A special feature by Rev. Francis Delaplain

Innovation in ministry has been necessary from very early on in the Diocese of the Arctic. From travelling in remote Arctic areas to translation work, there has been creativity and collaboration all along the way. When the COVID19 pandemic struck it provided an opportunity for a new generation of priests, deacons, and lay leaders to engage in ministry in new ways. Ways that have brought a new audience to the church. For some they were just starting ministry in a new community when they were faced with the challenge of not being able to gather in person.

This was the case for Rev. Ann Martha Keenainak, who was already facing ministry in a familiar, yet new context. She had been asked to go to St. Luke’s Church in the community of Pangnirtung. Pangnirtung is an Inuit community of about 1,400 people located on Baffin Island in the Territory of Nunavut.

For Rev. Ann Martha this was home. And she had thought it would be challenging to return home to take on parish leadership. People had seen her one way, and now she was going to attempt to lead. This seems a theme in ministry for Rev. Keenainak, who at first wasn’t sure she wanted to be ordained at all and then wasn’t sure she wanted to go to “Pang”, and finally had asked God, that having called her into ministry and sent her to Pangnirtung, that at least she would never have to do preaching on the radio.

“Don’t say, ‘I’ll never do this’ to God,” warns Keenainak, “that is exactly the thing that God will send you to do.”

This leads us back to the start of our story. Shortly after her arrival in Pangnirtung the COVID19 restrictions were reinstated due to a spike in cases in the area. And this was right before the Christmas season which is such an important time of gathering for the community for worship, meals, games, and many other interactions. So when, on Christmas Eve, it became known that this wouldn’t be available there was a scramble to figure out how to create new ways of connecting. And in many of these communities it is not as simple as going online due to unstable internet connections. Prior to the Christmas season Rev. Keenainak had spoken with the leaders in the church that if necessary the radio was available to them. She noted that she has been so amazed at the way that God has made connections for the church in the community. The person in charge of the radio station had served as a worship leader and was aware of the benefit of broadcasting services. So knowing that this was available she made a plan for what she “thought wouldn’t happen”. But as the closure came so did the need to take the service onto the radio.

The radio has become a gathering place for the community. Working with the local Pentecostal church they offer two services a Sunday, rotating morning and evening service. On the radio they began to hold games and contests that engaged the community in positive ways. One such contest invited listeners to call in with things they were thankful for. Their names were then entered for the draw. This, for Rev. Ann Martha became the feedback to encourage her that people were listening and engaging with the message.

Another benefit of the radio ministry is that they have been able to have many of the retired Inuit ministers to preach over the radio. This is something Rev. Keenainak is extremely grateful for. Their willingness to support the church and to provide spiritual leadership in a hard time. She speaks of the way that she has been supported and mentored as she has stepped up in areas of ministry. It is further humbling that they are also open to learn and grow in the message that they preach. The elders preach differently. They focus on works, more on what we do right. Abelie Napartuk, a mentor to Ann Martha, expressed that he did not know when he was young, to preach the love and grace of God. Ann Martha marvels that they are still willing to learn this, though they have done so much and teach so much. And yet there is also so much to learn. To watch them continue to journey in faith. And Abelie is still “a force of nature”. And he still speaks to the church over the airwaves. She said it is not as well said in English as in Inuktitut, but in essence, “Your life right now, could you be accountable for it, would you live this way if you were in heaven.” She expresses her awe at the strength with which he speaks.

When I ask about how she finds the sacred and meaningful in this new form of ministry Rev. Keenainak shares of a man who tunes in who was an alcoholic who was an abusive partner, he was a thief, he rebelled against his elderly parents, but he has now given his life to Christ. “I know that he listens and that he is hungry. I know that he wants more. And I know that he has Bible beside him when he prays. I know it is a challenge for him. But we have services with him in mind. We are a witness and a testimony, we are walking miracles when we look at where we are from where we were.” She says it is with this in mind that she knows that she is doing what God has for her to do at this time. And she says if she knows that he is listening how many are listening that she doesn’t know, “and if his heart that was hard has softened, how many more. And so I completely place my trust in God. A few years ago I was in Jerusalem. I felt God calling me to ministry. I prayed, ‘I don’t know where you are taking me but I am placing all my trust in you. Here now I place my trust in God. I am holding close to heart the number of people who don’t come to church who are listening. I don’t know if, when we go to church, they will come. I rely on God, that I accept that we are reaching more people than we were at the church.”

And she sees that going forward there is even more they can do. They are going to do training for people in the region to be able to be tune in and receive training on vestry responsibilities, some are looking to teach on history, and church leadership. This is just the beginning of what this ministry will be. In a region of the world were it has been necessary to innovate and to be willing to try new things, this is another chapter of that. Doing what we thought we never would, and putting our trust in God.

The Diocese of The Arctic
PO Box 190
Yellowknife, NT X1A 2N2
http://www.arcticnet.org
exe_officer@arcticnet.org
867-873-5432

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