What would Jesus do? It's a very common expression, but when we apply it to our missions work in the Arctic, it takes on even more importance. When we discovered there were whole people groups that had never heard the Gospel, we had to ask, “What would Jesus do?” When we saw Russian natives suffering in poverty, neglected or abandoned by their own government, we had to ask ourselves again, “What would Jesus do?” Every mission, every endeavour, we aim to do what He would do.

Sometimes it would be nice if we could limit the scope of the Gospel to the “convenient” places of the world but the word “all” includes the Arctic. It's not convenient, it's not easy, it's not inexpensive, but it must be done. The costs, hostility of authorities, difficulty getting visas, and extreme conditions are all powerful deterrents. But the fact of the matter is, precious souls will die without Christ, and people will suffer needless pain, sickness and disease if we refuse to go. No other ministry we're aware of has an ongoing ministry in these remote areas. Our faithful partners have made it possible to overcome these difficult obstacles.

In December we're doing something we've never done before: taking people to Arctic Russia with a dual focus. Members of our Healing Clinic team here at Dominion Outreach Centre, led by Director Ken Smid, will train the local Christian workers to set up a healing clinic in the northern Russian community of Vorkuta. It will serve the people in Vorkuta, plus the nomadic Nenets that travel through. Will the healing message work in Arctic Russia? Miracles are universal, and the message of healing works everywhere. It is particularly needed out there on the tundra because there is no medical help. Miracles are their only hope in emergency situations. In the local towns, medical help is extremely limited. The miracle-working power of God is the answer.

At the same time, Gwen and I will be traveling out on the tundra to find people who haven't heard the saving message of Jesus Christ, plus training new believers to take the message of salvation and healing to friends and family they encounter in their travels. Some people have said to me, “Leave them alone-they're happy.” Well, it is actually quite the contrary. The culture in Arctic Russia has been destroyed by alcohol, abuse, suicide, poverty and hopelessness. The Gospel doesn't change people's core culture, which includes fishing, hunting, how they dress, what they eat, etc. It's about changing hearts and giving hope.

Arctic Russia is not the only place in dire need of hope and salvation, however. As most of you know, for the past 10 years or so we have joined together with an amazing couple, Ray and Juanita Whalen, to bring hope and help to Nain, Labrador. Ray's heart was captured when he went on a fishing trip to Nain years ago. Since then, they have given up their prosperous business, their home and their comfort zone to devote their lives to the people of Nain. They work from early morning to late at night, serving them in any and every capacity possible.

In our society, living without your cell phone for a day-or having to cut back on spending money because the price of gas has gone up-is our idea of sacrifice. Ray & Juanita certainly have a different perspective as they allow God to use them to accomplish His work.

We began supporting these faithful servants by sending humanitarian help, helping them purchase their headquarters and sending teams up to provide support and assistance. On Gwen's last trip this summer, she was accompanied by a young lady named Serena Berlinguette. We have known Serena since she was a little girl, as she and her family have attended our services for years. She has been raised in an atmosphere of miracles, hearing stories of our missions efforts in the north. Last year on her first missions trip to Nain, Serena left a big part of her heart. She has been serving as a children's worker here at Dominion Outreach Centre, and it is evident that her “calling” in life is to reach out to children. You see, adult lives are being impacted and changed as we speak, but the Lord has to “undo” the effects of past hurts and wounds. We need to minister to the kids and raise them up while they are still young-with a brand new mindset of God's love and His destiny for their lives. This is why we are sending Serena Berlinguette to join the Nain team to specifically minister to these children. She will also support the Whalens with some of the physical work as well as some of their current projects. We love to see God raising up leaders of the next generation, which is why we are committed to supporting Serena in her $3000.00 flight costs as well as monthly support while she is there. There IS hope for the future generations, and you can be a part of it by supporting this young lady through your missions giving as she dedicates a year of her life to serve and minister the Gospel to these children.

August 5th, 2008

Serena & Kayla's Update on Nain 

The mission trip to Nain, Labrador was once again amazing. We reunited with some people we met last year, plus we were introduced to many new faces.
We held a mini VBS (Vacation Bible School) for 3 days. We incorporated praise and worship, snacks, games, and important Biblical lessons. We also hosted a movie day, which was a real treat for the kids.
Overall, everything went very well, and Nain is slowly becoming a better community. Just from last year to this year, we could see small things that had changed. For example, we witnessed many more parents with their children. To us, this is huge sign that God is working in Nain, and He will forever change it!
Thank you so much for all of your prayers and donations. They do make the world of difference!
 
 - Serena & Kayla

Our recent mission to Nain, Labrador gave me a deeper appreciation of Jesus' statement in Matthew 25:40, “Inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.'” The Lord gave our team the opportunity of ministering to some of the most marginalized people in all of Canada.  I believe that the love, compassion and hope our youth team deposited into the children has done much to break the generational curses that have held many residents in bondage to alcohol, abuse, suicide and unspeakable pain.  As the adults shared their hearts with me, the Holy Spirit poured his healing ministry into them.  How thankful we are for the on going ministry of our resident missionaries, the Whalens, who extend their love and help to these precious lives every day.  And thank you, partners, for making such vital ministry possible.   
 - Gwen Prankard

July 11th, 2008

Gwen's Update from Nain

Our travels to Nain went considerably well. All the flights were on schedule and it was 30 degrees and sunny when we arrived in Goose Bay on Monday morning.
The girls have been doing an absolutely fantastic job with the kids meetings. They came prepared with fantastic lessons and activities to keep the kids engaged and enthusiastic.  Juanita says many more kids will come kids as the word spreads.  We had a movie day, so the girls made popcorn and muffins and other goodies while the whole gang watched “Jonah” (Veggie Tales).  I’m Juanita’s kitchen helper and the girls’ “balloon-blower-upper”, with some time left over to get some writing done.  
I had the opportunity to share and hold ministry time for the adults in the mid-week meeting here.  It appeared to be hijacked when a very drunk woman came and started pouring out her heart about the incredible pain of her past (as well as a lot of rambling), but one of the other ladies began to share that she had experienced much of the same past, and that she was learning to take authority over the devil’s lies.  It broke something in the group, and one by one they began to share and minister to one another!  It was pretty amazing. 

Life is certainly different here, and I’m constantly amazed that Ray & Juanita can keep their sanity, given the overwhelming problems they deal with on a daily basis.  But as they invest their lives in the people, and particularly the children, we all believe that the emerging generation will arise with a different mindset to break the bondages that have gripped this community for so long.  Thank you for your continued prayers as we are away. Ray & Juanita send their love and greetings to all.

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.

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.

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

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

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."

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

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

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

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