Our Partnership with ShareWord Global at work in Yellowknife

Huddled with his wife at a street corner, John felt helpless and hopeless. His kids meant the world to him—they were his reason for living. He dreaded the thought of his two daughters being taken from him and his wife and put into foster care permanently. But it was exactly that fear which consumed his mind all day long.

John and his wife were homeless and unemployed, and he knew the chances of convincing the judge to grant them custody were very slim. Of all the setbacks he’d endured throughout his life,
losing his kids would push him over the edge.

Just then, two men walking by caught his eye. They waved for John to come get the food they were carrying. And John couldn’t afford to turn down a free meal. As they all shared food together, the men shared how Jesus could transform John and his wife with the hope of the gospel. “I want Jesus as my lawyer,” John said.

He was only interested in Jesus if He could help with the custody hearing.

One of the men sharing the gospel, named Andrew, explained that Jesus was the best lawyer John could ever have. “But He is also our Lord, and we need to follow Him. Following Jesus means surrendering our will to His and allowing Him to guide us in all aspects of our lives.”

As the two men shared the Good News, it finally clicked for John. With his eyes welling up with tears, John fell to his knees and accepted Jesus as his Saviour. The burden of shame was lifted from his shoulders, replaced by an unexplainable joy deep within him. His fear of what the future held had melted away. In its place was a sense of purpose and faith. He knew he could face whatever tomorrow held with His Saviour at his side.

That life-changing moment happened that day because people from a local church had just participated in an evangelism workshop at an Ignite event. But they hadn’t stayed in the church or kept the Good News to themselves. They’d mustered their courage and headed out into the community.

That’s what ShareWord Global’s desire is for all Christians, and thanks to a new partnership this year with the Diocese of the Arctic, that first Ignite event in Yellowknife is hopefully one of many more to come. Ignite events equip everyday Christians in simple, practical ways to make evangelism a part of their lifestyle. The training provides relational tools to help people step out of their comfort zones, recognize their fear, use their testimony to point others to Jesus and, of course, also share Scripture resources so people can read the Good News themselves.

What’s unique about these events is that after the training, the group is encouraged to go out and put the skills into practice. With a mindset of genuinely loving and caring about those they come into contact with, trainees are encouraged to start with small talk with people on the street, get to know their neighbours and, if prompted, move through conversation steps to introduce the Gospel.

That first Ignite event in Yellowknife on April 15, 2023 saw 37 people come out and be mobilized with the tools and resources to share the Gospel. Ten churches were represented and a total of 43 conversations occurred where the gospel was shared with someone on the streets.

And that’s how John encountered two strangers who shared a powerful gospel message. Since then, John has become a part of a community of faith that is giving him and his family material and spiritual support.

We’re grateful for this partnership and continue to be excited to use Scripture resources and training to bring the gospel across Northwest Territories and Nunavut over the coming years. It’s part of a global movement: Ignite events are mobilizing churches in over 40 countries, and short-term trips are taking teams of Canadians to partner with believers of local churches around the world.

That’s why we can’t wait to bring the first team from across Canada to join Holy Trinity in evangelism ministry in 2024 and change more lives like John with the gospel.