Greetings Prayer Warriors,
Have I got some great news to share with you! But first, a great big “THANK YOU” to all of you who were praying for Pastor Brian, myself and the team while we were ministering in Pangnirtung, Nunavut. God showed Himself strong on our behalf!
Pangnirtung, or ‘Pang’ for short as the locals call it, is absolutely gorgeous. It is located along a fiord with mountains all around it. The community has approx 1500 people who are the most gentle and compassionate people you could ever meet. But I have one warning for you if you are planning on making the trip up north, watch out for the mosquitoes they are HUGE! God also blessed the team with 5 star accommodations; a family in Pang gave up their house for us for the week. (Note: The “Hotel” in Pang can cost you up to $250/night!)
What God did in and through us while we were there was beyond my expectation. All of us were changed, and I definitely walked away with such a confidence and tenacity in my spirit to take back (through prayer, fasting and outreach) what rightfully belongs to me as a child of God. I feel the call of God to buckle down and fight in this season, and I know that his grace has been with me, helping me to stay focused since we got home.
I wanted to share with you some of the ministry principals that I learned while in Pang. I believe that they are key factors for us while we remain steadfast on the wall for Canada. Although they are all things that I learned while on the mission field, the same principals can be applied to our prayer meetings. Take a look;
- Pre-warm-up. It is so important to stay in tune with the Spirit of God, and in your word. God gave me so many nuggets of truth before we left. It was like I was filling up my storage unit so that while in Pang power would just flow out. How much better is it when we are in communion with God before we get to the prayer meeting or the mission field, rather than feed off of a word someone else got? When you are prepared, it puts you right in on the action and you are ready to stand and fight, and win! When you are in the midst of the battle, the word you put in you will come out like a fire shot up in your bones. So keep your place in communion with God. (I know, not rocket science but a fresh reminder. It is way more exciting to be where the action is, especially when you know that God is with you and is fighting for you!)
- You have to be utterly convinced of who you are in Christ. There was a young girl in Pang who was possessed by a demon, and there was no time for me to second-guess myself during the alter call. I was in a full out war and this captive needed to be set free, so I took my authority in the name of Jesus, followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit and declared the word over her being and I saw freedom come to her right before my eyes! Now that’s what I’m talking about! Ephesians 3:16 says that, “from his glorious, unlimited resources he will give you mighty inner strength through his Holy Spirit.” You have got to know who you are, and what God has given you and apply it to see results.
- When God sends you on a mission trip or into a prayer meeting, your job is to declare the word that He has given you for your region and not back down. You have to maintain the level of faith God gave you in order to see your breakthrough come to pass. The third day we were in Pang, there was a suicide. A 17-year-old girl took her life, and because the community is small, it affected everyone. The next day at the prayer meeting people were unsure of what to do. This was the third suicide in less than a month, and it was weighting heavy on them. God continued to remind us of why we were sent. It was to declare that, “The Lord Omnipotent Reigns.” As we were faithful to set our faces like flint and press through the opposition, we saw God bring heaven to earth, and He lifted the heavy burdens, and restored hope to the people!
We saw the kingdom of God forcefully advancing in Pang, and forceful men laid hold of it (through prayer, fasting, loving and equipping), it was awesome! Go God! (Matthew 11:12)
Prayer warriors, I encourage you to keep seeking Him, keep praying and keep moving forward because God is doing great things in Canada as a direct result of your prayers!
Continuing to walk out the faith,
Crystal Lavallee
Director of Field Ministries, CIP
