As we are in the month of June, it is widely recognized within our Fellowship that June 21st is National Indigenous Peoples Day. What few people realize, June is also National Indigenous History month in Canada.

As Christian leaders, we should not view this month as a secular event on our calendars, or a box that is checked. Instead, I invite you to lean into the weight of remembrance. The pattern of true biblical remembrance is an active relational alignment with God's heart for justice, desire for healing and true shalom for us in Canada.

Christ has called us to transformational relationships, not transactional ones. As the Executive Director of Aboriginal Bible Academy (ABA), the heartbeat of that ministry - and my heartbeat as well - lives in this area of authentic relationship construction. ABA exists because we want to listen, come alongside, and support Indigenous believers as they lead their own families, churches and communities.

Over the last few years, we transitioned to a distance education and discipleship model. Upon realizing, the most effective growth of the gospel occurs when Indigenous people are empowered to learn and lead right where they are, without leaving behind their Creator-given identity.

Apart from the intentional focus on developing transformational relationships, I want to share a could of student stories that highlight how this translates and becomes apart of daily life experiences.

Thomas*: Breaking the Bread of Life in the Breakroom
One of our ABA students shared a powerful experience they recently had at their workplace.

Thomas works a demanding fill-time job. However, his passion for the Word led him to carve out a unique daily rhythm. While his colleagues would spend their breaks scrolling through their phones or talk about the weekend, Thomas would open his ABA course materials.

His habit did not go unnoticed. After weeks of noticing Thomas tucked into a corner with his books and highlighter, his boss finally approached him and inquired, "What is so interesting that you spend every single lunch break studying it?"

That simple question opened a door that Thomas had not realized he was knocking on. There was no polished theological presentation that he led by. Rather, he simply shared what he was learning about; the character of God and why it held deep value in his life. What initially was a question about "homework", quickly turned into a simple but profound conversation about hope, purpose, and the love of Jesus Christ.

The story Thomas shares is a beautiful reminder of a truth we often forget. God does not wait for us to have everything figured out before He uses us. What is important to understand is that Thomas is still a student and does not have a degree yet. By no means does Thomas know it all. He is continuously learning, indicating he did not need to be an "expert" to be a witness. Bu simply weaving his discipleship journey into his everyday routine, he revealed to his workplace what it looks like to follow Christ in real-time.

This reminds me of a Catholic priest who once challenged the lay people of his local parish to take up the task of ministry, even if they felt they lacked the time or talent. He said, "This is the march of the unqualified, so get in line."

Michael: From the Streets of Street Preacher
Michael Hopp is from the Sto:lo First Nation in British Columbia. He left home when he was 19, living a transient lifestyle, growing up on the streets of Vancouver. Over the course of 40 years, he lived a life addicted to drugs and alcohol, often battling severe depression, suicidal thoughts, and a recurring compulsion to harm his father (even mapping out specific plans on multiple occasions).

When Michael was 58, he had a remarkable, life-changing encounter with Jesus at a local street mission in East Hastings, Vancouver. That initial meeting with Christ, completely set Michael free from his addiction, depression, and thoughts of violence. Praise the Lord!

For the next 16 years, from ages 58 to 74, Michael ministered on those very same streets he grew up on. He led ministry teams, preached, prayed, and shared the love of Jesus. Amazingly, he did all of this while pursuing biblical studies through ABA, eventually graduating with distinction by receiving a Ministerial Studies Diploma.

Michael sadly lost a sudden, brief battle with cancer in late February 2025. However, in those 16 redeemed years, he was a man who proudly joined the "march of the unqualified". For nearly two decades, Michael stepped forward and was used mightily by the Lord to help bring healing, hope, and wholeness to the next generation of the flawed, broken, and unqualified.

Get In Line
So, what does this mean for us? It brings us to a point of challenge - get in line; to join the march of the unqualified.

The Apostle Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus, and his words resonate deeply: "Be very careful, then, how you live—not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity..." (Ephesians 5:15-16, NIV).

Let us make intentional use of every opportunity we receive, since we never know when - or if - that opportunity will return. Let us be entirely willing to be used by God, exactly as we are and right where we are, to bring His life-changing love to a broken world.

Closing Prayer
Lord Jesus, we thank You for Your presence. I thank You that is is an incredible privilege to serve Your kingdom together as a Fellowship. As we journey through this month of June, I pray that National Indigenous History month would not just be a date on our calendar, but a genuine invitation to align our hearts with Yours. Give us the grace, the humility to remember rightly, to honour heritage, to listen to the stories and lean into the vital work of true healing and reconciliation across Canada. So, we lift up each other to You today, challenge us to live up to the radical self-giving call of Christ. We pray this in Your name. Amen.

*names are changed for privacy purposes.