god at work
in the far north
The Far North is a land of many extremes,
contrasts and breathtaking beauty. The
weather is continually a factor as record
temperatures range from 100° above zero
to 80° below zero. Lifestyles range from
subsistence living in small villages of less than 100 people to technologically advanced living in
large cities numbering in the millions.
There is no way to calculate how many missionaries it would take to evangelize all the towns, villages
and cities in the Far North. Close to 34 million souls live in Alaska, Canada and Greenland—many
of whom have never heard a clear presentation of the Gospel.
Far North missions is not for everyone, but for everyone whom God calls to the Far North there is
certainly a place for them. The spiritual and physical climate may be challenging, but the potential of
what God can do through a called and surrendered missionary is unlimited. This was wonderfully
illustrated when Garland and Reba Cofield and their children settled in Northern Ontario in 1965.
They were the first BIMI missionaries to answer God's call to Canada.
The Cofields established a church and a Christian school. The church became self-supporting in
1967. The Cofields had a burden to reach young people; they desired to have a place where they
could come apart and be taught the Word of God. Garland and Reba found a place to build a youth
camp that could only be reached by plane or by the remains of an old logging camp road. Camp
of the Woods ministered to thousands of young people. It also became a chief recruiting ministry
for Canada. With his airplane, which had not only wheels but also pontoons or skis, Garland was
able to reach many Indian villages that would have otherwise never been reached with the Gospel
of Christ.
Since the planting of Emmanuel Baptist Church in Dryden, Ontario, there have been approximately
25 other churches established in Canada and Alaska. Presently there are 15 families and 5 singles
serving in the Far North. Others who have served in Canada and Alaska in the past were called of
the Lord to another part of His harvest field. Please pray about your role in getting the Gospel to
the area of God's harvest field that BIMI calls “The Far North.”
to god be the glory great things he hath done
19
