Volume 16 | April 2021
A quarterly publication presenting news and stories of Living Hope Native Ministries, a partnership dedicated to serving the First Nations of Ontario.
The Board of the newly-formed Living Hope Native Ministries in 2006: (L to R) Cello Meekis, Albert James, Brian Rae, Peter Campbell, and Jim Keesic.
Beyond "Us and Them"
By Merle Nisly
In the year 2005, an inspiring idea became a topic of conversation that led to the birth of a new reality. Almost one year later, in January 2006, that reality was the newly-incorporated Living Hope Native Ministries of Ontario.

As I reflect on the conversations and the hopes that fueled this new conversation, I remember one inspiring phrase the founding group repeated many times in our meetings: “We’re going to stop with the ‘us and them’ language.” I haven’t forgotten that.

Nearly 50 years ago now, I first became a volunteer with what was commonly known as a “mission” agency. Embedded in my naïve, young mind was the concept of “us,” the ones who had the goods, and “them,” the ones who needed the goods. That way of picturing such relationships and the world in which we lived didn’t prepare me very well for ideas like partnership, mutual learning, mutual service, or peer accountability.

In God’s grace and mercy, some decades of experiences and conversations and personal relationships made a lot of difference in how we came to consider those ideas—especially the simplistic “us” and “them” classification.

When the late Cello Meekis and I first sat down in 2005 to talk about the idea of starting from scratch with a brand-new organization, there was an immediate and compelling sense of hope and of future. When we talked of this new possibility, we got very excited about the ideals of peer relationships, of new definitions of “ownership,” of demonstrating to the world that unity really is possible in such a partnership.
The late John and Jemima Strang were leaders of the church in Poplar Hill First Nation, ON.
Merle Nisly, former pastor of the church, visiting John in his home.
The recent sale of the Cessna Hawk XP marked the end of an era for LHNM. Since the beginning of this ministry story, a variety of aircraft have been used to enable travel to remote communities in Ontario. In almost 70 years and over many thousands of hours of flight time, not a serious injury or fatality marred that part of our story. Time moves on, and we transition to other ways of doing the travel that still is required. We grieve a little, and give thanks a lot.
Faithful to Jesus

By Clarence Meekis, LHNM Chairperson

My earliest memories involve growing up around Northern Light Gospel Mission, and the people that were a part of that family. I am First Nations. I am here directly because of the influence of those we have come to call family, which is a rich feeling. My late father, Cello Meekis, was challenged in coming to faith by Alvin Frey and family while they lived in Deer Lake, his home community. My late mother Sopena, originally from Bearskin Lake, also came to Deer Lake during this season of outreach by the mission.

I feel blessed to have parents who were inspired to ‘join the team’, and live their lives in relationship with the NLGM family. I remember traveling all across northern Ontario and to the south into the USA, so that my parents could touch base with people that shared the same faith values and vision of NLGM.

Fast forward to today: My wife, Karyn, and I have 3 children, Clarence Jr, Skye, and Rayne Grace, and live in Thunder Bay, Ontario. We have been a part of the leadership team at New Hope Fellowship for nearly 20 years now, and are blessed to have our family involved in leading worship. New Hope was started in the early 1990s as a church plant inspired by Impact North Ministries’ plan to reach the urban First Nations community. We continue to see God at work, and he provides in incredible ways today.

Currently, I also serve as chairperson of the Living Hope Native Ministries board of directors, which has been both inspiring and challenging....
Join the Team: Opportunities to Serve with LHNM
Bible Class Teacher: This is a unique opportunity to assist in teaching Bible classes in a public school in a northern community. The job description includes classroom instruction for children in grades K-8, community involvement, and supporting the local church. This assignment is located in Pikangikum, Ontario and is for a minimum of two years.

North Caribou Lake First Nations, on the shores of Weagamow Lake, is a community of 800 people located 320 km north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. This opening is ideal for a married couple who could partner with the local churches to connect with the youth and children of the community. Relationships would be built through activities such as after-school programs, youth groups, teaching Sunday school, or hosting summer camps. This assignment is for a minimum of two years.

Graphic Design: There is an opening for an individual with skills and interests in graphic design, photography, videography, and public relations. The job description includes the quarterly Hopelines newsletter, the annual calendar, and communication with supporting churches and individuals. Occasional travel to LHNM locations and public relations events would be required. Additionally, if based in Thunder Bay, opportunities are available to be involved in and contribute to the local church and youth ministries. This assignment’s location and duration are to be decided with the candidate.

By Stuart Swartzentruber

Living Hope Native Ministries is turning fifteen years old this year. How is that idea of partnership, of which Merle and Clarence spoke of in their articles, doing these days? What have we learned? What kind of future does LHNM envision?The working out of ideas, even God-given ideas, can easily lose their glitter as they get dragged through the dirt and debris of what we call “everyday life”. The last 15 years have not seen the complete fruition of all that we have hoped and longed for, but God’s desire for unity is like a compass pointing us the right direction.

I am encouraged as I see workers and churches partnering together, formally and informally, getting their hands dirty in the work of the kingdom. I see an increasing willingness among Indigenous and non-Indigenous Christ-followers alike, to walk together in humility. I have seen and experienced the courage it takes for a friend to describe to another how their actions shaped their lives in negative ways. Laying down one’s defenses and learning how to repent, forgive, and respect has built trust and ultimately, partnerships. Walking together is messy and not always fun. But it is worth it!

I see the vision of “we”, working out in the different churches and ministries LHNM is involved with. New Hope Church in Thunder Bay has an elder team made up of Indigenous and non-Indigenous members. The church body is made up of individuals from a variety of ethnic and cultural backgrounds. I see such beauty and depth because of this. The youth of today excel in walking together as equals.

LHNM is listening to Indigenous leaders share with us the needs of their First Nations communities and how we can partner with them to build their communities and churches stronger. Teachers, nurses, and other professionals are needed to supplement the local, trained personnel. Christian professionals could become part of the community and churches as learners and encouragers without trying to be heroes.

Clarence Meekis, LHNM’s board chairman, along with the board, continues to flesh out the vision his father, Cello and others, had fifteen years ago. We believe God wants to continue to shape and change Living Hope Native Ministries. I hope fifteen years from now we will see a new generation of partners, Indigenous and others, involved on multiple levels. LHNM’s core values state that ”It is imperative that Indigenous and non-indigenous believers work together in unity - serving one another, and sharing resources so that the Kingdom of God will expand to every part of the world”.
Hopelines is a quarterly newsletter about the work of Living Hope Native Ministries.

Our Vision:
That in every First Nations context the local church would reach its full potential--worshiping in full devotion, attracting the seekers, mobilizing believers, restoring families, changing communities, affecting the world.


Phone: (855) 367-8199
Tax deductible receipts will be sent for all qualifying donations.
Financial Reports are available upon request

LHNM Administration and Board of Directors:
Stuart Swartzentruber, Executive Director;
Clarence Meekis, Chairman;
Ken Funk, Treasurer;
Bill Hochstedler; Albert James; Eric Sinclair; David Traintinger; Anthony Shapwaykeesic
United States Members:
Sheldon Swartzentruber; Don Showalter; Eldo Miller, Matt Funk

United States Address:
Living Hope Native Ministries | Box 50, International Falls, MN 56649-0050