Three Ways to Effectively Partner with The North

When thinking about short-term missions or ministry teams, the default is often to think of a location overseas and partnering with international missions. If you desire to reach lost people, serve a community, and partner with a local church to make Kingdom impact, you don’t need to leave our District to have a meaningful cross-cultural experience.

There are just over 44,000 people in the Northwest Territories, with over 22,000 living in the capital city of Yellowknife. The rest of the population is scattered over the 1.346 million square kilometres of land that is often remote and difficult to get to. The Northwest Territories is a mixture of people and cultures, primarily that of local Indigenous Peoples with an increasingly growing diversity of various ethnic backgrounds.

While over 50% of NWTers identify as “Christian,” only a very small percentage are born-again believers or have been presented with the Gospel that invites them to accept Jesus as their personal Lord and Saviour and into a relationship with Him as a lifelong follower.

We have four self-governing churches in the NWT and five Pentecostal Sub Arctic Mission Stations. We have local churches and expressions of Gospel witness in communities that could see their fruitfulness increase with your partnership.

Things to consider as you engage with The North:

Partner Rather Than Parachute

Often, with the very best of intentions, churches, groups, and ministries parachute into Northern communities, offer great Gospel presentations, and then leave with no follow-up plan or coordination with the local church and its leadership in the community. When partnering with The North, consider the same best practices you would use when going into an overseas context. Partner with the local church and its leadership, and consider what commitment you want to make. Are you testing the waters of a potentially long-term partnership and want to do a one-off ministry trip or something more long-term with multiple points of engagement? Clearly communicate your expectations and goals and ask what their expectations and goals are. Rather than accommodation, be strategic in what the outcomes of the ministry engagement will be. Build your ministry team around these objectives.

Count the Cost

Any time spent in the NWT will be a unique and life-changing adventure. However, travelling to Northern Canada is a costly and time-consuming venture. Flights to the NWT can be as much or double the cost of airfare overseas. Ground costs can be high, and access to services can be limited. Many smaller communities require visitors entering their town to be double vaccinated, and local band chiefs give permission for guests to enter the community. There are many great options to lower costs but still support local businesses and the economy. Work with local leaders on the ground or the ABNWT Director of Northern Initiatives to map out logistics and the best plan to serve you and the local context.

Give Your Best

While ministry trips offer great opportunities for team members to be exposed to and participate in new experiences, plan to give your very best. Northerners deserve your best presentations of the Gospel, pulpit ministry, youth activities, kids camps, community service, and certified tradespeople for building projects. The excellence, respect, kindness, honour, and love you bring to the North will speak as loudly as your words and actions. Give the same energy in preparation for a ministry trip to the North that you would give to a ministry trip overseas, including team training, prayer, and preparation.

To find out about opportunities to partner with the North this summer, contact Hailey Armoogan, Director of Northern Initiatives, at hailey@abnwt.com.

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