In 2014, after serving full time in a Montreal network of churches for 12 years as deacon, director of food bank, men group co-leader, youth festival director, treasurer, president of the finance committee and/or in other capacities, I felt I should visit the mission fields. It is in Costa Rica, in 2014, on an Indian reserve, that I first felt that God had a different plan for my future.

Q: What life experiences prepared you to leave Montreal toward Northern Manitoba, doing Christian programs for kids and youth?

Doing week camps as a young person, directing yearly youth festivals, being a CPA (accountant) for years, doing Master in Theology between 2015 and 2017, doing lots of camping, raising 2 kids, loving renovations, traveling long distances and many other things, that appeared unrelated at the time, were very important life experiences. We never know which experience we live in the present… that will be important in the future.

Q: How would you describe your first year working overseas?

Very busy… just as like it!… But above the “business”, it was simply better/easier than expected!

Meeting communities, churches, cities… for the first time and supervising programs that were new to me were definitely great challenges.  But it was fun challenges without any big problems, troubles…that usually come in a transition between leaders. God is great!

Q: What were some of the surprises at the beginning of ministry?

My biggest great surprise was… the level of support that was provided to us, a new couple arriving from Quebec/Ontario, support from Winnipeg, Moosehorn, Fairford, Winnipeg, Toronto, Grand Rapids… and many more cities (Support in prayers, in volunteers, in finance and more).

Q: What do you wish you would have known prior to serving in this way? 

Nothing more. All the information needed was provided beforehand by my board of directors, the past directors and by my own readings/prayers.

Q:  How have you felt affirmed in this ministry?

On top of the above cited great support and the easiness of it all, there are at least 3 ways I felt “affirmed”:

1. Several elders, board members and pastors gave me constant positive words  about the ministry
2. Seeing some kids grow and some becoming Christians.
3. So many moments of great unbelievable love between kids, between volunteers/staff and between those two groups. I will always remember a comment from a band counselor thanking us for the huge love we gave to their children.

Q: What have been some surprises about the First Nation communities you have had the honor to serve?

When I started, I honestly did not know the culture of the communities Pathway serve. I was surprised to see that the vast majority of the people in these communities are so easy to approach, soft spoken and took time to listen. About listening, I remember a Pastor from Toronto saying that he wished the kids in his church would listen as well!

Q: Why Pathway?

Pathway and I, were a great match in 2017. Through Pathway, I would able to work with First Nations (see my above-cited comment about Costa-Rica) and use lots of the talents/gifts/life experiences I “developed” or “lived” through the years. Above all, I simply felt it was where I should be! From my first phone call with them to my first visit to Manitoba, I felt it was my next home.

And on the other side, I was offering what Pathway seem to be needed in the transition of leadership.

Q: Any advise in in working with First Nations People?

It is an error to think that all Ojibway, Cree, Oji-Cree are the same. Just come, as much as possible, with an attitude of openness, flexibility, patience, peace, love and without preconceptions.

Q: What are some facts you wish to share with our congregation?

We often list all the “errors of the past”, like residential school, when we talk about First Nations. We also talk about the issues of Alcohol, suicide, teen pregnancy… in some of these communities… but we often forget to talk about the great respect for their Elders and many other amazing aspects of their cultures.