Summer Ministry 2025

Our Piper Lance taking us across the North

This summer has seen teams who were willing and prepared to come visit their Northern Canadian friends cancelling due to evacuations, highway closures or to heavy smoke and wildfires. Despite, the struggles to get to their friends, none have given up. While some teams hosted Bible School in the communities who accepted evacuees, others planned smaller visits in the late summer or early fall.

Young Artist sharing his heart at Wunnumin Lake, ON

The smoke cloud from Snow Lake, MB Fire

Our view from the end of the runway, Thompson, MB

One such community cut off from their team was Norway House, Manitoba. The team was ready as usual to drive from Minnesota up the highway North through Winnipeg, just about to Thompson Manitoba, where the road takes a turn back southeast around Lake Winnipeg and down to Norway House. The Cross Lake fire on that last leg had the road sometimes open and sometimes closed. Sadly, the community contacts informed the team that despite a desire to receive them, they didn’t want a day and a half’s drive come to an abrupt stop. This team adhered to the community’s direction and postponed the summer visit. That one wildfire also caused the cancellation of another team serving Cross Lake out of Iowa, who sadly watched from a distance as their friends were evacuated, then returned, and then evacuated a second time.

Meeting with Pastor Gordon & His Daughter April, Norway House, MB

Garden Hill Team, serving in Winnipeg, MB

When teams were told community visits were not possible, rather than seeing it as an end, they attempted to find a way to work around it. Initiatives were taken to find where their friends were evacuated to and brought Bible School to them there. One such team comes out of Wisconsin to serve Garden Hill, MB. Thanks to retired LAMP Missionary Gordon Gilbey, access to the University of Winnipeg was gained and Bible School hosted on the campus, giving families a couple hours needed break in an unfamiliar environment that felt nothing like home. Two other teams, both from Winnipeg, who had their Bible Schools cancelled in Northern Manitoba (Cormorant and Leif Rapids) also found ways to host and support their evacuated community members close to home this year.

Blessed with amazing Instruments to get us through the Smoke

Andrew & I meeting with Band Counsellor, Sandy Lake, ON

Lunch with Doreen Fiddler, Sandy Lake, ON

Andrew assisting with Crafts in K.I. (Big Trout, ON)

Andrew out of his element

Andrew's name tag written for him in Sachigo Lake, ON

It is under these circumstances that Andrew Anstey (Mission Aviation Fellowship Pilot seconded to LAMP) and I worked all summer from our “home away from home” at Thompson MB. Here in Thompson, the air quality has required us to stay indoors with the windows closed and plan flights that require Instrument Approaches due to limited visibility at destination airports. Thanks be to God for the generous LWML grant giving us the amazing new Instrument System and Auto Pilot in our beloved Piper Lance. Without these upgrades our flights this summer would have been a lot more difficult and some days, impossible.

Multi Generational Team from Red Sucker Lake

Folically challenged duo in Little Grand Rapids, MB

Team meeting after Bible School, Kingfisher, ON

Janine Cain celebrated for serving Little Grand Rapids, MB for 20 years

Team Devotions with Pastor Glenn in Sachigo Lake, ON

One tired volunteer sleeping in the bouncy van back to KI from Wapekeka, ON

Despite the wildfires that have plagued the summer programs in the North, the Lord is good. He continues to open doors to be able to share the good news of His amazing grace and the hope of a life lived with His loving favour. 

Three Pastors together in K.I. (Big Trout), ON

Pastor Gery Luck with those who made it for Men's Study in Weagamow, ON

Band Counsellor Abraham in Cat Lake, ON

Team and kids in Sachigo Lake, ON

Friends sharing in Dodge Ball, Sachigo Lake, ON

Andrew in the Skit at Churchill, MB

Crew they were able to wrangle to sit for Picture in Cat Lake, ON

Making a twin engine LAMP Plane at Cat Lake, ON

Many youth and young adults still suffer in the communities with depression and suicidal thoughts in their isolation, and so we pray for the fire of the Holy Spirit to keep the spark of faith alive within their souls, giving them purpose to live another day and hope for a future life God the Father wants them to enjoy. 

Youth Night in Sachigo Lake, ON

Brothers who came out to visit with the LAMP Team Wunnumin Lake, ON

Mode of Transportation to Bible Camp, Red Sucker Lake, ON

We don’t always know what the future holds for the communities we walk alongside, but we do know and believe that our Lord Jesus gave His all for every soul. And when we are invited by a community to come and show the love of Jesus to their children, to encourage hope in their teens, and to pray with the elders, we turn our eyes to heaven and call upon the Holy Spirit’s fire to light our Lamps that we might share the Gospel light with our friends. 

One Mile runway in Churchill, MB (Our first time back in 5 years)

We remain grateful for all the prayer and support that come to uplift us as staff, direct all the volunteers, and encourage the community faith leaders to lift high the light of Christ, igniting faith and hope to all whom the Holy Spirit calls. Thanks be to God through the love and grace of our Lord Jesus Christ that in this LAMP’s Fifty Fifth Season we are called to prepare for a Fifty Sixth Season. 

Mission Staff in attendance at Missionary Pastor Nathan Schmidt's Ordination

Continue to pray for open communities, open doors, and open hearts that the Holy Spirit may create life giving fire in the hearts of our friends in the North and continue to fuel the faith of those who live and serve His Holy Word. Amen.

The team van with top notch advertising 

THE GIFT OF HOPE FOR A NEW GENERATION

 Bringing Hope to the North

O Lord, you have searched me and known me! You know when I sit down and when I rise up; you discern my thoughts from afar. You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways… where shall I go from your Spirit? Ps.139:1-3,7a
Moving into another season of bringing hope to the northern communities into which LAMP is invited, we always hold before us the call the Lord our God has given us. Our Volunteer teams embrace the direction and request of the community leadership. “Save our children!”
We come with a message of acceptance, of love, of hope and purpose. May the Lord be with us as Staff & Volunteer Missionaries in this our 55th season of service. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works, my soul knows it very well. Ps.139:14

Taking to the Air

On the tarmac in Sioux Lookout ready to fly out to Kingfisher, ON

This winter I made three community visits to the north. I was blessed to use the commercial airlines of Perimeter and Wasaya to get to Shamattawa, MB and to Kingfisher, ON.

As a Pilot I have maintained my flight hours flying over the Saskatoon Skies, preparing me for another season as safety Pilot with Andrew Anstey.

Keep us in your prayers as we prepare for the summer based in Thompson, MB again this busy season. We pray this 55th season of flight operations be safe as we support the teams in the North.

 Hope for a New generation

During our three days in the Shamattawa School we were blessed to share the hope of God’s love given to us through His Christmas gift of Jesus, the Son of God, the babe of Bethlehem.
For we believe Jesus is God’s hope given for all of us. A hope given in the midst of struggles like here in Shamattawa, as well as in the community of Sucker River, during Winter temperatures of –40, and all the difficulty that degree of cold brings with it.

Each day we welcomed children in the Northern community of Sucker River. We saw many of them who walked to Bible School despite the deep freeze. Therefore we set aside our struggles when the school heating propane jelled and caused temperatures inside to drop to 51F. We rejoiced as the children came to spend the time with the team, and have fun, and learn about God’s amazing love.

William Winter School of Ministry

In Kingfisher, ON I was able to attend and teach at a training week for the Lay Pastors, Readers and Deacons of the Anglican Church of the North where many of our team connected communities were invited.

 Summer Schedule 2025

June 6-11^th    Old Masset, BC
June 29^th           Easterville, MB, Old Hazelton, BC
July 6^th           Southend, SK, Moose Lake, Cross Lake, Leaf Rapids, MB, Gitanyow, BC
July 9-16        Kingfisher, ON
July 13^th         Sandy Lake. Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug & Wapekeka, ON, Grand Rapids, MB
July 20^th         Hall Lake, Deschambault, SK, Norway House, MB
July 27^th         Grandmother's Bay, SK, Garden Hill, Little Grand Rapids, MB, Cat Lake, ON
Aug. 3^rd          Wollaston, SK, Lac Broche, Broche, Lynn Lake, Cormorant, MB, Witset, BC
Aug. 10^th        Sucker River, SK, Churchill, MB, Sachigo, Weagamow, ON, Gingolx, BC           
British Columbia  Saskatchewan  Manitoba  Ontario

 Dear Heavenly Father,
Grant the Volunteer missionaries, the Staff Missionaries, and Pilots safety as they travel to serve the people of Northern Canada with your precious Gospel. Keep the communities safe from another round of destructive Forest Fires, as well as open hearts to hear your blessings of peace and hope for each one.
Bless the team members with your Holy Spirit as they share the hope and comfort your loving grace brings through the cross and empty tomb of our risen Lord and saviour Jesus Christ.
As friendships are renewed and new ones begun, may both the community and the team be filled with joy.
May each child who hears about your love find purpose to live day by day turning to you in prayer seeking your loving grace.
This we ask in the name of our Lord and Saviour Jesus. Amen.

Summer 2024 Sowing the Seed

Off to Thompson, MB

Gifts from Supporters

Some will bring a harvest, some will wither, others will never take root, others will be choked out, (Matt.13:3-9) yet our Lord and God, Jesus Christ, tells us in the Bible that we are to go on and spread the seed. He, is of course, talking about sharing the Good News of His love, mercy, grace, and sacrifice for all the world. This is the seed planted. And the gift of faith given by the Holy Spirit is the plant grown from that seed. The plant producing the crop of hope, comfort and purpose.

Newly Minted team for Cross Lake, MB

We often talk about the fruits as peace, joy, and love. Yet more basic fruits of faith are having hope beyond the struggles of the day, having comfort amid trials, pain, and heartbreak, and having a purpose to stay grounded in this world, not stop it all through hedonism, addictions, and even the finality of suicide.

The Lake taken from near the church at Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake), ON

My new friend and driver in Garden Hill, MB

 Taking to the Air

This summer Andrew Anstey (MAF Missionary Pilot) and I flew over 60 hours visiting communities we serve. We made overnight visits and joined the work of 11 Teams in action.

The Lance worked well and saw us through our many hours of transporting community gifts along with our overnight packs as we moved in with the teams.

Andrew flew Church leaders from Kingfisher over to Kasabonika, ON

Again this summer, the flight ministry was based out of Thompson, MB. We were blessed to house sit the same family home once again, though after being spoiled for two summers, we will need to find a new location to base ourselves in Thompson next year.

The Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights) over Kingfisher, ON

Feast at Kingfisher (Bannock Donuts, Snow Goose Soup, fried potatoes, Tea)

Worship held Sunday morning and afternoon in Kingfisher

Recognizing the Past

The Harper family, who are strongly connected to their LAMP family, made the trek from Red Sucker Lake in Eastern Manitoba to The Pas in Western Manitoba for a special memorial visit, at which I was invited to participate, offering prayers. Andrew and I flew over from Thompson to join the family, and share in this very special memorial day visit.

Fanny Harper & Family @ the Six Mile Cemetery, Opaskwayak Cree Nation, The Pas, MB

Fanny Harper (Matriarch 93 years of age) had found the final resting place of her parents, who had been flown out of their community during the Tuberculosis Epidemic in the Late 1950s. All she knew was they went to a hospital when she was 16 and never returned.

Now after an in depth search their names were found on the Sanitorium List at Clear Lake, MB. The mass graveyard where they were laid to rest was found to be at 6 Mile Cemetery (on the Opaskwayak Cree Nation) North of The Pas. This was an opportunity for Fanny as she sat facing the graves to thank her parents in her Language for being good parents to her, raising her with faith in Jesus. Her family had brought earth from Red Sucker Lake which she dumped there symbolically bringing home to them since they could not bring them back to their home. After 77 years and before her leaving to join them in heaven, Fanny was blessed to be of sound mind and able body to travel, having some closure to a missing chapter from her life.

Bridge next to the Historic Hudson Bay Depot @ Norway House, MB

Supper with the team. aka... interrogation of the Pastor Pilot ;-)

Bringing the Good News of God’s Love

It is my prayer that all our teams, while building relationships in the community they serve, are planting those seeds of the gospel (Romans 10:17). Seeds that through faith lead to hope, comfort, and purpose.

There is joy in the eyes of the children we serve as they find acceptance from these strangers coming into their community. Strangers who become friends, friends who share the love and gift of acceptance they personally know. Friends who share about Jesus, who gives purpose for their sacrifice of time to come to their Northern Canadian community.

We can see the seeds of faith taking root, and the plant growing. As time passes, we see the pursuit of not only hope, comfort, and purpose, but also the gracious blessings of peace, joy, and love.

Sharing the Love of Jesus