Giving Thanks

 I am attaching the link to my sermon "Thank the Lord and Sing His Praise" for you to watch. I have had a couple opportunities to share it in person, but now I have had it recorded and uploaded as a video. May you find opportunity to be uplifted and find prayer petitions to lift before the Lord for our work in the North. https://youtu.be/8o_A5_qW3xE

I have had the opportunity to make a trip to Langenburg, SK to meet Mrs. Sholz (94yrs.old)

This year alone she has made 70 blankets for us to deliver to Northern Saskatchewan. This congregation has a number of other knitters and quilters who also prepared donations for the north, which were gladly gathered. It was wonderful to meet such a dedicated servant of others who prepared these blankets over which we prayed, packed, and then I delivered their donations to LaRonge, from where they would be taken north to Sucker River, and the majority going further north to Southend, SK. 

I am so grateful for the continued support and encouragement given as I work from a distance to support our communities in such difficult times. Many of the isolated communities I serve who were untouched by the first wave of the Pandemic are struggling to control it this time. We need to pray that the young people take it seriously and that the elders remain safe from an illness that may cause further physical struggles and could even lead to death. 

May the message of hope that is ours through Jesus our Lord and Saviour bring light to their darkness and peace in the midst of strife and struggle.

God bless each of you this Christmas season as you remember the reason for the season, Jesus the Light of the World, born into our world.

Philippians 2: ¹⁴ Do all things without grumbling or disputing, ¹⁵ that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, ¹⁶ holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain.

Community visits

 I made two trips out to Sioux Lookout one Mid August for two weeks, and then one the first week of September. My first trip found me without a pilot and plane, as Andrew was grounded in Edmonton before he left. My second trip had Andrew pick me up in the Lance on his way by and we flew out and back together. Both trips served a purpose and allowed me time to get to know the community of Sioux Lookout and make many community connections as people moved through this Hub of the north. Our September trip was blessed by the Lord with great flying weather and we were able to visit 6 communities in three days.

During my first trip I met with one of our volunteer pilots of the past, who now works for Sky Care in Sioux Lookout. We shared some time together talking about adjusting to life in Sioux compared to Vancouver Island. He shared of the effects of COVID19 restrictions, as he and his team of pilots were making more medical transports. This is directly caused by the community lock-downs, which kept Medical support teams from come in to help as they had been prior to the lock-down. And so now minor issues that had been previously cared for in community, are escalating in to major issues that now require evacuation to southern hospitals.  

I met the Larsh Family on their way back to Cat Lake where Jon serves as Principal to the Christian School located there. I visited Dryden and Vermilion Bay congregations during Sunday worship, and following service outside at proper social distance visited with members encouraging them as they prepare to join our LAMP team and serve Cat Lake.

I also met and had a (socially Distant coffee) with Caitlyn Windsor from Kingfisher who flew down for appointments. Caitlin is the wife of Matthew who serves Wycliffe Bible Translators, working to translate the scriptures into the Oji Cree Language.  I was also honoured to meet and offer prayers and encouragement to Doreen and Peter from Sandy Lake, as Peter was in Sioux Lookout Hospital recovering from a stroke, and Doreen now was at his side (after he’d been alone for 3 months). During my time there I also arranged for parcels of children’s packs (a cookie, craft, colouring sheet, and book) along with prayer blankets to be delivered to some of our communities.

During my September visit Andrew and I were able to fly into Little Grand Rapids where I met Fr. Arull, who was with Sydney and Gerald who had come across the lake by boat to the airport from their community.

We flew to Wunnumin, Kingfisher and Weagamow (Round Lake) on one loop, meeting Bishop Lydia Mamakwa, and Ruth Kitchekesic, along with Pastor Jake Sawanis, and Gary Kakekayash. 

The weather held and so on Friday we made two more delivery stops at Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug (Big Trout Lake) and Cat Lake. Where we met Melanie and Joselyn in K.I. and in Cat Lake I met Edith who brought Deputy Chief Ellen out to the airport to meet the plane.

It was wonderful to put faces to the contacts I have only had via Facebook Messenger, email and phone conversations up to now. What a wonderful tour. This year I have been blessed to see 11 of the communities I am called to serve as a mission mobilizer. I certainly wish we could have planned to make it to all 15 communities, but God willing we plan some more visits for next spring. Even though I haven’t made it to Muskrat Dam, Sachigo, Wapekeka, and Garden Hill, I certainly keep them in my prayers, and support the teams that are called to serve them. On Saturday I was blessed to have one more prayer visit with Doreen who took me to meet her Uncle Ennis, an elder from Sandy Lake who was living just outside of Sioux Lookout. It was great to hear from him of his support for our work, and get a little more perspective on the communities history and Christian faith. What a blessing.

Thank you for your prayers and your support of our work. allowing us to encourage, uplift and support the faith of our Northern Brothers and Sisters in the faith. Despite the odd summer. It certainly continues to be blessed by the hand of God. May you find joy in your day as you serve the Lord of all, and rejoice in the hope given by our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

LAMP Sunday Message Vidoe

I had planned to visit a number of supporting congregations and share this LAMP Message. But with COVID-19 those visits were cancelled. So I video recorded and had our Tech specialist do a few upgrades during the editing. I think it turned out with a clear message.
May it be a blessing and encouragement as you think of ways you can be "Jesus with Skin on" during this unsettled time.
click the link below and it will take you YouTube.
https://youtu.be/ZIy9kvtBwoE

The Call Came!

The Call Came!

When we think about our current situation and the fear that comes with it for many of our more vulnerable people we pray for peace of mind and for a turning to God for aid. We pray in the Lord’s Prayer, Deliver us from Evil. And here is a new evil, a result of the corruption caused by sin in this world.

I have talked to one elderly friend who said she prayed for the Angel of death to pass over if it is God’s will. But if not, she was prepared to go to heaven with great hope to an eternity of peace, and joy. What a great faith! I pray this same faith for each and everyone reading this Blog post. Romans 8 says “If God is for us who can be against us? He who did not spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, how will he not also with him graciously give us all things? …Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or danger, or sword? …No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. For I am sure than neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Rom.8:31-32, 35, 37-39)

This time of isolation has kept me at arms length from the communities and teams I am called to work alongside. As a Missionary Pastor with LAMP I have been waiting for the opportunity to visit communities of the North. Finally, the call came, as Samaritan’s Purse had 10 PPE Kits (Personal Protective Equipment) to deliver to our isolated communities who had not yet received these kits. My LAMP ministry team had kits delivered to driveable communities, but that left four kits to go to Fly-in Communities. YIPEE!

Pilot Andrew Anstey and the Piper Lance

Andrew Anstey, our MAF Pilot, and me were allowed to fly-in and make deliveries to communities under lock down. We flew to Wollaston Lake, SK., Shamattawa, MB., Norway House, MB. & Red Sucker Lake, MB. What beautiful country this time of year. 

Island Lake Airport, MB.

Though I have been told we need to pray for the rain to stop, as God promised never to flood the world again. But up here at our base in Flin Flon, with docks underwater or floating away, and gardens flooded, the people are not so sure he’s remembering his promise. 😉

Red Sucker Lake, MB.

Shamattawa, MB.

Norway House, MB.

Wollaston, SK.

The people that I have been in communication with over this first winter with LAMP, in these communities were right there in front of me. And I was honoured to meet with them and pray with them even for these short airport visits.

Ready for another day of Flying

I look forward to seeing what God does next using this COVID-19 isolation to His favour. For His word is clear, “we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose.” Rom.8:28

Garden Hill, MB.

I pray that God be with you and keep you safe this summer. For he holds you close to his heart through the power of the Holy Spirit in the precious name of our saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Blessings from Missionary Pastor Randy Heide & Pilot Andrew Anstey

COVID 19 Changes our Missionwork

As of March all of our congregation visits, LWML Zone renewal speaking engagements along with our Spring visits into community have been cancelled. It was the plan to be in the north the middle two weeks of May where Dennis would introduce me to the communities and their leaders I had not yet met. Instead I have been meeting with team leaders via email, phone & Video formats. I have been talking to some of our supporters making sure they are doing okay during this time of isolation and offering prayer support. I have had the opportunity to reach out to community contacts through email, facebook messenger, and phone calls meeting many of them for the first time in this way. All of our contacts with both teams and communities were to let them know we are praying for them during this pandemic. And as we are not sure when the borders, and Northern travel will open up again, we want to be ready to go when that happens.

We have also began planning for Virtual VBS. That is, ministry from a distance by all of our teams. It became official as of May 11^th as the onsite Summer VBS’s across the country were all cancelled. We have started work on a Virtual classroom where teams can share videos, music, stories, bible activities, puppet shows, magic tricks, etc. This will be accessible by community children who have internet access. Some of our teams are hosting online Bible Studies, offering youth chatrooms for their community, attending community services on Facebook Live, phoning in to the radio station offering a message and prayer for the community, sending a DVD for playing on the Community TV Channel, and participating in the discussion section of the community Facebook pages. All the teams admit that nothing replaces physically being there, but this way they are still a part of their lives as they share the love of Jesus from a distance.

Darlene and I just before Easter prepared a craft and card that we sent to each of our community contacts, and Team Leaders. We got the idea from our devotion time and were led to Ecclesiastes 4:9-12. From that we developed a woven cord of three different color strands, representing our Lord and saviour Jesus Christ, the Volunteer Team, and the Community.

Each color also had meaning.

The Red cord = the life blood of our Lord Jesus shed for us.

The Purple cord = our life of Repentance as we live to change our sinful ways.

The Blue cord = the Hope given to us, through our adoption as children of God, and Christ’s promised return from heaven on the last day.

We made the cord a tail attached to a butterfly clip, representing the new life given to all believers through the resurrection (both the first at Easter, and finally when we join Jesus in eternal Heavenly joy). We added an angel pendant to the bottom which reminds us of God’s promise to be close to us always, never leaving nor forsaking us.

I am preparing a collage of the pictures of the recipients with their butterfly that I will send out for each community and team to have.

The Winter of COVID-19

Our Winter mode of Transportation

I have truly enjoyed the opportunities afforded me to transition into the mission work of LAMP. The leadership given by Ron Ludke has been a blessing, and the willing mentorship of outgoing Pastor/Pilot Dennis Ouellette has allowed me to better understand the role I am called to carry out.

Cross Lake Team from Billings Montana

My first experience as a missionary with a team was joining Dennis in Cross Lake, Manitoba with the Billings Montana Team. This trip went as planned. I experienced the relationship impact of a long serving team, both for the community and for the team. 

A couple of the Billings Crew enjoying the Gym fun from the sidelines
(You can see why Jake was sitting out)

One of the team members (19 years old) shared her story with the whole group of 80 teens gathered in the gym; and then again on the local radio station as part of our broadcast worship service. She talked about her journey with terminal cancer. She told everyone she wasn’t scared to die, because she knew she would go to be with Jesus. She was sad for her parents, and for the fact she wouldn’t be able to come see her friends in Cross Lake. The doctors don’t like to use the “M” word but that’s what it was. From a Hospice bed given one week to live, to standing before a group of her Cross Lake friends 6 months later was an answer to prayer. It was a Miracle. The group hug that followed was testimony of the love that had developed over the years of service brought to Cross Lake.

Group hug in the gym around our Devotion Time

I was able to have one more trip with Dennis (post-retirement) as we joined the Shamattawa Team from Fergus Falls, Minnesota. However, on this trip nothing went according to plan. We arrived in the community, planning on being there Tuesday thru Friday. The school was closed Tuesday due to a community funeral, Wednesday thru Thursday morning due to extreme cold (the bus wouldn’t run), and Friday Morning due to a power outage. So we got Thursday afternoon with the students. We made the best of it and Organized the Library, visited with staff whenever we could, and on Thursday afternoon made it through half of the classrooms doing a shortened version of what we had planned. As the principal dropped us off at the airport, he told us “You may not have got done what you had planned, but you were here for my staff, visiting and supporting them all week. That means the world to them and to me. Thank you.”

Shamattawa Team from Fergus Falls Minnesota

At the Dr. William Winter School of Ministry held at the Mission Center in Kingfisher I was given the opportunity to observe and even participate with Dennis to get an understanding of how it works with an Oji-Cree translator. I loved getting to know many of the community leaders as there were Church leaders from the entire region gathered there. I also had the opportunity to get to know the Windsor family and visit their tiny house, getting a taste of the work Matthew was doing as Wycliffe Translator developing the written language for the Oji-Cree, with the ultimate goal of giving the gospel in their language.

Dennis with Mary the Oji-Cree Translator

I certainly know the Lord will use LAMP during this odd year to reach into both our volunteer base and the communities we serve in new and unique ways. Because I’m not travelling to visit congregations and communities, I have been given an opportunity to focus on supporters and reach out by giving comfort and encouragement to many of our senior partners who are most vulnerable and therefore fearful of this COVID-19 virus.

My friends Pastor Alex and Marion at Dryden/Vermilion Bay
I preached for the service between Shamattawa & Kingfisher Trips

This is not the transition year I had been planning. Dennis was to introduce me to many of our communities during a two week tour in mid May, and then join me for two weeks this summer as my pilot, when we were to make overnight support visits to our summer teams. His participation cannot happen now, yet I am so grateful for his continued willingness to mentor me as I remain respectful of his retirement after five years of dedicated service.

I am still awaiting the Department of Transportation approval to go ahead with my Pilot Re-certification (so keep that process in your prayers). While I wait, I am refreshing my Ground School Training.

I know God can and will use this COVID-19 pandemic to His glory and the building up of his kingdom. When the door opens to visit the communities once again, I pray we are ready to go.

Introducing Randy Heide Missionary Pastor

Hi. I’m Randy Heide. I have been a Parish Pastor in Canada for 25 years, serving in Kamloops, BC for a year of Vicarage, Fort McMurray, AB for 6 yrs., and then Warman, Martensville, & Bergheim, SK over the last 19 yrs.

My wife Darlene and I have raised three boys and received a daughter-in-law with joy. All three boys will be graduating from University in 2020; one from Seminary, one from Accounting, and one from Engineering. As a family, we have served the church together throughout the years and agree on the Lord’s calling to LAMP (Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots).

I had heard about LAMP while growing up attending First Lutheran Church in Lloydminster, and remember a presentation by Pastor Les Stahlke during my teenage years. At that time I considered using my new found Air Cadet pilot’s license to serve LAMP; that was until I saw a picture of Pastor Stahlke under the cowling of the airplane in winter on the ice, trying to get the plane thawed so it would start, BRRR! ...Well, 35 years later here I am joining the LAMP team, excited to bring the precious good news to a people who seek forgiveness and hope and desire the peace that the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring.

Over the winter, I have been transitioning into my new role with LAMP alongside Pastor Dennis Ouelette, who has officially retired as of February 2020. We are spending this time handing the mantle over as I am introduced to both the communities I will serve and the congregations sending volunteers who I will serve alongside.

Pastor Brad Scholenberg is one of our volunteers who serves in Pelican Narrows, Saskatchewan. He shares about one gentleman who’s life was directly affected by LAMP’s ministry in his community. "Our trusty night watchman gave us his key to the school for the whole week. We spent quality time getting to know him and hearing his thoughts on his community. About a week after our departure (one of the team members texted to thank him for his service to us) he had this to say: 'No problem. God bless you and your friends. I'm glad there are people like you on earth. Gives me a little more faith in humanity knowing not everyone is selfish. I hope to someday have enough to do more than just survive and to actually make an effort to make the world a little bit nicer than it was the day before. That's the effect your visit had for me so know it does make a difference.’

I am looking forward to sharing Jesus love and making a difference in the lives we serve in the remote northern communities as well as experiencing the changes in the lives of the volunteers like Pastor Brad that support them.

It hit me when I was going through my Initial meetings at the office that I no longer have a congregation committed to caring for my needs.  But as I’ve been studying the word of God I’m not afraid. For the Lord our God has always called upon his servants to turn to him for support trusting that those they serve, and who serve alongside them will provide their support so that they can carry out the vision and ministry he has given to them. The Levites of old testament were told by God to trust Him to provide for their needs through the tithes of the people. Nehemiah asked the King of Babylon to support him as he rebuilt Jerusalem. Our Lord Jesus depended on those disciples who travelled with him to provide for his needs. The disciples were strictly told by our Lord to depend on those they served. St.Paul taught the early church that supporting him as a missionary and servant of the Gospel was an expectation of God. Who am I to doubt my Heavenly Father’s promises and commitment to my calling. A calling that has been verified over and over again by those I have served alongside in ministry at Warman, in the wider church, and those who currently serve with LAMP. Therefore I need ministry partners who believe in the value of this cross-cultural ministry sharing Jesus Christ with God’s people in Northern Canada.

If you would like to have me come visit you or your congregation and share more about the work LAMP is doing in Northern Canada, please email randy@lampministry.org or call 1(800)307-4036 ext.711.  OR If you want to have an impact by becoming a volunteer or supporter of this ministry, please visit our website at www.lampministry.org.