New Hope Reaches the Arctic    Equipping Leaders of the World

Imagine living in a land where the only way to get to the next town is by dogsled, snowmobile or airplane. Subzero temperatures and wind-whipped blizzards accompanied by blinding ice fog can leave human travelers directionless, stranded and vulnerable in the Canadian Arctic—in much the same way that sin can prevent people from ever finding God.

Glad Tidings Arctic Missions Bible School, nestled on the icebound northwestern coast of the Hudson Bay in the tiny hamlet of Rankin Inlet (or Kangiqiniq in the Inuktitut language), has an extensive Bible training program committed to equip and prepare Inuit men and women who feel called into gospel ministry. Besides the Bible school they have 12 churches, spread throughout the icy arctic territory, most of which are led by indigenous Inuit pastors.

The aim of the directors of the school is to not only encourage ongoing stability in the Christian lifestyle of each student, but to equip the Inuit to effectively share their faith and make significant contributions to the progress of their communities. Through deepened knowledge of the Word of God the college has been raising up Inuit leaders to successfully evangelize and disciple their own people.

With this purpose in mind, Wayne Cordeiro's book The Divine Mentor together with the Life Journal became an intricate part of the school's curriculum this past semester.

Although the expression "Hungry Feed Yourself" has become commonly used here around New Hope in the balmy islands of the Pacific, it has also become the theme for a bible college and several churches in the subzero temperatures and harsh conditions of the northern Arctic.

Several other resources by Wayne such as the Doing Church as a Team book and video series, and the Life Skills for Leaders course have also been used over the years as class materials at this, Canadian government recognized, "post-secondary institution of learning." The wealth of materials we are so blessed with, and often take for granted, are penetrating even the extreme outermost parts of the earth—areas where few dare to travel.