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