Holman (July 28/03) - Peter Wendover doesn't look like a stereotypical minister. He doesn't wear a "dog collar" -- clerical collar -- or a black jacket.

He wears normal collars and normal clothes, except when he's delivering a service at Holman's Anglican Church of the Resurrection. Then he wears a plain white robe with a satin rope tied around his waist.

Wendover is a lay minister and a Church Army captain.

The Church Army is an international evangelistic society dedicated to bringing people into living faith in Jesus Christ.

The organization trains people who want to deliver ministerial services on behalf of any Christian religion wishing to provide faith services.

Ministers of The Church Army are not fully ordained, which means they can't do everything -- such as bless the sacrament -- but they can help a community in most essential activities: baptisms, marriages and of course, conduct faith services.

Wendover studied religion through the society. Holman's Church of the Resurrection is his first posting. The church has been without a minister for two years. The other two churches in Holman were closed down years ago, making Wendover the only minister in town.

The easygoing, friendly 44-year-old moved to Holman in late May after a six-week training period in Kugluktuk (Coppermine).

"I thought it would be a great opportunity to come up here and work with another culture and (for the) adventure," said Wendover from his cozy rectory home, across from the small one-room church.

As a lay minister, Wendover can do almost anything an ordained minister can, except bless the communion. To get around that, Wendover orders in pre-blessed (reserved sacrament) wine and wafers so he can give the more than 40 regular parishioners a regular communion service.

Holman residents have been eagerly awaiting his arrival.

"As soon as I got here people asked me about (marriages and baptisms)," he smiled.

The position in Holman is a challenging one.

Wendover not only has to adjust to living in a remote community, he also has to deliver his service, sermon and hymns in the local dialect -- Inuinnaqtun.

Wendover developed his religious beliefs later in life. He didn't grow up going to church, but has always felt drawn to it.

"I guess I was searching for many years. Even when I was living in Toronto I would go into churches as a sanctuary in the middle of the city.

"I'd go in and sit sometimes. I didn't know why I was going in there. Thank God they weren't locked," he said.

But religion "doesn't happen overnight," he said. "It's a long walk."

At 33 years-old he started to attend church regularly in North Bay, Ontario.

After six years attending church, teaching and helping with programs, Wendover decided to take a step most Christians never do -- become a minister.

"I just felt like Evangelism was in the forefront for me -- reaching people outside of the church."

And Wendover continues to uphold his reason for becoming a minister. His work is not only within the church walls, but beyond them. He volunteers at events, socializes in the local coffee shop and makes his presence known within the 468-person hamlet.

During his three-year term in Holman, he intends on attracting more parishioners and providing an active church program.