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Bible conference brings big money to Iqaluit: pastor

"The message of God is not only spiritual, it's also financial"

GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS

Billy Arnaquq, a pastor from Qikiqtarjuaq, addressed hundreds of Christians gathered in the Iqaluit Curling Centre last week for the 20th Arctic Bible Conference. (PHOTO BY GREG YOUNGER-LEWIS)

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As organizers were tearing down the stage at Iqaluit's curling rink, the city's businesses and hotels counted up tens, if not hundreds, of thousands of dollars spent by people attending the 20th Arctic Bible Conference.

James Arreak, the main conference organizer, said that when participants weren't praying or singing on the curling rink floor, they were in the community spending big money on plane tickets, room rentals, and general shopping — a trend usually associated with non-religious festivals like Toonik Tyme.

"These conferences inject millions [of dollars] into the Nunavut economy," Arreak said after the conference wrapped up on April 16. "I think people have to realize this conference did benefit the city economically. The message of God is not only spiritual, it's also financial. People not only get saved, communities get blessed economically as well."

At the peak point of the conference, Arreak estimates almost 1,000 people jammed into the curling rink, which has a fire capacity limit of 500.

He said individual churches bore most of the expenses, such as plane travel from around Nunavut, Nunavik, and Greenland, but some airlines provided discounts.

Arreak added that Iqaluit provided the rink free of charge. While organizers will pick up a tab for more than $30,000, Arreak suggested most expenses will be covered by donations made during the event.

"We work with the business community to try and accomplish our goals," Arreak said.

The conference also had notable support from two members of the legislative assembly, various mayors, and one of the most prominent politicians in Nunavik. Tagak Curley, the MLA for Rankin Inlet North, along with Patterk Netser, the MLA for Nanulik, danced and prayed near the front of the crowd throughout the worship ceremonies.

Harry Tulugak, chief negotiator for self-government in Nunavik, Lootie Toomasie, the mayor of Qikiqtarjuaq, and elected Qikiqtani Inuit Association officials also attended the proceedings.

Despite the presence of influential politicians, Arreak, also an evangelical pastor for the increasingly popular Iqaluit Christian Fellowship, said the conference had no political aim.

"Our objective is not to be political," he said. "Our objective is to preach the gospel. We're not after any political aspirations.

"We honour our government. We honour our premier. We pray for them whether we agree with them or not. The church is supposed to unconditionally support government."

Religious fervour in Nunavut became a controversial topic during the last territorial election in the wake of southern preacher Roger Armbruster's claim that fundamentalist Christians were seeking a foothold in the assembly. Armbruster partners with Curley in a charity group called Northwind for Israel, which provides food and clothing to impoverished Jewish children in Israel.

But Nunavut's religious revival has more to do with Inuit trying to improve their lives, according to Curley's younger brother, Tom, who worked as an usher during the conference.

He said becoming more involved in church and attending conferences "re-energizes" him in his quest to live by Christian principles. By "completely surrendering to God," he said he was able to stop womanizing and drinking too much alcohol.

"I don't want to ever touch those things anymore because the Lord lives in me now," he said.

Moreover, the younger Curley said, he learned from the Bible how to forgive himself for past mistakes.

"When you start to accept Jesus, you learn to forgive," he said, as an elder wept in the arms of a woman several feet away. "The Word of God tells us we must forgive if we want to be forgiven for our sins."

Participants weren't limited to adults repenting for past mistakes. During a piano rock performance by Joshua Mills, who flew from London, Ont. for the event, young men in T-shirts and cargo pants wept openly. Young girls in hip-huggers waved tinselled flags reading Shalom [peace] in Hebrew. Laly Annahatak from Nunavik, who is blind, spun in circles, unable to see the human sea around her, swaying with their hands in the air.

Jenny Nakashuk, 20, from Pangnirtung, said she comes to Bible conferences because they're "exciting" and help her get over depression, which she said came from dealing with the suicide of a loved one.

"Ever since I found God and God has entered into me, I really enjoy it [conferences]," she said in Inuktitut. "I feel lighter when I'm not depressed."

Conference organizers pledged that the Iqaluit event was "one of many to come", and look forward to the next Bible conference in Purvirnituq in September.

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