MAC VISION AND CAMPAIGN TAKES OFF

FEATURE

People flocked to Alberta’s first in-person camp meeting since 2019 with high expectations. Numerous guest speakers and seminars provided education and inspiration, but the name that kept surfacing all week as a standout was Chief Randy Ermineskin.

Ermineskin set the tone during the first Sabbath School of camp meeting for the launch of the Community Bridge Campaign, helping listeners understand why the envisioned Mamawi Atosketan Centre (“MAC”) is so important. The Church in Canada’s precamp meeting contribution of $300,000 was announced after Ermineskin’s speech.

A Special Blanket

Featured speaker Chief Randy Ermineskin (centre, wife Fran, left, President Gary Hodder far left) was pleased to receive a quilt pieced by Jim Baker and quilted by Kelly Dregger (far right and right). Kelly has taught at MANS since the school opened. Hear Ermineskin’s presentation at albertaadventist.ca/ thebridge and the full July 16 launch program in the Camp Meeting 2022 archive section of the website.

The Announcement that Electrified

Curtis Letniak, Conference Executive Committee member of the Mamawi Atosketan Centre Steering Committee, created waves of excitement with his announcement of the Camp Meeting Matching Challenge that raised more than $511,000 including the $210,000 matching amount from an anonymous donor.

Maskwacis Youth Ready to Serve

10 members of the Summer Youth Team, seven of whom live in Maskwacis, await their time on the platform during Sabbath School—just one of the ways they helped out during Camp Meeting.

70 Years of Indigenous History

Many visited the traditional teepee raised by the Conference’s Maskwacis Summer Youth Team to talk with Indigenous veteran Chacota Bronson about his experience, the personal artifacts he displayed, and Indigenous perspectives.

Sisters in Prayer

Matriarch Belinda Soosay (right), still dripping after her baptism, bows her head with Carmelia Soosay and Belinda’s sister, Emily Soosay, on the beach of Dickson Dam.

Photo by Trevor Boller

Joyful Ripple Effect of Baptism

Belinda Soosay, who has attended the Maskwacis Congregation for 30 years and considered herself an Adventist, was first to step into baptismal waters near Foothills Camp, followed by her granddaughter Ratricia. Family and friends from Maskwacis gathered in support of the four Maskwacis congregation members baptized on the closing Sabbath of Camp Meeting.

Left to right: Pastor Tsholo Sebetlela, Belinda Soosay, “Kailyn” (Lloyminster congregation), Kadmiel Sebetlela, Leslie Potts Jr.,Ratricia Soosay, Youth Pastor Joshua Hackett.

Photo by Trevor Boller

Eye for Beauty, Passion for a Cause

Inspired to do something in addition to donating their money, Indigenous photographer Trevor Boller of St. Albert and his wife, Tracey (cell phone selfie by Trevor), kept the $210,000 Matching Challenge on everyone’s radar by creating professional portraits that will grace donors’ homes and Christmas cards. All donations counted toward the Challenge total.

Reconciliation Matters

Truth and Reconciliation seminars led by Maskwacis pastor Tsholo Sebetlela and MANS counselor Kelly Stickle were packed twice a day M-F. Two-minute video recaps of each day can be viewed at www.albertaadventist.ca/thebridge

MAC Camp Meeting Matching Challenge

$511,865 Combined Challenge Total

$1,328,865* Campaign Total to Date

*Yet to raise for Goal: $522,000

By Lynn McDowell