Canadian Arctic
BPEA at work in the Canadian Arctic:
Read about our recent Canadian Arctic Tour
Arviat
Travel to and from the Arctic is always an adventure. Early blizzard
conditions threatened to delay our arrival, but the Lord cleared the heavens
and we arrived in Arviat just minutes before the first service was scheduled
to begin.
Many precious Inuit, several of whom are our long-time friends, gathered for
the Friday evening service. As I preached the Word and Holy Spirit moved
powerfully, several testified of healing and breakthrough in their lives.
During the day on Saturday we taped a number of reports and messages that
you will be seeing on our website, http://www.bpea.com soon. I believe you’ll be
blessed, encouraged and challenged by them.
The Saturday evening service had a youth emphasis, and as our team member,
Luke Price shared his powerful testimony of how God rescued him from
addiction, near-death by suicide and hopelessness, it made a marked impact
on the young people. They streamed to the altar in tears and Luke laid his
hands on them, that they too might experience the same transforming power of
God in their lives. I had been crying out to the Lord, asking Him to show
us how to reach the younger generation, especially in the Arctic, and I saw
the answer literally demonstrated before my eyes.
The Sunday morning and evening services were marked with the tangible
presence of the Lord as I ministered and laid hands on everyone in the
overflow crowds that had squeezed into every available space. How hungry
the Inuit are for the fire of God – and they received! Something fresh and
powerful has been ignited in their hearts, and I believe it will continue to
spread across the Arctic tundra, fulfilling the vision that Jesus “shall
have dominion from sea to sea, and to the ends of the earth!”
Puvirnituq UPDATE: October 2012
Tonight I had the honour of ministering in Povirnituq. I had never
known anything about the North until 7 years ago when I heard Bill
Prankard tell stories about these amazing people. It was then, as he
told me about the prevalence of depression and suicide among the
youth, that God put the Inuit people in my heart. Though my life
growing up in rural Ontario was different in so many ways, my own
struggle with depression and attempted suicide immediately connected
my heart to these youth.
I cannot express how grateful I am to have had the privilege of
sharing the story of how God miraculously saved my life. Through an
encounter on my bathroom floor while on the brink of death God came to
me, gave me hope, and healed me from depression. Tonight, I was able
to impart that same hope to so many young people. I was able to share
what an amazing destiny and purpose is on the life of every one of
these precious people. I was able to tell them about the amazing
Heavenly Father they have, who loves them unconditionally. The altar
was filled with young people who came to receive prayer and I know
many lives were changed tonight. The same God who radically changed my
life at the age of 18 is doing something major in Povirnituq.
To everyone who has sown into this trip and has supported the team in
prayer, I cannot thank you enough. Together we are changing lives at
the ends of the earth.
-Luke Price
October 20, 2012, 12:06 PM:
We left Montreal first thing this morning on Air Inuit to travel to Puvirnituq arctic Quebec. I first visited this community approx 35 years ago and at that time they were not used to having visitors from the south and the message of the Gospel accompanied with the healing power of Jesus seemed foreign to them. Some of the leaders went on the radio to tell people to stay away but most of the community seemed to come to the 3 days of meetings in the school and many were touched in body and soul and that was the beginning of a wonderful move of God that had a major effect on the entire community. Since then there have been major problems that are typical in many northern communities.
On my first visit there was no airport just a landing strip, no running water etc. I knew things would be different this time but I was not prepared for what greeted me.
When I walked down the stairs of the plane and my feet touched the ground I literally felt like I had arrived home. We walked into the brand new airport terminal which is absolutely beautiful and everyone was so welcoming and warm including the mayor.
The first service was a time of celebration with people being healed and having joy restored. Many experienced God including a who group of ladies who were girls when I first came and they all had given their lives to Christ then and 35 yrs later they are still going on in the faith.
I am so excited to be here and so thankful for every partner who prayed and supported to make this trip possible.
-Bill Prankard
BPEA at work in the Canadian Arctic:
UPDATE: May 2012 - Trip to Iqualuit and Coral Harbour
Forty years ago, when we were launched into healing evangelism ministry, the Holy Spirit put the mandate of Psalm 72:8 on my heart, and I knew we must declare and demonstrate His dominion, not only “from sea to sea”, but also “to the ends of the earth.” That’s why it seemed so appropriate that, just days after our 40th Anniversary Gala Celebration, we conducted Stand On Guard services in the Canadian Arctic.
We had the privilege of ministering at Iqaluit Christian Fellowship, where we had sowed thousands of dollars last year to help them construct the new building for the thriving Inuit congregation. Many believers wholeheartedly committed to Stand on Guard for their people and the nation, and as the Spirit of God began to move, many were powerfully touched and healed. A visiting leader from Grise Fiord, the most northerly community in the Canadian north, was set free from bondages and returned to his village with fresh determination to see the fire of God ignite his people.
From Iqaluit, we flew to Coral Harbour, NU, where each evening people testified to receiving notable miracles and responded to the challenge to Stand on Guard and take back what the enemy has stolen in their families, community and in Canada. On the final evening we saw an explosion of Holy Ghost fire as we laid hands on every person.
Last year we sent thousands of dollars to Repulse Bay, NU, to erect a new church building, but they are believing for additional funds to complete it. In this special Stand On Guard year, let’s partner with them to establish another beachhead for God in the Arctic, and see His glory cover the land at the ends of the earth!
UPDATE: April 2012
Gwen and I have been privileged to travel all over the world over the past 40 years, and have seen God’s mighty power poured out in lives everywhere we’ve been. But no memories are more thrilling than the times we have spent at the ends of the earth with our precious Inuit and First Nations brothers and sisters. Over the years we’ve had the privilege of introducing the Good News and the supernatural power of God, establishing churches, equipping leaders and providing practical assistance to many northern communities. We also continue to provide monthly support to missionaries Ray & Juanita Whalen in Nain, Labrador, and often send teams into the north to work with local leaders to impact their communities for Christ.
History:
In 1974 Bill Prankard began a missionary outreach to Canada's remote northern First Nations and Inuit settlements. Many communities are accessible only by air, and had not been touched by the full-gospel message.
Countless people received Jesus as their saviour, were healed and filled with Holy Spirit. As house churches grew, the Bill Prankard Evangelistic Association provided literature, equipment, training and support, and built churches in several communities.
Today, there are dozens of thriving Inuit and First Nations congregations throughout the north. Revival is sweeping through the Arctic and hundreds of precious Inuit are being transformed. Villages that were once devastated by alcoholism, abuse and suicide, are now experiencing the joy and liberty of Holy Spirit.
On several occasions, mature Inuit believers and leaders have accompanied Bill to one of the most inaccessible and untouched regions of the world, Arctic Russia. It is so rewarding to see those who had been the target of our mission efforts now becoming missionaries!
