He prepares us long before we even know how our skills will be used

By the Rev. Abraham Kublu, Priest for South Baffin area, based at St. Jude’s, Iqaluit

God always prepares us way before things will happen. Before I became who I am today, God was preparing me for my work, and that causes me to humble myself in front of Him. Over 10 years ago, I wanted to learn how to do simultaneous interpreting, from English to Inuktitut and vice versa.

When we were in Pond Inlet before coming to ATTS for training as ministers, I was doing interpreatation just to make extra money so we could pay our bills. I had no idea God would use that experience to prepare me for ministry! During my visit to Igloolik and Kinngait with Bishop David, my interpreting experience was a very useful tool to have when he was teaching and during his sermon at the Sunday service, where I was able to do simultaneous translation into Inuktitut.

When David was teaching Vestry members and Lay leaders it felt that members were able to understand more and Bishop would cover more of his materials and teach more since I was using the translation equipment with the ear piece on them. Instead of taking turns, pausing for the English to be interpreted in Inuktitut, he could just keep going and I would do my part by interpreting into Inuktitut until they had questions or break time.

On day 1 in the morning, we covered important training about finance and administration, until lunchtime. Then the afternoon was about vestry and lay leaders needing to help each other for the church to operate well.

Day 2 talked about outreach to community members, our mission of evangelism and making disciples.

Day 3 it was time to give some practical training about things like keeping the vestry book and the importance of annual reporting.

On Sunday there were 7 people who were ready for confirmation, and then the afternoon we went to the Continuing Care Center to visit and have a Holy Communion service with elders and patients who are unable to get to the services. It was a full day, with an evening service as well! The community members were very welcoming, and it was great to gather as an extended church family.

Next we flew from Igloolik back to Iqaluit and on to Kinngait. When we went to Kinngait, the first thing was a meeting with Vestry members to talk about progress on fundraising. The church there burned down in January 2023, so they have been hard at work planning to build a modern church that can also include a mission house for a minister, and maybe other space as well. Way back in Pond Inlet I never would have imagined that my experience at simultaneous translation would be used by God for exciting work like this!

The next day we did the same sort of training we did in Igloolik, helping people better understand how to run the church and do our work of sharing Good News with those who aren’t already part of the church. The next day was Saturday, so we took a much-needed day of rest, but then two people came wanting training in finance, and that evening we were doing more training with vestry and lay leaders. The people are excited to be better trained and equipped to do the work God has given them! It will be great to see how God will use their gifts for the work of the Church, just as He used the gifts and experiences I had long before I ever knew me and my wife would be priests.

On that Sunday in Kinngait we weren’t sure about a Sunday service, since the church was completely burned. God knows what we need, and the hotel staff let us have a morning service in the hotel lounge! What a great service we had.

I enjoyed my trip to Igloolik and Kinngait with Bishop David, also I am also thankful that each community was able to pay for our hotel room and meals during our visit to show their appreciation for us being able to be with them to teach. I hope they gained more understanding with the role and responsibility they have in their community.

For me, I’m really thankful that God has His plan long before we know what it is, and that He can use a skill I picked up to earn extra money years ago as a great ministry tool today!