To Capture Hope

Stepping off the plane into the brisk Northern Ontario air, the first thing that greeted John was a sign covered in graffiti that read, “Welcome to Hell.” This was just a foretaste of what he was about to experience on the Native Indian reserve in Pikangikum, Ontario.

In his 30 years in media production, John has traveled extensively throughout the world fulfilling his calling to use contemporary media to communicate his faith in Jesus Christ. John was directing the Multimedia Arts Center at Fresno Pacific University when a shared editing suite with MB Mission gave him the opportunity to travel to Pikangikum, ON. MB Mission was working with two other organizations to create a video that would capture the story of what one team was doing to reach the youth on the reserve. John’s trip to Northern Ontario became an experience that would direct him toward his ministry with MB Mission.

Located 300 kilometers northeast of Winnipeg, MB, Pikangikum is well known across Canada for its alarming and heart-wrenching statistics. In 2000 the town had the highest suicide in the world. Addiction, crumbling homes, no running water, and little employment are just a few of the elements that characterize this reserve as bleak and lifeless. Of all the places in the world he has visited, John has never seen such hopelessness as what he encountered in Pikangikum.

Depression looms in the reserve, touching not only area residents but also out-of-town medical service workers. Pikangikum’s medical clinic is staffed by First Nations doctors from various locations who are rotated into the clinic for a two month period. When one of the visiting doctors suffered a breakdown and took off into the brush, God revealed His glory in a hopeless situation. Days later the doctor had not returned. The townsmen put together a search party – even calling for backup in Winnipeg – and set out on a mission to bring back the man who was lost. By God’s grace he was found.

The return was triumphant, marked by a celebration of joy that was foreign and out-of-place in this dismal community, yet so desperately needed. John captured footage of the village as they made music with drums and joined in a feast. Captivated by the celebration, he asked a 21 year old resident girl how often the community came together like this. Her response: “This is the first time.” In 21 years this was the only instance in which Pikangikum had experienced such joy. It was life-giving.

Entering Pikangikum was like entering hell. Leaving Pikangikum gave John the same feeling. But there is no place and no person who is without hope. God is writing stories of transformation all over the world. As ambassadors of Christ, we need to tell His stories. God used John’s experience in Pikangikum to affirm this truth, increase his passion for story-telling, and lead him to his role at MB Mission. As God speaks hope into a lost and broken world, let us declare His good works and pray for His glory to shine.