Our Ministry
When God Opens a Door, It's Open
by Rick Martin
Sitting there quietly, trying hard to make no sound at all, I was moved by what I was witnessing. Linda, my wife and partner in ministry, was on television doing a teleconference right here in Sioux Lookout. Her workshop on Stress and Panic Disorders was being broadcast all over the north. Health care workers, mostly First Nations people from northern isolated native communities, were listening in and watching Linda present her material. They also had television cameras and televisions in their nursing stations, so that they could be seen by us and we could see them. This way questions, comments, and answers could move back and forth from one community to the other and from Linda, the presenter, to those desiring to learn. All of this was being recorded so that health care workers could review the one and one half hour session whenever needed. As I sat in the corner of the room, out of the view of the camera, only there for moral support, I was able to think and reflect on how God was using my wife in a tremendous way.
I was touched for a variety of reasons. One was the fact that Linda was doing such an excellent job. She knew her material so well and her research, reading, meditation and study was being put to such good use. All those years at college and Seminary were being used of God in a powerful and meaningful way. Of course as her husband I am partial but she looked so beautiful yet, professional. She looked so confident but not arrogant as to push any one away. She also spoke from her life experience on these issues and she gave illustrations that connected with her people on a very deep level.
Second, I could not help but think of the situation right here in Sioux Lookout two or three years ago and how it relates to this opened door for Linda now. The non-native government, along with the many First Nations communities here in Sioux Lookout, had set up a counseling centre here. This was and is an extremely important centre because of the problems and crises that so many native communities face. Many of the counselors working in this center were Christians but they were getting pressure to keep any Christian views to themselves. Some were even pressured out of the centre and some even lost their jobs. Some people were doing everything they could to silence the Christians and to push them out of the centre.
Linda and I have always been so thankful that we work with a Christian organization and that we can share our hope in Christ and counsel from a Biblical Christian world view. What was so special about this opportunity is that Linda is teaching all over the north on television in a situation that is privileged to just a few. And she is doing this as a follower of Jesus and working for a Christian organization that is bathed in prayer. With many in the government, and others who are trying to push out Christian teachers and counselors, here Linda was given and continues to be given, wide open doors to minister, even on television. Yet, why should I be surprised that God is opening a door like this and using her in such a powerful way? So often just when we think the enemy has won God steps in and turns things completely around. Just when Christians seemed to be pushed out God opens a door for one of His own and silences those who oppose Him. Oh how great is our God!
Revelation 3:8 declares clearly and decisively that when God opens a door no one can shut it. As the Bible says “ . . . What He opens no one can shut, and what He shuts no one can open.” (Revelation 3:8) I believe that God wants to have His message of hope declared here in Sioux Lookout even if man thinks he can stop Him because ultimately there will be no healing unless God is given His rightful place.
What an encouragement this was to us especially in these times of great challenge. In the world around us sometimes things seem so uncertain. But God demonstrated Himself to us again just last week. He made it clear that He is in control and that His purposes will always prevail.