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Arctic Blessings for Ottawa |  |
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Dear friend, Winter has finally arrived in the nation's capital. A couple of days with -25 degree weather has encouraged city officials that the Rideau Canal may indeed freeze over this year, allowing for thousands of tourists to skate the world's longest ice rink. Maybe it was the team of Inuit that spent a week of training with us who brought the northern temperatures. Either way it was a blessing to have them come to Ottawa. The end of the week also saw some of them join with us at the Centennial Flame for the National Prayer vigil. This week's newsletter features articles on both of these stories. 
Despite a brisk wind and subzero temperatures a
good representation from the congregations in
Ottawa gathered on the steps of Parliament last
Saturday evening. This was the third annual event
sponsored jointly by the Evangelical Fellowship of
Canada, Intercessors for Canada and the National
House of
Prayer. The second half of the vigil was dedicated to a special emphasis on prayer for Canada's military. Candles were lit and various military leaders including the deputy Chaplain-General led the intercession. Some of the most moving prayers were said by wives of servicemen currently serving in Afghanistan. A husband of one of them had recently become a believer after being wounded in action!
Many other cities and towns across the nation
mobilized with short notice a similar vigil in their
public squares. We were very pleased to receive
some of their reports. In Trenton, Ontario, home to
a very large base, 60 people braved the frigid
temperature to gather at the local Cenotaph.
Fifteen members of the local Legion joined with them.
One of the benefits of hosting 14 Inuit leaders is the interesting food they bring with them. Smoked Arctic char, whale blubber, and various teas made from northern berries were some of the taste adventures introduced to our staff. In turn, our team sought to introduce some solid teaching on intercession, Biblical interpretation and servant leadership to these representatives from 8 different northern communities. Few leaders in the Arctic have had the opportunity to receive formal theological training. We considered it an honour to contribute what we could to these precious men and women. This also was an opportunity to break the spirit of isolation that most northern believers experience. We used the time to build relationships between these key Arctic intercessors and to begin to establish a network between the north and the south. It's a valuable link. They say of themselves, "We love to pray, and we can pray all day!" One special afternoon the team headed for the Champlain monument overlooking the Ottawa River gateway. There they prayed in Inuktutuk for a wider opening of the gate, that the gospel that Samuel de Champlain had originally brought to this land might have greater freedom. The week ended with a precious communion time in the chapel on Parliament Hill as words of repentance and reconciliation were expressed between white and Inuit believers. Our NHOP team is now praying about an invitation extended to us to come to the Arctic for an Easter conference in a few months time.
1. Pray for the cabinet ministers who have taken over new portfolios in the last few weeks. Especially pray for John Baird, the new minister of the Environment, that he would find ways to work with other political parties to bring in some effective long-term legislation. 2. Let's continue to pray for our Supreme Court justices as they handle very crucial cases that affect our national moral standards. Praise God for their recent decision to protect us from having tax- payers' money fund the gay pornography industry. 3. We ask for your prayers as our team is on the road this next week. Pray for many divine appointments as Rob, Richard and Michèle represent NHOP at Missions Fest Vancouver. Fran has been with a team in the stormy Maritimes.
Perhaps we will meet some of you in our travels over
the next week or so. Fran continues on the East
Coast over the next few days, while Rob and Richard
head
to Victoria, and then Vancouver. Michèle, our
administrator will join us for
Missions Fest. |
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