Extreme Community Engagement: Pastor Duane Grant, St Paul

Pastor Duane Grant and the congregation of Bethel Family Worship Centre in St. Paul have always welcomed all cultures. Pastor Duane says, “We cherish everyone as a part of the church. Our church board is multi-ethnic.” Recently, the congregation initiated an outreach to local indigenous people and has seen a good number of residents from Saddle Lake, Goodfish, Kehewin, Fishing Lake and Frog Lake reserves attend Sunday services in 2023. In November 2023, Bethel’s leadership brought in an indigenous evangelist, which resulted in over 80 indigenous people and some local pastors attending from the reserves. The pastors all appreciated the fact that something was offered where they could participate and be encouraged. In the second week of January 2024, a similar effort was repeated, as well as sponsoring a service in the cultural center on the Goodfish reserve.

Duane holds monthly prayer meetings in Goodfish and believes God wants to touch our indigenous people. In 2021, he participated in reconciliation projects, including the Healing Ride, on horses and wagons, and community and indigenous people came together seeking healing and forgiveness. It was a powerful time of prayer. Duane is committed to coming alongside them, seeking to understand better, encouraging and loving them and trying to be the best representation of Christ to them as he can.

Duane was appointed the chaplain for the RCMP detachment in 2023. The detachment’s responsibilities include the Saddle Lake and Goodfish reserves. There are 55 officers stationed in St. Paul, and this detachment is responsible for the Northeast section of Alberta. Duane meets twice a week with the officers at the detachment. One of the staff members at the detachment told Duane, “I don’t know if you realize it or not, but every time you come in here, you bring a smile to peoples’ faces and change the atmosphere in this place.” Little things can make a difference.

A big change occurred when the church offered free space to hold meetings and training events. The church parking lot is frequently populated with RCMP cruisers for training courses at the church. Officers come from as far away as Banff and High Level. Representatives from Ottawa led some of the training sessions, and they commented on how wonderful it was that a church would open its door to the RCMP and provide this service. Duane has sat in on some of the training that covered sensitivity to different cultures, proper take-down procedures, public relations, and new body cameras. Training occurs twice a month, which affords opportunities to talk with officers, assure them that the congregation prays for them, and at times offer counsel and prayer with them. The relationship has become a way for Duane and the church to be more community-minded.

Duane Grant has served as the Lead Pastor of Bethel Family Worship Centre in St Paul for two decades. His son Christopher is the Assistant Pastor, and his wife Judy oversees the Children’s and Women’s programs. The family is very involved in Moose Lake Pentecostal Camp.