Trails will make a difference in people's lives, and that
the new video equipment needed will serve that goal.
Also,
Phil & Elsie and their young family desire to have a personal
impact for Christ in their neighbourhood.
"BRIDGING
THE GAP"
 Ken & Vi Dafoe
continue to serve in several supportive roles, seeing Christ build His
Church among First Nations in southern Alberta.
One of their ministry
highlights is helping to plan "Bridging the Gap," an annual
summer weekend event initiated by local First Nations rancher, Todd
Munro. (Todd has been a guest on our Tribal Trails TV program.)
Attended by area church
folks and those from the local First Nation, there is Gospel music,
preaching, testimonies and, with this being cattle country, it's not
complete without a feast of barbecued beef. The purpose of Bridging
the Gap is to promote unity and celebrate the Gospel, say Ken &
Vi.
They appreciate the
testimonies of other local Native believers, as well. Last fall a 45
year-old Christian man died from cancer. He had been a member of the
Band Council and, at his very large funeral, the chief commended him
for his Christian testimony and his strong ethical stand.
The Dafoes also have a
continued ministry at an elders lodge. And there are Bible studies and
other get-togethers to attend to encourage others.
A S K : Ken & Vi
appreciate prayer for the spread of the Gospel, and growth among
Christian believers.
NEW in
NCEM
 We're happy to welcome
back Samuel & Grace Saeki to career service.
Originally from Japan,
the Saekis served with us previously among the Inuit of Baker Lake (Nunavut)
in the mid-1990s, and then as associate members in Winnipeg. For the
last few years Samuel has pastored the Winnipeg Japanese Alliance
Church.
Samuel and Grace have
three children: Tommy and Naomi, who are college age, and Emi, who
will be entering Grade 8 this fall.
The Saekis plan to
move to Prince Albert this summer to serve in Bookstore/Printshop-related
ministries. They appreciate prayer for the rebuilding of their
prayer/financial support team.
IN
APPRECIATION
It's with appreciation
we say thank you to these three longserving families who are moving on
to other employment and ministry:
Ken & Heidi
Ditchburn served on staff at
Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute in various capacities from 1987-92, and
since 1996.
Ed & Brenda Selke have
been on staff at Key-Way-Tin Bible Institute since 1990, and will
complete their kitchen and library service there in May.
We also acknowledge the dedicated
service of Phil & Carol Ford who, since 1993, served at
Grouard (AB), Timber Bay (SK), and Carcross (YT).
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