Air Ronge church navigates ReOpen SK: Phase 3

Chris and Bonnie Ward had their move to the Tri-Communities delayed by COVID-19 travel restrictions, and are just now settling in. Still, Chris has been leading Sunday services and prayer groups for two months, now, online.

"Our move was delayed, yes," he explains. "We were in transition and were making plans to sell our house.. With the the travel restrictions coming in and out in the North of the province we just thought what can we do? And we took this online, right away-- the third week in March  --Facebook Live for Worship on Sundays and mid-week bible study on the Zoom Conferencing app."

Chris has worked with the Pentecostal Church in Saskatoon's downtown inner core for 18 years prior to applying for, and receiving the votes to assume his new role as Pastor in Air Ronge. He cites his work here as being critical in developing the compassion he now carries to this new appointment.

Bonnie Ward grew up on Egg Lake, near La Ronge, and spent her youth growing up on the land, and is Metis.  "Yes, it delayed our physical move but it has actually helped us to become very intentional with ways to reach into our church community, and even beyond, people in on Sundays from other locations -- Sucker River, Stanley Mission, and even we have some people from Alberta and BC, and they are joining every week," says Ward.

Chris says that he just wants the Tri-Communities to know -- they're here, they care, and they'd love to have you visit their church.

Of the all the churches in the tri-communities, the Air Ronge Pentecostal is certainly one of-if not the-smallest, physically. The A-frame, cabin-style church seats about 60, and the raised platform (no pulpit) is close - but more than 6 feet - from the first pews. It's a familial and comfy atmosphere, but obviously one where care and attention needs to be given to possible transmission scenarios, when in a pandemic.