Sioux Lookout, Ontario
God's Timing is Perfect
by Rick Martin
Partner in Ministry
“Rick, it’s the phone again. Someone wants to talk to you.” “Rick, it’s the phone again and someone is at the hospital. He is suicidal.” “Hey Rick, someone is calling and wants you to come to the funeral home. They want you to read Scripture and sing hymns and songs of comfort. They are grieving the loss of their murdered loved one.” “Rick someone is at the door and needs immediate help regarding a marriage crisis.” “Rick, come to the phone - someone needs prayer and would like to see you as soon as possible. Their daughter has just overdosed.”
This spring the phone just seemed to be ringing off the hook with one crisis after the next. Yes, my wife Linda and I are missionaries and we do feel called to a ministry of comfort and hope. We are counselors and we do want to be there for people who need love and support. And it is a privilege to walk with others in time of need. Yet, at times it can seem overwhelming.
On one particular day this spring I was feeling very tired and I was not sure I could take another call regarding someone in crisis. But the phone rang and something prompted me to take the call anyway. I am sure glad I did! It was Matthew from far away Ottawa. It was so good to hear from him. He is a good friend and part of a church that prays for us and supports us in so many ways. But he did have a request. I was not sure how to respond. As mentioned I was so busy already. Yet Matthew, gently and with no pressure, asked if the youth group from their church could come up to Sioux Lookout and do ministry for a week this summer.
Bringing in a youth group can involve a lot of planning as well as the fact that not all youth groups are the same and some can be very high maintenance. From experience we have learned that cross cultural ministry has many challenges and one needs to be wise, mature and well informed about the culture. Linda and I do a lot of counseling with native brothers and sisters who have been hurt by Christians trying to do ministry but have actually ended up hurting them. There are so many ways that good intentions can go wrong. There is always a risk when we bring groups in because it is impossible to know how things will really go. It is always a step of faith.
But God, in His grace, is always up to something very good even if we can not perceive it at the time. I did not give Matthew an answer right away and told him we would pray and think about it for a few days. It was shortly after this that I walked into a coffee shop, here in Sioux Lookout, and ran into Maurice, a Native Christian leader from the Lac Suel native band. In fact the town of Sioux Lookout sits right on the traditional lands of this large Ojibwe band. I have always wanted to be more involved in ministry with this band and lately there has been so much pain there with extreme crises and several terrible deaths. I knew they really needed encouragement. In fact Maurice told me that the people were looking for a group to help out with their youth but nothing had been working out. He was so excited that God seemed to be providing!
God’s timing is always perfect! The Scriptures declare it. “He has made everything beautiful in its time.” (Ecclesiastes 3:11) I do not understand everything concerning this passage but I find the verses preceding this one very interesting. Verse nine asks the question concerning whether or not human kind gains anything from hard work. In fact verse ten states this: “I have seen the burden God has laid on men.” (Ecclesiastes 3:10) The truth is that at times I do find the many crises situations, and the hard work involved in dealing with them, a challenge and yes at times the burden can seem heavy. Yet, at just the right time God does something to remind me that He is very real, very alive, very much in control and that our work in Him is not in vain.
So I called Matthew, the group came and what an amazing blessing they were! I have seen many youth groups but I am not sure this one could be topped. All thirteen of these teenagers, including four leaders, were amazing. The teenagers even went without showers, and bathed in the lake instead for almost a week. They were full of life, energy, character and grace. They also were very talented. One girl, Eliane, had just cut a new album with all her own songs. Beautiful and powerful songs that cut right to the heart and she was giving them away free. Eliane also had such boldness about what God has done in her life and connected with the youth in an unusually profound manner. She already is trying to make plans to return with her singing partner Tori. The people were so blessed. The group also surprised the community with sports equipment and gifted them by leaving behind two new guitars.
This group was exactly what we all needed. To think I almost said no to this group! With the help of a young gifted youth pastor named Marc, another unexpected provision, we did outreach in the town of Sioux Lookout and on the Lac Seul Native Reserve itself. Young and old heard the Gospel through music, drama, sharing and other creative children’s and youth programming. To top it off, they were such a big encouragement to Linda and me and to all the Christian workers — native and non-native alike.
Many hearts were deeply touched that week and doors for ministry are now even more open. Sometimes you really just have to step back, take the call, and simply watch God work! He lightens our burdens and reminds us again and again that our work is not in vain. And yes, His timing is perfect!