Extreme poverty in Northern Manitoba
Posted by: Jacob Friesen
Church: Gospel Mennonite Winnipeg
Date: November 2nd, 2010
On Oct. 25,26 leadership from the three conferences (EMC, CMC and EMMC) drove up to Thompson to officially introduce an interim Board to the Continental Mission Inc. staff. This is a mission with a mandate for First Nations people in Manitoba. Gerald Barkman from the Altona EMMC is our representative on this Board. Please pray for them as they give direction but more importantly develop a ministry plan for helping our First Nations people find their way to healing and wholeness.
Last night I watch two short video clips that highlighted the extreme poverty and need.
Our temptation is to step over our fallen brother as we rush all over the world to do missions. What should we be doing in light of this focus by our Free Press?
See Region 3 Face Book for pictures from the trip.
I am glad, Jacob, that you had a chance to see the situation first hand when you were up North recently. The tragedy of the First Nations’ story in Canada and the USA is a long saga of promises, broken promises, outright abuse and basically outright theft. I am glad that you feel this in your gut, Jacob. You said it made you sick to see the videos. Good. I am encouraged when one of our conference leaders calls in sick because of this on-going crisis on our doorsteps. The more I allow myself to understand the causes of extreme poverty and suffering in the world, the more I too feel it in my gut. It’s time that more of us feel the anquish of our fellow human beings, anguish that propels us toward at least keeping them on our radar and attempting whatever we can do. It is so much easier to not be informed or to just blame people for their own problems. Unfortunately many in our church communities take the easy route.