The Storyteller

James grew up in Moose Factory, Ontario, a Cree community on the south end of James Bay. His parents brought him up in religion, but his life was empty as a young man. There was a man though, who had come to the community who was different... and he helped James move from religion to a real relationship with his Creator. Listen as James talks about the difference.

Many youth have come to the conclusion that there is no purpose or meaning in life. And because of that, they see no reason for living. Mindy was one of those young people, but something happened to her brother that caught her attention, and then it wasn't long till she had a change of heart.

"I wanted to go do these drugs cause I hadn't done them for quite some time and it was time for me to do them again. I used to go on three-day binges. I would disappear and my wife and kids didn't know where I was. They didn't know if I was dead or alive or nothing." Listen as Paul shares his battle with addiction and how it finally came to an end.

Working on the Alaska pipeline, Paul got into drugs and alcohol. It changed his life. His addictions had full control over him, until one night, when he had a dream that was so terrifying, that it caused him to stop and consider.

He was in a fist fight at least twice a week, every week for most of his schooling... because of the way he looked. He didn't fit in with the white kids... he didn't fit in with the Native kids. Listen as Paul shares about the early days of his journey and how that would influence his outlook in the days to come.

Where was the peace that others seemed to have? As she looked around, she couldn't help but notice. How come she couldn't find it? It seems she'd been fighting for something all her life... perhaps just fighting to survive. She'd learned that in her youth. But she wanted what these folks had. Listen as she shares how she finally found what she was looking for.

Adrienne recalls as a young girl how she was sick at school one day. As they took her home, all she could think about was what they were going to find when they got there. She wanted to jump out of the car and run into the house so no one would see what she expected to find. She was so afraid, and so ashamed.

Ray recalls how his grandfather told him stories that were handed down from his people... stories that were very scary and brought fear to him as a child. He shares one of these along with the impact that it had on him then, and the perspective that he has about it now.

"... and when I woke up, I was sick. Not only from what I had drank that previous night, but the burden of sin was heavy upon me. And not only that but, I was so sick I knew if I died at that moment, I wasn't prepared to meet God."

Ray grew up in northern Alberta. He loved ball games, dances, and the pleasures of life in his youth. But he had no peace. One of his friends though seemed to have what he was looking for. Ray noticed and was curious. Inner peace can be allusive, and finding it can be a journey. This was the journey Ray found himself on.