The Impact of BIMI in the Far North

by John Halsey, Far North Director and Gene Lewis, Missionary to Canada

Stretching across the very northern extremes of the Western Hemisphere is a vast expanse of land known as the Far North. From Alaska, the United States’ last frontier; to Canada, the second largest country in the world, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic; to the isolated island nations of Greenland and Iceland—this is the area that BIMI has targeted through its ministry to the Far North.

The Far North is a very beautiful and majestic land, but the real beauty of the land is its people. Thirty million people live there—a relatively small population in comparison with the large land mass. But here they live, scattered all across the Far North. Some live in large urban settings such as Anchorage, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Toronto, Montreal, and Reykjavik. Others live in small villages and outposts like Point Barrow, Pelican Narrows, and Melartic. Some of the missionaries minister in the large urban areas and others minister in the remote, isolated areas. Weather conditions in the winter make survival a constant concern. Even so, ministry goes on.

During the first and middle parts of this century, mission boards were busy sending missionaries to the “uttermost parts of the earth.” This was a fulfillment of the Great Commission, but only in part because they had forgotten our “Samaria” to the north. Baptist International Missions, Inc., from its inception, has had a global view of missions, which includes our northern neighbors.

Shortly after the establishment of BIMI, our responsibility to reach the lost souls of the Far North became evident. In the early 1960s, Garland Cofield began flying young men of his church to Canada to work with a missionary during the summer. He became further interested in the needs of Canada, which led him to make a survey of north central Canada in 1964. In 1965 he joined BIMI and three months later headed to northeastern Ontario with his wife and their four children.

His first goal after getting settled was to start a church. The church began to grow and in 1966 a church building was erected. This first church established by a BIMI missionary in Canada has since sent out several of its own people to establish other churches in Canada and one in Ireland.

Meanwhile, the Cofields were burdened to start a camp ministry—-a place to bring young people apart in a wholesome atmosphere and teach them the Word of God. A remote site was located 30 miles away, accessible only by plane or by the remains of an old logging road. Everyone lived in tents during the summer in those early days.

It was not long until others followed the trail that the Cofields had blazed to the North. Soon the Kuipers and the Baughman families joined in the work. After helping get the camp underway, these two families went out from the camp to establish churches. This became a constant pattern as many others answered the call to the North. One third of the BIMI missionaries serving in Canada spent their early years of training at the camp.

In 1989, because of Garland Cofield’s heavy responsibilities at the Camp of the Woods, he asked to be relieved of his duties as Canadian Director of BIMI. At that time BIMI enlarged the Canadian area to include Alaska, Greenland, and Iceland. This new area was designated as the Far North. John Halsey, then serving as BIMI’s International Representative, was appointed Far North Director.

In 1990, Baptist International Missions of Ontario, Canada, was officially organized. In 1992, charitable status was granted, which allows Canadian churches to support missionaries throughout the world through BIMI. Since that time support from Canadian churches for BIMI missionaries has tripled. Gene Lewis, BIMI missionary to Canada, is the president of BIMI of Ontario, Canada. There are now three BIMI missionaries who have graduated from a Canadian Bible college and have been sent out from a Canadian church. Many of our missionaries are now doing deputation and receiving support from Canadian churches.

Currently, there are 32 missionary family units serving the Far North. Twenty-five of these are missionaries to Canada and six are missionaries to Alaska. In answer to our prayers God has called a couple to Iceland. Ben and Anita Wharton have been approved by the Mission and have already begun deputation. At present Greenland’s “Icy Mountains” have no missionaries sent out through Baptist International Missions. This is a matter that needs our fervent prayers.

From its inception BIMI has been a church-planting mission, and this has been the emphasis of our missionaries to the Far North. During the last year four Canadian churches and one Alaskan church became indigenous. Four missionaries began the process of establishing new churches.

The Far North is still an area of great need. There are cities and towns where there is no Gospel witness. Countless small and remote places throughout the North also have no witness. Different people and places require specially prepared and gifted missionaries. God has given some uniquely gifted people for the North. Some of these are ministering in the cities. Others are serving in the villages where the numbers are few and the conditions are sometimes harsh. It is our prayer that others will be prepared, gifted, and called to the vast needy areas of the North.

Saturday, March 13, 2010

John 3:16 For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life.

JUSTIN & GRACE HAYES -  REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
C DUANE & BONNIE HEARRON II -  RUSSIA
ROBERT & JEAN HEATH -  MILITARY - EDUCATION COORDINATOR & RELIEF