Four of the Presbytery of Superior's five churches are located in Thunder Bay (established in 1970 when the towns of Port Arthur and Fort William amalgamated), which was crowned a cultural capital of Canada in 2003. Rather than stifling each other's creativity, the closeness of the congregations fosters cooperation and new ideas. "We've been talking lately of pooling our mission resources," said Rev. Harold Hunt, minister at Lakeview, Thunder Bay "There's wonderful, open communication. You can say what you need to say. It's like opening a window, and letting in the fresh air."
Founded in 1925 by those who wished to remain Presbyterian after church union, Lakeview is knee-deep in world mission endeavours. Serving about 154 households, they have raised money to fund projects in El Salvador, Nicaragua and Guatemala, and have sent mission teams to build houses and churches in these countries. They also teamed with a United Church congregation to send mission workers to Rwanda.
The congregation works on the local front too, volunteering at a soup kitchen and fundraising for Haven House, a local youth hostel. "When people at the local soup kitchen know we're coming, they make a point to show up," said Hunt. "We've built a lot of great relationships there."
He is particularly pleased with how the church's youth are responding to mission. A recent 30-hour famine attracted about 50 kids who raised $2,000. They decided to donate the funds to Haven House. "They want to look out for the people who live right here. It's very exciting," said Hunt.
First Church, Thunder Bay, was also established in 1925. For it's first five years the congregation held services in an old store until a new building was erected. The second-largest congregation in the presbytery has taken a different path in mission. Working with the Sleeping Giant Refugee Sponsorship Group, they have helped sponsor refugees from Sierra Leone, Burma and Thailand, to name a few. The refugees often become active in the congregation and are welcomed with open arms into the community. "It's part of the congregation's identity and is a major outreach program," said First's minister, Mark McLennan. "We put a lot of time and effort into it."
The church has been heavily involved in this outreach for more than 20 years. Fifty-four refugees were sponsored last year (meaning the paperwork needed for a two to seven year process had been started), while 40 refugees were welcomed into Thunder Bay.
Many newcomers, like those from Somalia or Ethiopia, are often Muslim, so First does not become their church home. Others, like the large Burmese community, start out with the Presbyterians and then begin their own worship services at First. About 25 to 40 Burmese refugees worship there on Sunday afternoons. Those who stay at First are warmly welcomed into their new church home. "We've become more intentional in integrating them into the congregation," said McLennan. "We recently held an African banquet and often have special Burmese meals. Many of them also sing in church — in their own languages and in English. Others are taking leadership positions."
Being sensitive to diverse backgrounds is nothing foreign to First, where the congregation has been a mix of cultures for many years, regardless of refugee additions. "We have a lot of people who are not historically Presbyterian. We're aware of that and make sure our service is user-friendly within a Presbyterian framework," said McLennan. "It's a new type of service for many, but they're very faithful and forgiving when it comes to things like that."
Established as a mission field in 1884, St. Andrew's, Thunder Bay, is also active in outreach. As the largest church in the presbytery, it serves about 550 households and is located in the downtown area of the city. Intent on responding to changing demographics, including homeless individuals or those struggling to make ends meet, St. Andrew's is currently raising money to help rebuild Shelter House, the local homeless shelter. The congregation is also actively involved in international mission projects, including fundraising to help build a church in El Salvador.
Lying about four hours north east of Thunder Bay is Greenstone, Ont., home to St. Andrew's. Serving about 100 households, their isolation from the rest of the presbytery doesn't stop the congregation from participating actively in the work of the church. Besides working with the Salvation Army year round, the church is the designated evacuation site for remote northern communities during the spring and summer forest fire months. It becomes the summer home for many people whose permanent home is in constant danger during the season, giving the congregation new opportunities for ministry. Currently, they're sharing their building with a local Anglican congregation, whose church was damaged during a recent flood.
Although there are many reasons to be hopeful about the future, the presbytery is not without difficulties. Steeped in history dating back to the fur trade, when the shores of Lakes Superior and Huron served as the trading grounds for Ojibway natives and European settlers, Thunder Bay itself has seen better times. The region's main industries — forestry, pulp and paper and grain handling, are not what they once were, driving young families and students elsewhere to make a living.
The shrinking numbers have had a direct effect on the presbytery. Oliver Road Church, Thunder Bay, was established in 1952. Prior to this, it existed solely as a Sunday School. In 1979, it closed its doors completely. St. Andrew's, Atikokan, folded in 1997, and St. Andrew's, Fort Frances, closed up shop last year, due to dwindling numbers and fierce competition from the 18 other churches in a community of 4,500.
Calvin, Thunder Bay, is hoping to fend off such a fate by looking for ways to serve God and those around them. A small church, with about 37 households and no minister, they are struggling to attract newcomers and maintain the ones they already have. Still, these difficulties aren't the presbytery's focus. "It's just one of the challenges we have to live with," said Hunt. "But it doesn't drag us down."
He said although attracting new ministers may be a bit of a roadblock, once they come north, the presbytery has little trouble keeping them. "The problem is that unless you've been here, you don't know what you're missing," said Hunt. "The nature, the lifestyle, the recreational opportunities are just incredible. For sheer beauty, you can't beat it."
