By the Very Rev. Chris Dow, Iqaluit

This past Fall, with a new team of 4 clergy based in Iqaluit, working together to serve the Cathedral and 4 other communities in the South Baffin region, we began the work of travelling out from Iqaluit to minister and build up the churches in the other communities in the region.

Together with Bishop David, I enjoyed a wonderful visit to the small and friendly community of Kimmirut in early November.

I am so encouraged to see signs of God beginning to do a new work there, continuing the faithful work of Naomi Akavak, the other lay leaders, and the clergy who have served there over the past centruy, including Mike Gardener and Bishop Fleming.

St. Paul’s, Kimmirut was full for a baptism preparation session on Saturday evening and for worship on Sunday morning, when 7 babies were baptized. 30 people attended the Sunday evening service, half of whom were children and youth. Bishop David kept their attention with an interactive message with many object lessons! Everyone in attendance came forward for anointing and the laying on of hands. We could all feel a powerful movement of the Holy Spirit.

We fostered positive connections with the hamlet’s Senior Administrative Officer, Health Centre director, and a mental health consultant – all of whom want to work with the church for the well-being of the community.

As reported in the previous issue of the Arctic News, the cathedral in Iqaluit seeks to be a ministry hub for the Qikiqtani/ Baffin region, and this visit to Kimmirut was a positive step in this direction. Going forward, the ministry team based in Iqaluit hopes to visit Kimmirut monthly.

In this issue you’ll also read about Rev. Kublu’s trip to Kinngait, where we will pray for healing, and engage in strategic planning with the community as they envision building a new multi-use facility to replace the old church destroyed by fire. We are so thankful that Canadian North airlines has graciously agreed to sponsor our upcoming trip to Kinngait with two free airfares.

It’s so exciting to see local government and business supporting the building up of the church in the North! We can see biblical precedent for this in King Hiram of Tyre providing materials for the construction of Solomon’s temple and King Artaxerxes of Persia supporting Nehemiah’s project to rebuild the ruins of Jerusalem.We trust that God is laying the groundwork for another mighty building project here.

In the words of the prophet Haggai, ‘Be strong, all you people still left in the land. And now get to work, for I am with you, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. My Spirit remains among you, just as I promised when you came out of Egypt. So do not be afraid.’ For this is what the Lord of Heaven’s Armies says: In just a little while I will again shake the heavens and the earth, the oceans and the dry land. I will shake all the nations, and the treasures of all the nations will be brought to this Temple. I will fill this place with glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The silver is mine, and the gold is mine, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. The future glory of this Temple will be greater than its past glory, says the Lord of Heaven’s Armies. And in this place I will bring peace. I, the Lord of Heaven’s Armies, have spoken!” (Haggai 2:4-9 NLT).