Faith At Work In Canadian Cities
My continuing conversation with Levi Samson Beardy and Dan Collado as we talk about the gospel at work in First Nations, Metis and Inuit. With 50% of the Canadian indigenous population living in urban centres, there is a greater opportunity to build bridges and engage in reconciliation.
The billboard in this picture was posted in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan in 2014 as part of an art exhibit.
It is my honour today to invite a team of indigenous Christians from various parts of Canada onto the podcast to talk about what it means to be an indigenous or aboriginal person living in Canadian cities. Stats Canada uses the terms ‘aboriginal’ and ‘indigenous’ to refer to people that are First Nations, Metis and Inuit. It is estimated that about one-half live in urban areas as compared to those living on reservation land and non-urban areas.
Dan Collado, has been serving the Lord in full-time ministry since 1993. He initially took a step of faith and went to live and pastor in small isolated fly-in Indigenous communities in northern Ontario, and later in Nunavut. After some 15 years of pastoral ministry, while continuing to feel the burden for Indigenous initiatives, Dan accepted the role as Academic Director of Aboriginal Bible Academy (ABA) in 2009. Dan is part of the Mohawk nation and resides in Napanee, ON.
Jim Thunder is Director of Economic Development at Norway House Cree Nation and lives in Winnipeg, MB. He is an adjunct professor of Indigenous Economic Leadership at University of Manitoba.
Levi Samson Beardy is the Oji-Cree pastor of Aboriginal Believers’ Church in Toronto.
Links:
Dan Collado - Mission Canada Indigenous Priority
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/priorityindigenouscanadians
https://paoc.org/canada/workers/dancollado
Aboriginal Bible Academy
https://www.aboriginalbibleacademy.ca/about
Jim Thunder MBA
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/jimthunder
Levi Samson Beardy
https://ca.linkedin.com/in/levi-samson-beardy-9639537
Aboriginal Believers’ Church
https://www.facebook.com/AbOriginalBelieversChurch/
Aaron Mix Ross is the new pastor at Richmond Pentecostal Church in British Columbia. Prior to that he served on staff at Heartland Church in Mississauga and before that he was part of the pastoral team at Toronto’s Stone Church.
Aaron is an urban pastor with great insights into city life.
During his years at Stone Church he completed his PhD in theology at the University of Toronto's Wycliffe College. The title of his thesis was "The Heavens Have Become a Highway" The Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada Northland Mission and the Indigenous Principle.
With one half living in major urban centres and two-thirds of the Metis living in cities, it’s a worthy exploration for every Canadian.
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