June 20th, 2008
Mission Trip To Nain
From the 7th to the 14th of July, Gwen will be taking two young people from our youth group, Kayla and Serena, to run a Vacation Bible School providing lots of fun activities for the children of Nain. Gwen will also be ministering in services to the adults during her time there. We’re believing that many boys and girls will discover the joy of serving Jesus, and that the adults will find healing, body, soul and spirit. We need a prayer force of partners all across Canada as we go.
Nain is a very attractive but isolated Inuit community in Northern Labrador and has a population of around 1200. There are many there who need to hear and experience that there is a God who loves and values them. Destructive spiritual forces have had a strong grip on this community for many years, and have kept many of the native residents captive to addictions, abuse and despair. It is time to break those strongholds and see them set free!
Ray and Juanita Whalen have made Nain their home and have dedicated their lives to loving and caring for the Inuit people. This will be an opportunity not only to pour into the people of Nain but also to provide some much needed encouragement and support for Ray and Juanita.
The cost of sending the team is enormous – approximately $3000.00 per team member - but it is worth every dollar spent, to see these hurting, needy people
released into freedom in Christ.
This is a Summer of Miracles for Nain! I'm asking that you consider sowing into a miracle.
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May 13, 2008
Breaking Barriers At The Ends of The Earth!
Following problems on our last trip to the northern part of Russia in 2006, it seemed that the doors were closed for us to go back to that area ever again.
Knowing that our ministry is called to the ends of the earth, we traveled to central Siberia last fall and committed to help with the wonderful opportunity of ministering to the orphans that Ilya and Janet Bantseev are taking in. They are creating a Christian home for dozens of them, rescuing them from a life on the streets. Our support and tangible partnership continues as they work tirelessly to save children’s lives.
Coming into 2008, God gave me a word that this was a year of Breakthrough, Favour, Restoration! Just before Easter, God also revealed to me that we are in Resurrection Season! That which was dead, we will see come to life.
Completely out of the blue, I received word that we were being invited back to the Vorkuta region by a Charismatic Pastor whom I had met once a few years ago. He and his church believed it was time for them to begin ministry on the tundra and wanted to work with us.
This Pastor has amazing favour with the authorities and other churches in the region.
Chris Atkins (cameraman) and I applied for visas and were granted them without any question.
We flew to Moscow, then to St. Petersburg and joined with our representative and interpreter Igor Bogomol. Together we traveled to Syktyvkar where we stayed overnight.
We were greeted at the airport by a Charismatic Pastor who had arranged everything for our time in Russia. He and his church of 200 have committed to help us with our ongoing ministry in the north; in fact, he wants to come with us on the next trip. His overseer pastors the largest church in Russia with 4000 members. This is a divine connection. They too have amazing favour with the authorities.
Before flying to Vorkuta, the pastor asked if I would speak to their Bible School students. What a thrill to minister to young men and women who possess the call of God on their life, challenging them with the ministry to the Ends of the Earth!
We flew to Vorkuta and were met at the airport by Volodya, who has worked with us for years, as well as Pastor Valentin, who had invited us, and three other Pastors from Vorkuta.
The next morning we set off for the tundra in the new vehicles that we had rented and are designed for this type of travel. Over the years, we’ve tried various modes of tundra transportation - these were definitely the best yet, and will go through anything, which we proved on this trip.
We traveled all day, and it was very rough. Valentin became quite ill several times, and it seemed that perhaps he was not suited for tundra ministry.
Finally, after a full day’s travel, we found a tent and an extended family far out on the tundra. They invited us to stay with them for the night.
They told us that they had been traveling all day and had just arrived and set up. Had we arrived earlier they would have not been there.
The father’s name is Peter and he lives with his wife, sons, daughters, and some of his sisters. All told there are about 15 of them in the family.
The entire family are saved and filled with the Holy Ghost!
I wish you and everyone of our partners could have been with me as Peter told how they were saved through our ministry 3 years ago and how our team have ministered and discipled them ever since.
With tears in his eyes, he thanked me and said that before we came to them they were quite poor, had no hope, no Bibles and no joy. He explained that in their culture your wealth and value are measured in reindeer - the more you have the more affluent you are. With only 46 reindeer at the time they came to Jesus, they were considered poor. They now have the largest herd in that region of Russia with over 1000 reindeer and growing quickly. Unsaved Nenets (nomadic reindeer herders) constantly ask them why they are so prosperous.
What a time we had with this family. We worshipped together, prayed together and realized how on fire for God they are. - especially all of the men; something I had not seen before. With excitement, they told me about the fact that more and more Nenets are getting saved and how this Gospel is spreading so quickly at the Ends of the Earth.
We did a training session with them with the Gospel Beads and gave them a supply. They were ecstatic and told us how they were going to share the simple message of the coloured beads to everyone they meet on the tundra.
We then discovered that many of them had injuries and sickness without any medical help available. I began to teach them on healing and we prayed for one of the ladies who had a serious fall down a hill and had lost the use of her one arm. God healed her instantly.
I then had them join us as we prayed for Peter's wife who was limited in the use of her one of her arms as well - and God healed her too!
I then had them pray for one of the young men who had not been able to function properly because of severe pain in his head. We stood back as God used them to bring total healing. Before we were finished that evening it seemed that everyone was healed.
At their invitation, we decided to stay and live with this family for the remainder of our time there. Every time we shared together, I did some more teaching. I felt like I was doing a Timothy School just for them - raising up Healing Evangelists! They are committed to pray for every sick person they encounter as they travel across the tundra.
The next morning they packed up their tent and loaded everything onto the sleighs. They hitched up the reindeer and we traveled all that day. They are making their way up north where they will spend the summer along the Kara River. I asked if I could ride on a sleigh and they seemed happy to accommodate not only me but our whole team on the various sleighs. What an experience.
Stopping for a break during the day, I realized that this was the very first area I came to in 1997. I clearly remembered standing, looking toward the hills knowing that there were so many people out there who had never heard. It seemed so impossible and so overwhelming to me at the time. I remembered back eleven years ago, praying that God would show us how to reach them.
The realization hit me like a ton bricks! I was with one of those families and know that there are more and more coming to faith in Christ, I got so excited.
That night we set up camp. It took a total of 34 minutes for them to set up the tent and have it ready for the night. Once settled, we had another service and teaching time and again, a wonderful time of fellowship.
We repeated this each day and it was one of the most rewarding times I have ever had, realizing that by pouring into them, they would pour into others. This family has become a team of full-time Nenet evangelists out on the tundra.
Valentin, the Pastor from Vorkuta, had fallen in love with the people and became so excited that he stated, “Next to my wedding day this was the best day of my life. I would go through anything to continue to get out on the tundra to minister to these people.”
When it was time to say goodbye they gave us a very generous offering. They had killed one of their reindeer during the night and had prepared it for us as a gift. Understandably, this was a very big sacrifice for them. It was put into plastic bags and taken back to Vorkuta for our team there to use as their meat. Peter (the father) stated that God had blessed them in such a great way that they had to give back.
As a result of what he saw on the Tundra, Valentin became insatiably hungry to learn more about healing and has asked us to help them establish a Healing Clinic, similar to what we have in Ottawa, in Vorkuta. He pointed out that all of the Nenets come through Vorkuta at some time during the year and this would be a place for them to come and receive help. It would also obviously be available to the people of Vorkuta who have great needs.
Vorkuta has had a very negative legacy as it was a place where, for years, people were sent to the prison camps. Most of those people sent were Jews or Christians, with very few survivors. But now the love of God is redeeming this city!
Volodya shared how he wants to return to Laboravia (the community that we supplied food and fire wood for an entire winter). He wants to visit the wonderful people who we led to Christ on our first visit there and minister to them and take them help. It will take $1,000 for this to happen and I have told him that we will help him.
Everything I have been preaching and declaring this year has been confirmed on this trip. In some ways it seems that our ministry to the tundra has not only has been restored but has gone to a whole new level!
When we said goodbye to Peter and his family I felt very strong mixed emotions. I had become very attached to them and did not want to leave, but I also had a strong pull to begin my journey home to be reunited with Gwen and all of the conveniences of life here as we know it.
I must tell you that I have left a very big part of my heart on the tundra at the Ends of the Earth and we are already planning our next visit, probably in December, to continue the work that has been stared.
The needs are great, but when you sow into this ministry, you not only are changing the spiritual climate in Ottawa and the rest of Canada, but also at the Ends of the Earth. The Fire is burning around the Arctic Circle and above. This year we will be sending another team to Nain, Labrador, Mike and Flora Mason just returned from ministry in Iceland, and I will be going to Northern Quebec as well as Coral Harbour in Nunavut. It is time!
All that has happened - including Peter and his family coming to Christ - is because of you, our partners. We cannot do what we need to do without every one of you.
It is resurrection breakthrough season. Thank you for sowing into breakthrough!
May 2nd, 2008
Revival continues to grow in Ouje-Bougoumou, our second service last night saw many more people coming as word spread about what God is doing.
Many testified of being healed as there is such a healing anointing. And although I have not talked about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit, there are many who have received and spoken in tongues for the first time. 25 more responded to the altar call and there is a real excitement.
Joel Spinks will be doing live ministry on the local radio station as I did yesterday. There are French Cree people who have traveled to be here and report that their reservations are French and they have no church in their community.
Joel is talking to people about getting his french radio broadcast that BPEA produces on all of these community radio stations and is also investigating the possibility of a French church on the internet for these people who are so hungry.
Tonight will be our final service for this visit and I will be ministering on the Fire of God and laying hands on everyone.
God has really met me in these days and told me that He has put a Breakthrough Anointing on Gwen and myself and that I will be carrying this fresh revival anointing back to Ottawa for Sunday.
I believe this is the beginning of great things. I can hardly wait for DOC on Sunday.
There is a very large group coming from Northern Quebec to Ottawa for our upcoming conference and they are excited about driving the 10 hours to get in on what God is doing. I do hope that you're planning to attend as well. This conference will be life-changing for you, as the power of God breaks every barrier! More information can be found on our website: www.bpea.com
I covet your prayers for the service here tonight. Thank you for partnering with us as we see Jesus have Dominion from Sea to Sea and From the River to the Ends of the Earth!
God Bless,
Bill Prankard
May 1st, 2008
Joel Spinks and I are in Ouje-Bougoumou in Northern Quebec and had our first service last night. Last night was nothing short of the beginning of revival.
Great crowd as people have travelled from many communities to be here, many from many hours away. The altar call was very exciting as between 20 to 30 (hard to count) responded. The power of God was so strong that it seemed everyone was being dramatically touched.
I felt totally exhausted from Russia when I arrived and felt very weak but in my time of weakness His strength is being made perfect.
I believe this is the beginning of a move of God for Northern Quebec. There is a great deal of excitement and so many of the people that have been healed were told by the doctor that there was nothing that could be done. It is winter here with a lot of snow falling overnight but the Fire of God is burning.
I thank God for being able to be here an serve Jesus and represent all of you.
Breaking the Barriers conference is only a few short weeks away. This truly is a season of resurrection breakthrough! Please - do whatever you need to do to get in all the conference. Your breakthrough is here! It's time! We are seeing it everywhere we go. I can't wait!
Visit our website at www.bpea.com to get all the details.
God Bless,
Bill Prankard
April 23, 2008
We have just arrived from the tundra and into Syktyvkar. I will be teaching two classes at the Bible School tonight.
We have had an amazing trip, the best yet!
We found a tent of wonderful believers who were saved through our ministry a few years ago. They are strong and filled with the Holy Ghost. We lived with them and everyday, took the tent down and travelled with the reindeers and set up again. I mentored them in healing and they began praying for each other and God healed them, it is very exciting as we have released them to be healing evangelists on the tundra.
I also trained them with the beads (a bracelet with 4 coloured beads representing the salvation message) and they have headed out to evangelize. This was not a trip about comfort but was very exciting as I saw the fruit of our ministry in the north.
We have connected with some new churches and team members as well as spending time with our team. We will be continung to help all of them. The work is exploding as God is doing a wonderful thing at the Ends of the Earth. What I saw on this trip was everything that God promised us this year. This is breakthrough time!
Igor, Chris and I are weary but happy and I am really looking forward to home. We travel to Moscow tomorrow then home on Friday. Everything has gone without a hitch and we have had amazing favour with the authorities and everyone else
Love you lots and miss you,
Bill
April 22, 2008
Last week, Bill left Canada to, for the first time in two years, travel and minister on the Arctic Russian Tundra. Every step of this journey has been miraculous breakthrough. Thank you for your prayer and support - you are a part of this amazing season of breakthrough. Bill travelled from St. Petersburg to the Arctic community of Syktyvkar on Friday and was bale to send us the following brief update:
"We are in Syktyvkar and are with the Charismatic Pastor, they have about 200 people in their church and a Bible School they are amazing and totally understand the frustrations with the other groups we've worked with in the past. Before we leave for Vorkuta tomorrow I will be sharing with the Bible School students in an informaal setting. They have 2 tanks waiting for us in Vorkuta and we will be spending our entire time on the tundra. I have hope again in the future in fact I am very excited. We had an amazing time with Mark Dotson and his wife and Igor and his whole family in St Petersburg. God is totally in every step of this trip and we know it is breakthrough time."
March 13, 2008
The time in the Arctic was very special and I will never forget my experience. The people would come out to the services, walking in -35 weather (-56 with the windchill factor) in the middle of a severe arctic blizzard. People actually had frost bite on their faces as they would walk in these extremely harsh conditions.
I preached several evenings with various themes per evening: the glory realm, healing, the infilling in the Holy Spirit, victory..... The people were really receiving as the Spirit did the work. Tears flowed and bodies shook as the Lord did what he needed to do. I think the highlight was in Rankin where the thirst seemed the greatest. They were just longing for God's presence and they were already ready to receive before I arrived. When I preached it was like striking a match. The altars were full as everyone wanted to get into what the Spirit was wanting to release. There were many testimonies from the people about how the Lord touched them in the services.
Weather-wise, I was snowed in 5 days in Arviat and was told by church members, "You can easily be with us for 2 weeks!" I never got to Coral Harbour but I feel that what I did and where I went was exactly what God had in His plan. Being snowed in allowed me time to mentor some of the people there while encouraging the leadership.
All in all, God's kingdom advanced!
January 17, 2008
Mike and Flora Mason have returned from seven weeks in Nain, Labrador and are now getting acquainted with the various areas of our missions to the Ends of the Earth. Mike and Flora will be giving direction to the missions work and will be reporting on what is happening in Russia, Nain and the rest of Canada's north.
There are plans being put together to see our DVD churches extend throughout Russia and Canada's Arctic as well has connecting the youth of Nain and other communities with our youth group here and having them interact through the internet.
We believe that this is a year of expansion and increase and that we will begin to see the Fire of God burn around the Arctic Circle.
November 7, 2007
We've just received an email from Mike & Flora Mason, who have gone to Nain on our behalf to help Ray & Juanita. They arrived just over a week ago and are just getting settled in. I'm sending along the email and am asking that you keep Mike & Flora, Ray & Juanita and the community of Nain in prayer.
Blessings,
Bill
"Hi Everyone,
We have been in Nain now for just over a week. The scenery is beautiful, but it doesn't take much discernment to realize that there are a lot of desperately needy people here. Whilst there is a real openness to hearing about God and to receiving prayer you can sense the heaviness of spiritual oppression over the town.
Apart for trying to be a practical help and support to Ray and Juanita We have been asking the Lord to show us what He wants us to do and how we can make best use of our time here. We have strongly felt that we should devote a consistent part of our time to intercede and make prophetic declaration over the town. Strongholds need to be broken and Paul tells us that we have divine power to the pulling down of strongholds! We have been up in the hills a few times praying and are believing God for a breakthrough.
We have started midweek Soaking Prayer Meetings. This is one way of drawing the small group of believers in the town together, encouraging them to realize that there is strength in numbers and that working together they will achieve much more! Also by making time to come into the presence of God, He will reveal His heart to them and work change in their lives. Ray has asked us to take the Sunday night meetings. It's very unpredictable who will turn out, or how many. Last Sunday we had 14 children and 2 adults. I shared some testimony about how God had revealed Himself as Father to me and invited the group to pray and ask Jesus into their hearts, a few children did. We asked the children if anyone they knew was sick and offered to pray for them. The children shared their requests and we prayed with them. We asked them to invite them next week.
The supplies have been arriving and next week we should be having a clothing distribution day. The children have received their bikes and are out on them in all weathers. Thank God for the generosity of His people who have made it possible for some relief and joy to come into the lives of these people, through practical demonstrations of His love, but there is such a need for a move of God and prayer is the only thing that can usher in a breakthrough!
Thanks for all your prayer support particularly for Ray and Juanita. We will keep you updated on things here.
God Bless you all
Mike and Flora"
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November 2, 2007
It is Friday evening here and we have just arrived back at the hotel. We leave here very early in the morning to fly back to Moscow. It has been an amazing trip. Ilya and Janet have a phenominal work here, about 1000 in their church and several locations where they house men and women on a Teen Challenge program. They have a great success rate of recoveries, unheard of anywhere else in Russia.
The Government has really sat up and taken notice.
There is a crisis with the orphans as many parents take their kids to the hospital and never pick them up and there is nowhere for them to go as the orphanages are all overcrowded. They have what they call
shelters; places that when kids are found abandoned or on the streets, the police bring them to and they are to spend about 3 months at these places until the paper work is done. At that time, they are
supposed to go to an orphanage - but - many children have been in the shelters for 5 and 6 years. Once the kids reach 18, no matter where they are, they are just put out and are on their own. Many of course go back to the place they where born, only to get hooked on drugs and alcohol etc.; thus effectively repeating the cycle they were born into.
We just came from a shelter and met one boy who is about to turn 18. He has run away a few times and has been in jail a few times and, without intervention, is destined for trouble.
The kids in the orphanages and shelters are really special and really respond to love and attention. Then there are the street kids who are not visible but they live in the sewers, we went to the area today but could not see them as they blend in during the day. The area where they are is the train station which also is a market area and it is very busy during the daytime. Many of the socks and hats we brought with us will be distributed to these kids.
Ilya is developing apartments for the new families, we spent part of yesterday afternoon with the couple who will be the first parents and they are amazing, they cry when they talk about the needs of the children.
The first apartment is about 75% finished and they want to get 3 more ASAP. These are being built in the school building that the Government has given them. It costs about $50,000 for each apartment
including furniture. Then there will be the costs of caring for the families, with food, clothing etc. They have not figured out how much that will cost but do not expect it to be high.
While the situation is different that I thought, I have been really challenged and excited about having a part in this project. It is needed, and Ilya has the vision of raising up 40 evangelists. This will just be the beginning as the need is growing by the day, and the Government does not know what to do. There will be more and more kids on the street unless we see this happen.
October 27, 2007

Bill and his son Steve left last night enroute to Central Siberia.
Their mission is to visit and find out how we can best lend a hand to the work amongst the social orphans there.
We know that the building given to Ilya to house 40 orphaned children needs tens of thousands of dollars in repairs.
We covet your prayers for their safety, wisdom and for the necessary funds it will take to take on this massive project.
October 19, 2007
I was hungry and you formed a humanities club to discuss my hunger.
Thank you.
I was imprisoned and you crept off quietly to your chapel to pray for my release.
Nice.
I was naked and in your mind you debated the morality of my appearance.
What good did that do?
I was sick and you thanked God for your health.
But I needed you.
I was homeless and you preached to me of the shelter of the love of God.
I wished you'd taken me home.
I was lonely and you left me alone to pray for me.
Why didn't you stay?
You seem so holy, so close to God; but I'm still very hungry, lonely, cold and still in pain.
Does it matter?
- Anonymous
My son Steve and I have just been approved for visas to go back to Russia. We leave next week; this time to central Siberia to partner with Ilya and Janet Bantseev to see 40 orphans taken off the streets and placed in family units in an orphanage.
We believe this is the next chapter of our ongoing work in Arctic Russia, the Ends of the Earth.
The Government has given the Bantseevs a building in desperate need of repair and renovation. The immediate urgency is that the harsh, unforgiving winter is already beginning to close in.
These kids are the ones Jesus called "The least of these" in Matthew 25:42-45. They have been abandoned by their parents (who the Russians refer to as the forgotten people). They are literally the least of the least.

Our response to this desperate situation is our response to Jesus.
When I am with the children, I will look into their eyes and tell them that I am there because of people who live across Canada and around the world who love Jesus who are going to help them. I will give them hope.
These kids need your help right now.
For I was hungry and you gave Me no food; I was thirsty and you gave Me no drink; I was a stranger and you did not take Me in, naked and you did not clothe Me, sick and in prison and you did not visit Me.’
“Then they also will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to You?’ Then He will answer them, saying, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to Me.
Matthew 25:42-45
I need to hear from you today.
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October 15, 2007
Thursday night I sent out an email message asking for 10 people who would donate $500.00. The funds raised would completely cover the cost of hiring a transport truck to deliver several tons of food and clothing.
Before Sunday arrived, ten people had stepped forward and met the challenge!!
The truck arrived in Ottawa late Friday afternoon to pick up the remaining supplies at Dominion Outreach Centre, and rolled out of town headed east. By this time next week, there will be enough food and winter clothing to bless Nain and several other needy communities along the Northern Labrador Coast.
For years, Gwen and I have felt like we've been carrying this burden for revival in Canada alone. The mandate of Psalm 72:8, at times felt like it was so far out of reach. BUT - the immediate response to this amazing need has proven to me that there is an army being raised up; An army that is every bit committed to seeing Jesus have dominion across this land! An army of people who would stand up, be counted, and sow into the vision. I am so encouraged!
Our God is well able to give us the land!
This is breakthrough!
There is so much more that needs to be done. The work in Nain is still in it's infancy. We thank God for the impact that's been made, and the lives and souls that have been saved - But - there is much to do.
With your help, I know we can see Nain saved! We, together, can make world-changing impact that will see Jesus have dominion from sea to sea, and from the river to the ends of the earth.
Donate securely online today , or call our toll free number today. 1-888-344-6333
God Bless,
Bill Prankard
October 11, 2007
Our work in Nain, Labrador has seen literally tons of humanitarian aid donated for distribution to the people in Nain and along the coast in preparation for the long, cold winter ahead.
I received word just this morning that the transport company was sending a truck and driver to pick up the food clothing and supplies - AND - The owner was personally donating a large portion of the expenses.
This is breakthrough!
The shipment has to be delivered to Nain before the ice becomes too thick for the barges to travel safely.
The timing is critical! The time is now.
Upon delivery, the balance of the invoice must be paid. Although we've already seen supernatural favour, an additional $5,000 is required immediately.
Together we can help bring God's love in a practical way - to minister to the physical, real needs of the people of Northern Labrador.
I'm looking for 10 people who will commit to give $500.00 this week.
Will you help us?
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December 2006
As you probably know, I was scheduled to be in Russia at this time, and perhaps are wondering what's happening.
Last year's trip was very difficult and the authorities have made it very difficult for us to return. Our workers have felt the pressure that our presence caused. The paperwork to obtain the necessary visas fell through, and although we probably could have fought the issue, realized that being in Arctic Russia may actually do more harm than good to the work that has started.
I was at peace with the decision not to travel and minister in Russia this year as I really felt the Lord telling me that I was to stay in Canada - He is giving us a window of opportunity. It is harvest time for Canada and I could not stand to hear the words of Jeremiah 8:20, "The harvest is past, the summer is ended and we are not saved." We are seeing the early signs of a Revival.
We sent the money for our workers to go on the trip we had planned and to help the people but had not planned on Igor going with him. He lives in St. Petersburg and it is very expensive for him to travel north to meet the rest of our team and then continue on with them. He called in tears last week, saying that he could not imagine not going on the trip. We, knowing his heart for the people, wired him the funds to travel to the Arctic.
The first place they had planned to visit was the village of Laboravaya, the community where the mayor has been so hostile. It is also the place where partners like you have supplied firewood, food and clothing for the entire community. Despite the persecution, many have come to Christ in this tiny isolated village.
The main reason that our team was going this time was to baptize Prokepi and Anyaw in water in front of the entire village. This couple were the first ones to give their lives to Christ when Gwen and I visited a few years ago.
Prokepi said that he never believed there was a God, that he had been taught all his life that was true, but he said on our first visit, "just recently I knew there was a God, but I did not know how to get to Him" This revelation was because so many people here in Canada and around the world prayed! That day at their kitchen table in their humble little house they both gave their lives to Jesus. They have never turned back.
They have been persecuted, their children have been punished. (One Christmas the mayor gave every child in the community presents except theirs and would not even let their children attend the party.)
This couple became one of our DVD Pastors and have faithfully hosted people as they watched our teaching. Many have come to the Lord through them. We have walked with them through some very difficult times and spent quite a bit of time with them. Our hearts are joined together. When I heard Igor through tears say how much he wanted to be there for their special baptismal service, not only did I say yes and that we would send the extra money but I wanted to go so bad. If only I could be transported just for a few minutes but I know I am to stay here and believe for Ottawa and Canada.
Celebrate with us this victory as the work in Russia goes to a whole new level! The entire community (including the mayor) will watch this couple make a bold statement of their faith in Christ.
After this the team will be taking the long and dangerous trip to the Northern Coast to visit Ust Kara and help the people with humanitarian supplies as well as minister to them in the Power of the Spirit.
We must keep this ministry to the Ends of the Earth strong.
On Labour Day Weekend, Ray and Juanita were with us in Ottawa for our Holy Spirit Conference and brought the news of what God is doing in Nain Labrador. They are seeing harvest! A couple of weeks ago they had 150 people in their Sunday evening service! That, for Nain is breakthrough!
This is the time to sow into the vision of Sea to Sea and from the River to the Ends of the Earth!
Bill Prankard
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August 2006
First of all I am grateful to report that Gwen and I and our team arrived home from Arctic Russia, safe and sound, Friday night.
Words can not adequately express how thankful we were for your support and prayers, especially during the trying circumstances we encountered. Our Russian workers were overwhelmed that people from every part of the world were praying for them and our Canadian team. It is impossible to describe what they put up with on a daily basis. The north of Russia is very different from areas like Moscow and as one believer in the north said, “Nothing has changed since the days we built the railway for Stalin.”
Upon our arrival home late last night, we discovered that some reports circulating have not been completely accurate. Some of the information I relayed by phone from Russia was deliberately vague because of the circumstances we were facing, and even now I feel that I need to be somewhat careful.
We prepared in advance for the mission by following all the procedures necessary in the past, and fully anticipated our admittance into the region was both legal and acceptable. Upon our arrival, we registered in the same way we've always done, to ensure our presence was known to authorities. With nearly 30 mission trips to the remote areas of Siberia, I've done my best to abide by the constantly changing regulations, so that nothing would jeopardize our ministry to the precious people of the north.
Our teams and Russian workers have endured many hardships in order to bring them the Good News and to provide desperately needed practical aid. Because we are required to work under the covering of an officially recognized religious organization in Russia, we made these arrangements with a group in Salekhard, who claim to be Christian, whom we've worked with previously.
The Pastor arranged for us to rent a boat from the Department of Transport, and sent one of his own leaders to be part of our team. These steps were supposed to be further assurance that our presence in this 'closed area' was legal. However, early in the trip, his leader stole our rented satellite phone and took it to the Border Police, stating that we were not working under any covering, and that we were in the area illegally. We believe this betrayal, and many other dishonest acts, occured because this religious group's true agenda was based on control, manipulation and financial gain. When we refused to compromise the Gospel message, it set in motion the ordeal we subsequently faced.
In spite of these and many more difficulties, we continued to travel from village to village, stopping at tundra encampments in between, and had amazing opportunities to minister, and saw notable miracles. It was rewarding to see the rich harvest realized from the seed of the Gospel sown on past missions. God is doing a mighty work in this region!
Upon our return to Salekhard, we met with the Border Police to clarify why they considered our mission unlawful, and to explain our actions. The following day our entire group was required to report to the authorities, hand over video tapes of the trip and undergo hours of interrogation, filing statements and eventually faced formal charges. I then represented the team in a court appearance before the judge, who determined this case was not in his jurisdiction and referred us to another. It reminded us of the Bible account of Jesus appearing before Pilate, who washed his hands of the case rather than making a judgement.
We were then handed over to the F.S.B (formerly known as the KGB), where we faced more interrogation, and underwent a rigorous search of all our belongings.
Our cameraman, Chris, in anticipation of having the video tapes confiscated or erased, had stayed up most of the previous night and made duplicates of all the tapes, as well as storing the images on his laptop hard drive and even some on his ipod! I put the duplicates in my hand luggage. As the officer meticulously searched through each piece of luggage, some of the team prayed, "Lord, blind his eyes." Miraculously, he missed the one compartment in my case that held the tapes, and, when they ordered Chris to erase the images on his hard drive, did not notice that he erased only a fraction of what was stored!
Again, we were formally charged, and ordered to sign 'confessions' of guilt. Although we'd been intimidated and told we would face penalties of either deportation, severe fines or possibly worse, at the end of this 12-hour ordeal we were issued an official warning, and sternly cautioned that we could face further difficulties upon departure out of Moscow.
Thanks to the world-wide intercession of our friends and partners, no further problems arose, and we arrived home safe and sound on our scheduled flight.
It is impossible for anyone living in the West to understand their systems, their thinking and the blatant corruption. Our workers were devasted by what they saw as betrayal, lies, and theft from a group we have helped and supported. We now know that we cannot work with them, and are making alternate arrangements for future missions. We will continue the work that has begun. We have seen so many exciting signs of what God is doing in people's lives.
The new believers who have been watching the DVD’s that we took in January are very strong in their faith and in evangelism.
In 1995 , in the far east of Siberia, I was accused of 1) Practicing Medicine without a license 2) Hypnotizing people 3) Video taping Military Installations (spying) and was banned from that area for a season. All this happened at the same time that a revival that continues to this day was breaking out.
During these past 2 weeks, we saw physical miracles, signs in the heavens and many other indications that we are on the brink of another massive revival and harvest in the Yamal region. That is why the enemy is mad! I have received so many encouraging prophetic words from many of you and they have served to confirm what the Lord has shown us. Our workers can and will continue to minister in this area while we work through some very challenging rules in order to be allowed back in.
We have left funds for them to put new tires on our tundra vehicle. It is quite a procedure; they have to travel to Moscow to purchase them, put into a container to secure them and then travel with them by train back to the North - an approximate 40-hour train trip.
They will continue to do mission trips each month this fall, and Rev. Chuck Price, one of our valued members of the BPEA Board of Directors, and who was with us on this recent mission, is planning to return in January '07 with some of our Canadian Inuit Leaders to continue to press through.
We will be sharing more details on future 'From The River' programs as well as in our healing services. We will also be guests on a special 'Lifeline' program on the Miracle Channel in a couple of weeks that will be shown throughout the world. We continue to see breakthroughs in every area of the ministry and can hardly wait to be with our church family and friends tomorrow at Dominion Outreach Centre. Once again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for your prayers and support. We count it a real privilege to represent you at the Ends of the Earth and are determined to continue to do so.
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