-a recent prayer letter received from Greg and Collene Kent, Canada

Another Fall is upon us with brilliant colors all around that never seem to last long enough.  With these beautiful colors, it masks the darkness that so many people live in each day.

Last month we got a call from Martin asking us to come to the hospital, his brother Peter had been placed on life support.  Sadly, Peter has lived his life as a drunkard and has no family other than his siblings.  As the older brother, Martin was facing the very difficult decision whether to remove him from life support as the doctors suggested.  Knowing that Collene had to make this very difficult decision last year with her mother, it gave him comfort as we discussed the options before him and his family.

Martin said that the Gospel had been shared with Peter before; in fact, a number of years ago he had been on life support and survived.  Martin told him God was giving him another chance and Peter said, “he’d do it his way!” Greg asked Martin if he could talk with Peter one more time while he was in a semi conscious state before any decisions were made and he quickly said yes.  As Greg began to talk with Peter, he looked his way and Greg began to share the gospel with him one more time.  He explained that all of us have an appointment with death one day and what follows is judgement according to Hebrews 9:27.  How we respond to the free gift of salvation that God offers through His Son, Jesus Christ, will be reflected in that judgement.  He went on to explain what God’s Word says about receiving forgiveness of sins and how to have a personal relationship with God.  We wish we could tell you this story had a great ending, but the reality is we don’t know if Peter made that life changing decision or not.  He was unable to communicate, but our only hope is that he understood and did; only in eternity will we know.

It wasn’t long after, the breathing tube was removed and he was made comfortable.  Martin asked us to stay in the room with him and about ten other family members.  As we looked around and saw so many broken lives due to alcohol and addictions, we were reminded once again the question we are often asked, “why are you here?” As Peter took his last breath, us not knowing where he would spend eternity, it was a vivid reminder of the importance of what God has asked each of us who call God Father to do: be lights in a dark world.  Moments after Peter stepped into eternity, Martin whispered in my ear, “can you see the brokenness and hopelessness of just the people in this room?”

A few days later Peter had a Catholic service at a church and a Traditional Native service at the graveside.  Sad to say, the word hopelessness best describes the events we heard and witnessed.

So why are we here? Why do you pray for us? Why are we sent out? It’s for people just like Peter and his family that live lives of hopelessness to offer them hope only found through faith in Jesus Christ.

As we enter the Thanksgiving season, we have much to be thankful for and we are thankful for your continued prayers and the opportunity to share the “Good News” among the First Nations people.