Re-opened churches and the faithful lay leaders giving hope

By Bishop Annie Ittoshat

Quaqtaq (ᖁᐊᕐᑕᖅ) is a community of about 450 on the western tip of Ungava Bay. The church there was renovated in 2018 by a faithful elder in his 80s, after it had been damaged by a leaky roof. Things went really well for a while, but then Covid brought things to an end, and some of the elders who were really involved in the church went to be with Jesus.

About two years ago, I went to Quartaq and I had asked Elisapie Angnatuk and another lady to start having services with Lord’s Prayer, read the Bible and sing few hymns to start with, and they did.

At the beginning it was just the two of them, since the church had been closed a few years before then. Then their children joined them. Elisapie had come to a point where she was earnestly seeking God for assistance and God has answered her prayers. Today she has worship team who are guiding her and respect her as a leader of the Anglican Church. Now, through her leadership, the church has running water and the old floor has been replaced!

From just the two faithful Christians going to church, singing the Inuktitut hymns, and reading from the Holy Bible, they have now grown to having full regular services on Sunday morning, with 22 regular members of the congregation! The congregation now also gathers for Sunday Evening service, and they also have 8 people who take part in Bible study on Wednesdays! It was two ladies who took that step of faith and obedience, and now we see God’s grace and love move. Our ancestors, faithful Christians, Anglican Church vestries, priests and layleaders have earnestly prayed and believed in God to do miracles. And He will! We live in a time of great harvest. All praise be to our Father, Jesus and the Holy Spirit.