Levi Samson-Beardy

I was born in the Oji-Cree community of Michigan Lake First Nations, originally known as Bearskin Lake FN, in northwestern Ontario, approximately 425 kms north of Sioux Lookout. Our community is still accessible only by airplane year-round. Winter roads, constructed specifically for the winter season, have bee invaluable in bringing heavier supplies into the community, but also gives opportunity for families to drive out to southern towns such as Sioux Lookout, Dryden, Kenora and even further for shopping trips or events, sports for the youth and gatherings of many types for the families.

Our family didn’t learn English until we moved to Red Lake, a mining community located  374 kms south of Michigan Lake FN. We encountered racism and discrimination resulting in our father turning to violence and alcohol, which led to many incarcerations in the local jail. But, he had a miraculous encounter with Jesus Christ, empowering him to start ten native-speaking, self-supporting, self-propagating churches in the First Nations communities of NW Ontario.

As a teenager, although I’d received Jesus in miraculous ways through my father’s ministry, I was overwhelmed by the issues affecting our people. Especially unnerving was the possibility of having to resort to violence, or a militant stance of some sort in order to stand up for our rights, as had been done by the blacks in the USA.

I served in the Canadian Forces from July 1969 to November 1990, as a Top-Secret Communicator Research Operator in Signals Intelligence. Along with my other military responsibilities during this period of the Cold War was against the communist ideology led by the Soviet Union, I received training as a Russian Language Specialist, with a 4-year role as Russian Language Instructor. This was followed by a 4-year posting to Communications Security Establishment, a top-secret civilian organization responsible for the protection of Canadian interests in the areas of foreign signals intelligence and cyber security.

Fortunately, I recommitted my life to Jesus in 1980, and started a walk of faith that led to a radio ministry to the military troops, a role in the Military Christian Fellowship, and various leadership roles within the church that prepared me for the ministries that I have been involved in.

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