CAMP MEETING OFFERS HOPE FOR ADDICTS

Change is good.

For some people, change is essential for survival.

Camp Meeting 2001, which opens today at the Senator Hotel, offers
change for the addicted and abused through the word of God,
testimonials, prayer, song and the company of those who have come
through those experiences and healed.

Organizer Rev. Ernest R. Linklater knows first hand the benefits of
such meetings.

Lots of (participants), like myself, are delivered from alcohol, said
the pastor of the Full Gospel Aboriginal Ministries of Timmins, a
congregational church at 29 Spruce St., which is hosting the free
event. Ive been delivered from alcohol for over 24 years and its
through these kinds of meetings.

Alcohol here is just a killer drunkards have got to have a change of
life. The only way theyll be set free is by hearing the word of God.
Thats the idea and reason for Camp Meetings, so they can decide to
hear the word of God and be set free from alcohol and drugs.

They'll be helped to make that decision with prayer, songs from the
Moosonee Gospel Band and testimonials.

There'll be different people testifying how they were set free from
drugs and alcohol things like that and Indian religion, said
Linklater.

A lot of our people are bound to Indian religion. We arent, though we
hunt and fish and thank the Creator for providing that bounty.

Three pastors from California and Louisiana will also lend a hand.

They're missionaries, accustomed to helping people, who have
travelled worldwide and been to other Camp Meetings, said Linklater.
Theyre here because they have the heart to help this city.

The event is a first for Timmins, but has run for years in Moosonee
and other communities, with attendance between 300 and 500 people.

It's an open invitation, everyone welcome, free of cost, said Linklater.

Lunch and supper is also provided, while rooms are available at
discount prices.

It's not only for Natives. Its for whites, English and French too, he said.

The event also welcomes those who have been touched by other evils in
the world.

In our church we have people who were once on drugs, lots of them
were sexually abused and now theyre set free from the hurts, said
Linklater. I know there's a lot of hurting people. I teach them they
have to forgive and forget and move on in their lives.

He feels the same about the suing of residential schools that
committed so many of those outrages.

This has got to stop theres got to be forgiveness somewhere along the
line and you cant forgive, not unless you have Christ in your heart.

People will have the chance to receive Him there, beginning at 7:30
p.m. today and Friday, and 1: and 7 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

For more information, call Linklater at (705) 268-6572.