Christine Kay
Northern News Services

Coral Harbour (Nov 20/02) - Bill Prankard has been a longtime friend of Coral Harbour. He's helped the community build an extension on their church and he's helped residents increase their faith in God.

"We really love him because he's always admiring the people in the North," said resident and business owner Leonie Duffy.

From Nov. 21-24 Prankard will return to Coral Harbour. He will lead a religious conference at the Glad Tidings Church.

Prankard said his first visit to the community was almost 27 years ago.

"We were on our way through to Cape Dorset. They asked if we could have a meeting but we didn't have enough time," said Prankard.

He made time in the end. Before leaving Cape Dorset for his return trip to Ottawa, Prankard called Coral Harbour. He told them if they could be ready by the time he arrived, he would speak with the residents.

"It was noon when I got there and the community hall was packed," he said.

Prankard was ordained a minister with the Pentecostal Assemblies of Canada, but he ministers to all denominations now.

While his parents raised him to be a church-goer, he never really felt connected to it until he was 18 years old.

"I went to a church in Brampton, Ontario and gave my life to Jesus. I met people who really had a relationship with God and really seemed to know him," said Prankard.

Today, he hosts a daily television program called "From the River" and co-hosts "Sea to Sea," a weekly program seen in 140 countries around the world.

His popularity and his message are following him to the North. Organizers expect people from Quebec, Nunavik, Rankin Inlet, Iqaluit, Arviat and Ontario to attend the event in Coral Harbour. Posters have been up in the community for at least three weeks now.

Duffy said this is the first time people are chartering planes from outside Coral Harbour to attend the conference.

"Usually they pray for sick people, those who need help with addictions or who have marital problems," she said.

During the conference, speakers will hold classes in the morning and services in the evening. Prankard, his wife Gwen, Billy Diamond and John Raymer will all take part.

Duffy said the conference and its speakers will help deepen people's relationship with the gospel.

"I believe some people will be lifted. Hopefully young people will be encouraged to live," she said.

These are Prankard's hopes, too. He said his message is the same anywhere he goes in the world - his message for the people is that God really loves them.

Prankard's ultimate goal is to see Canada get back to its Christian roots. He said the Christian message can change people's lives.

"It can change people's lives. It doesn't change their culture, it just enhances it," he said.

Prankard feels his friendship with people in the North is invaluable. He said he's probably learned more from Inuit than he can ever give back. He's gone out on the land, stayed in an iglu and gone dog sledding.

The community will welcome Prankard, his wife and their other guests at the airport. Duffy said she will open her hotel, Leonie's Place, for the guests and encourages others in the community to do the same.