As the new pastor at Cornerstone Church in Yellowknife, NT, I want to share with you a vision for the northern parts of Canada that started long before I was even alive and that I believe will impact you and our nation today.

There was a prophecy in the 70s that there would be a revival fire that would start in the northern parts of Canada and spread across our nation. Also, in the 70s, Billy Graham prophesied that reconciliation with the indigenous people of our land would catalyze the next great awakening. You may have heard of the prophecy from Yonggi Cho of Canada being a nation of healing to other nations, as when the pastor of the largest church in the world came through our nation to pray, it was Revelation 22:2 that was revealed to him.

See, the vision for the North is not to move to the Northwest Territories and to sing some "Kumbaya" and coast. No. It is for an all-out pursuit of God's face to see His hand move and shake every hamlet, village, town and city, pushing back the darkness that has held dominion here for far too long. Every statistic you could think of, from suicide to sexual abuse, is at its worst in the North. The principalities and powers run wild up here, and I find they are much more overt than covert like they are in the South. Drugs and alcohol, loneliness, anxiety and depression, homelessness, you name it, run rampant in the North with little to no place for people to go and find help. There is a fear of the church because of its past; the government is doing its best but cannot solve spiritual problems, and many are hopeless because of the pain and suffering that is experienced. This is why the vision is revival, awakening, renewal, and restoration: if God doesn't sovereignly move here, we are out of luck.

Maybe you are skeptical of those words because you've heard them used time and time again, but friend, hear me: every century of church history, we have had high highs and low lows in the church and in our lows, we have settled for less than what God has created us for which was not for more programs and gathering in pews looking at the backs of heads. No, He created us for fullness in Christ, which only comes through the supernatural power of God. We need God to move in power. Power to see the captives set free. Power to see the sick and the blind healed. Power to have the good news of the kingdom of heaven coming and preached to the poor. Power to taste and see that the Lord's favour is upon the North and is upon Canada.

We believe what happens in the North will bless and serve the rest of our nation. We aren't here to isolate; we are here to build bridges and lines of connection to work together to see God's kingdom advance. We are here to make disciples of every nation, tribe, and tongue so they can go and be a blessing everywhere they step in. Will it be hard work? Yes! Will it cost a ton of money to reach some of the most isolated communities in our world? Yes! Could your time and money investment be used elsewhere in some city? Of course. It could also be used to reach the ends of the earth as Jesus commissioned us to do so. And friends, it does not get much further from where it all started than Tuktoyaktuk. This is why we are here: to reach the furthest lost person with the love of Jesus, no matter the cost, no matter the sacrifice, no matter the battle.

We, the ABNWT District of the PAOC, are here. We, Pentecostal Sub-Arctic Mission [PSAM], are here. We, the church, are here to see God's kingdom come, and His will be done in the North as it is in heaven.

If you desire to know more about "what" we are doing and how you can partner with us, as we need many partners and co-labourers in the kingdom, feel free to reach out to us at PSAM/District Office or me at Jamesclarence@ykcornerstone.church.

Thanks for reading.

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