“I am the way and the truth and the life.”
—Jesus (John 14:6, NIV)
“All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and
gave us the ministry of reconciliation: that God was reconciling the world
to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he
has committed to us the message of reconciliation. We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us.
We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.”
— The Apostle Paul (2 Corinthians 5:18-20, NIV)
“How can our Fellowship churches have a healthy relationship with First Nations communities according to the Gospel and the word of God?”
This question has been posed to our Fellowship National team by a number of pastors over the last number of years. It would be prudent to start by seeking out wise counsel from the word of God as we approach this subject.
First, in John 14:6, Jesus declares Himself “the way and the truth and the life,” emphasizing that He is not merely a teacher or a guide, but ultimate Truth itself. He embodies the Truth that sets people free from sin and death, and through Him, life—eternal and abundant—is offered to all nations. As First Nations people in Canada continue to grapple with their history in this country, we must faithfully pray for them and seek to reach them with the Gospel because we know Jesus is the Truth that sets all people free from their own sin and from the hurts of others’ sin. He is the all-powerful Truth that heals trauma and rewrites stories.
Secondly, in 2 Corinthians 5:18-20, Paul builds on this idea by revealing that through Christ, God has reconciled humanity to Himself. This reconciliation is not something we earn; it is a gift given through Jesus’ sacrificial death and resurrection – the Gospel. The ministry of reconciliation is now entrusted to us as believers, meaning that we are called to be ambassadors of Christ, sharing this Gospel message of peace and restored relationship with God.
Our desire is to help churches identify ways they can engage in truth proclamation and reconcile relationships within their own context and relationship with First Nations peoples. Our Fellowship team has sought wise counsel from missionaries who are themselves First Nations people, or are working closely with First Nations people to learn ways Fellowship churches can start or continue engaging with and serving First Nations communities.
Missionaries working with First Nations:
- Jacob and Rachel Hwang | Fellowship International missionaries serving in Ahousaht, BC
- Joshua Lee | Fellowship International missionary serving in Lillooet, BC
To connect with the Hwangs or Joshua Lee, contact Fellowship International.
Fellowship churches that are taking practical steps in this area of truth proclamation and relationship-building:
These are some of the Fellowship churches who have developed healthy relationships with First Nations communities, while consistently bringing the light of the Gospel to them.
- Benton Street Baptist | Kitchener, ON
- Church of the City | Guelph, ON
- West Edmonton Church | Edmonton, AB
We invite you to humbly seek the Holy Spirit’s wisdom and guidance in how you and your church can show love and compassion to First Nations people while also proclaiming the truth of the Gospel, that Jesus heals people from their sin and the sins of others, and that He is the only way to have reconciliation with God and one another.