Last Monday through Wednesday, I did some traveling farther afield.
Providence Christian Church in Riverview was doing a weeklong evangelistic sports camp (
Skills 4 Life) for French Acadian kids in Memramcook. I wanted to get a better feel for what they were doing, as well as meet up with the seven Louisiana Baptists who came up to help. I then went across the provincial line to visit the new
Atlantic Wycliffe Centre in Nova Scotia. Surprisingly only a few kilometers from where I had passed through last summer, this wonderful facility that is just now fully functional offers a strategic opportunity not only to boost awareness in local churches of the worldwide needs for Bible translation, but promises to be a resource for local believers to be encouraged through retreats and other special events. While visiting with Shane and Shelly Lyons, they shared about a movement of people in the area who have felt burdened to pray for revival on the north shore of Nova Scotia. They also helped put me in touch with translators working on the Eskasoni reserve on translating the Old Testament into Micmac.
After a showery day it was a relief to settle into the tent for a dry night at
Amherst Shore Provincial Park. Just like last year, I found a very friendly staff and no cell phone coverage, but took advantage of the new WiFi service to make a Skype video call to my wife in the morning. Unfortunately, the cough and sinus trouble that had been bothering me for weeks combined into feeling really weak and lousy after a short hike that I'd hoped would get me feeling better. Once I finally got on the road, I dropped by Memramcook again before heading north a bit to find some churches that I hadn't been able to connect with last summer. In Shediac, I stopped by the new construction site of
Shediac Bay Community Church. And I just missed catching the pastor at
Eglise du Plein Evangile in Bouctouche. More importantly, I was able to catch up with Raymond Vautour (Victory Baptist Church) at his business in Rexton, where we talked about his enrollment over the last year in a lay pastor training program.
My goal for the day though was to get over to
Arrowhead Native Bible Center on Grand Lake. Grant Fawcett and Kevin Strout help manage a Christian summer camping program for First Nations children and youth from around the Maritime Provinces. This was my first chance to meet Grant, who was in youth group with my wife and just went on staff with the camp last year. It was great to see the coordination of several camp staff and counselors as they ministered to children from one of the Micmac reserves in Nova Scotia. I was also thankful for a bed for the night in an unused cabin. Grant and Kevin are looking for ways to expand the impact of their ministry to the sixty-something reserves in the Maritimes with limited resources and to make more churches aware of what they're doing.
On Wednesday I had an appointment to visit with Barry Beebe, the president of
New Brunswick Bible Institute. I've been hearing good things about NBBI for a long time now, and really appreciated the chance to come see it and discuss visions for ministry in the region. On my way back up to Bathurst, I took the back road down the Little Southwest Branch of the Miramichi River. One of my hopes was to be able to see the new
heritage park that the Metepenagiag First Nation of Micmacs has opened. The site is considered the oldest known place of inhabitation in New Brunswick, dating back about 3000 years. I did find it, but unfortunately it was late in the day and the gate was closed. On the other hand, I managed to providentially stumble upon
Calvary Baptist Church in Miramichi shortly before their prayer meeting. Although along last year's PrayerPaddle route, I had somehow been unaware of the church before Dr. Beebe mentioned it a few hours earlier. I had a nice visit with Pastor Countway and one of the deacons before I felt like I needed to get on my way back up to Bathurst.
