One of the highlights of the trip was a visit with Swiss friend and Jesus Celebration supporter Laurent Gerber who took Olivier on a trip to meet the Atikamekw community of Manawan. As a Pastor and Missionary in Quebec, Laurent often visits with these indigenous people.
In this part of Canada, three and a half hours north of Montreal, the group contended with snowstorms and icy rain. It was very cold, it was minus 38 degrees! Olivier had a fascinating meeting with the famous dancer Chtina Moar a wise and knowledgeable Atikamekw who explained the customs of the people; this was an interesting historical and cultural time.
On the evening of January 29, Laurent and Olivier met several leaders of the Catholic Charismatic Renewal of Manawan. They talked about how they could celebrate the 2000 anniversary of the resurrection of Christ with a gigantic "Pow Wow". A "Pow Wow" is a traditional feast with dancing, singing, and banquets! Oh, how jubilant and diverse 2033 will be.
"In the Pow Wow, the centre is forgiveness and peace. A unique opportunity, we will have to create a new ceremonial garment for the occasion, "says G. C. Moore Moar.
The meeting ended with a delicious soup and the star of this dish was the Canadian moose.
The work of the Holy Spirit
The first 24 hours of travel began in the YWAM community in Dunham, with vibrant young people who were ready for our project. This group had celebrated the "33 years" of their foundation.
The following day in the city of L'Assomption, near Montreal, Laurent Gerber organized a meeting. Half of the room was Catholic and the other evangelicals. "It was a wonderful meeting centred on Christian unity, a DNA of JC2033" says L.Gerber. "I can testify such a meeting is very rare in Quebec". On this occasion, a Catholic priest, Alain Major, exclaimed: "This vision is so positive that I would like to extend my mandate as a priest to retire in 2033"!
In Montreal, Olivier visited several leaders. In the absence of the archbishop of the Catholic diocese Donald Bolen, his vicar general, Fr. Alain Faubert was very welcoming. He shared how the archbishop was excited about the JC2033 vision and the synergy this creates with the Catholic movement. He is, after all, a member of the Pontifical Council for the Promotion of Christian Unity!. "I was touched by this meeting. His enthusiasm stimulated me: he had so many proposals to share with me, "says Olivier.
A Baptist pastor in Quebec, Jacques Avakian was touched by the project and wished to champion our vision to at the Baptist Mission and the Evangelical Alliance. "The key to this ministry is fasting and prayer and I pledge to engage regularly in these disciplines for JC2033, "he promised.
In this beautiful country, several churches of African origin are present; Raphael Olenga, Congolese pastor of the "Life for All Mission", would like to get involved in JC2033's vision by opening doors in French-speaking Africa.
Paul Tetro, Superintendent of the Assemblies of God, which has 1,200 Pentecostal churches in Canada, (110 in Quebec) assured Olivier of his support and will bring a topic of reflection in the Council of this organisation.
What a contrast in Canada between these intensely warm human encounters and the freezing temperatures of January 2019. Men and women were inflamed by the Spirit and by the idea of celebrating the resurrection of Christ together.
Martin Hoegger - https://martin.hoegger.org
