On November 6–8, the Indigenous Alliance Church of Canada (IACC) hosted a gathering at First Nations Community Church (FNCC) in Winnipeg, MB. In the weeks leading up to the event, anticipation was high. Jim Anderson, pastor of FNCC, described it as “a meaningful opportunity to strengthen relationships, celebrate God’s work among our churches, and discuss the path forward for ministry and reconciliation.”
The gathering opened with Carry the Torch, a session for younger Indigenous leaders aged 16–39. Throughout the weekend, the theme Past–Present–Future shaped the time together. As Pastor Anderson explained, the theme reflects a shared journey: it honours the churches’ history with The Alliance Canada, highlights the ministries happening today, and helps them look ahead to what God has in store.
Keynote speaker Dan Woodward of Action International Ministries mentors and coaches First Nations leaders and missionaries, and he was one of many who contributed to a powerful and encouraging weekend. Howard Jolly and his band, Rising Above, were among the teams that led worship and music ministry. Howard reminded those in attendance of the importance of being valued and heard, and of extending that same posture to others:
“When we are preaching Jesus to people, they need to know we value them. We need to hear them, because Jesus is relevant to them and their questions ... Ministry involves listening, understanding, and accompanying people through their journeys.”
As the weekend unfolded, Indigenous leaders generously shared their journeys with one another, including stories of past trauma, family struggles, profound loss, addiction, healing, and faith. A non-Indigenous guest was deeply moved by the honesty, humility, sincerity, and hope expressed throughout the event:
“What struck me was how naturally it all belonged together. There was room for the whole story of people’s lives.”
There were stories of devastating loss, and there was also joy, celebration, and hope. People celebrated years of sobriety, shared stories of transformation, prayed for one another, and expressed genuine faith.
After one of the evening sessions, the guest asked a few attendees what they thought of the evening and whether they had been surprised by the vulnerability in the room. They simply replied, “Oh, this is ministry.”
What felt extraordinary to the guest was, in many ways, normal for them.
“Hope wasn’t something they talked about after the pain had passed. It was something they expressed as they walked through it together. In a world longing for authentic community, I was reminded of the power of simply being honest, valuing one another, and walking together.”
Authentic community isn’t unique to Indigenous churches. Still, there is much we can learn about what it means to be the church from the faithful, everyday ministry of our Indigenous brothers and sisters.
Please continue to pray for our Indigenous churches and leaders, and for the advancing of God’s work among Indigenous peoples, as Jesus reconciles and renews all things, here in Canada and beyond.