By the Rev. Victor Johnson
“For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways”, declares the LORD.” For as the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts”
Isaiah 55:8-9
God’s providence and His leading is not something that we can comprehend with our human minds in a profound manner. The only thing that works is a total surrender to His ways, which begins the process of learning to trust Him. Believing that God always knows the best, my wife Nalini and I prepared ourselves to move in to the Hamlet of Aklavik, NT in 2021. The parishioners have a good hunger for the living Word and have displayed a great commitment and dedication in serving our Lord Jesus in many ways. Appreciating and acknowledging the great work of the Team of the Diocesan Education Committee who have devoted their precious time and energy to give us the Baptismal Study Material for learning and meditation, the community has shown keen interest in understanding and spending time with the family in exploring the purpose of Baptism and during the course, becoming and being disciples. I admit, it’s a wonderful journey of learning for the Teacher and the Class to recommit our lives to the Lord afresh!
The greatest support to begin with is to realise that the Team of Vestry members are willing to work together to reach out to our community, with complete dependence on the leading of the Lord in His ways. We know not to make the easy mistake of leaning on our expertise and understanding – that will only ever result in disappointment. Rather, trusting in God alone, we have a prayerful and committed Vestry leading the parishioners as we faithfully move forward, with the community coming alongside.
God provides for us in the most unexpected ways! All Saint’s Anglican Church organized a Bible Camp/VBS from the end of August to the Beginning of September, 2022 for 5 days which was a huge blessing. Sincere thanks to On Eagle’s Wings (one of our ministry partners led by Rev. Lesley Hand and Robin Abrol in Alberta). They sent 3 devoted volunteers to lead the program. Children were excited to learn and have great fun together. The families were happy of their kids participating in this event.
Moose Kerr School (MKS), Aklavik, NT had organised a good Remembrance Day ceremony and was well attended by the community. I am glad that Nalini has the joy of getting to know so many of the children as she works as a teacher at the school. The Principal, Dan Summers, gave me the opportunity to pray and remember the sacrifices of the Soldiers, Armed Forces, Rangers, RCMP and all who in the past and present are willing to protect this great country of Canada.
Looking forward, our community is going to host an evangelism and discipeship weekend in August, and it will be a very exciting time! Andrew Fewell from ShareWord Global will be coming to help us learn and practice “relational evangelism”, which is learning to speak about your faith in a simple and encouraging way. The Arctic’s own Archdeacon Alexander Pryor will lead a Discipleship Workshop, and we’ll round out the weekend with some lay leader and vestry training and a gospel hymnsing and maybe even a feast for the community. It will be a great time!
Remember that, with God, all things are possible. All glory and honour be to our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ alone!
