THE ST. MARY’S First Nation, where Venus Cote lives and does ministry, is inside the city limits of Fredericton, New Brunswick. It is home to the Maliseet people, or “people of the beautiful river.” Although the proximity of the reserve to the city makes it seem like it would be culturally similar to Winnipeg, where her aunt Elvira Cote works, Venus says it is very different and therefore ministry looks different as well. Mall outreach, for example, something Elvira does to connect with Indigenous Winnipeggers, is not a useful approach because, in Fredericton, people shop and leave.

St. Mary’s is a thriving community with employment opportunities for its members. “They have done well for themselves,” Venus notes. Education is highly valued because it is seen as essential to having a good career, meaning most of St. Mary’s residents have completed high school and many have post-secondary degrees as well. The community is well cared for.

When Venus arrived in the Maritimes 34 years ago, she says she didn’t see evidence of alcohol abuse or other addictions on the streets, but that has changed. In the past ten years, there’s been a marked increase in substance abuse across Fredericton, the neighbouring Oromocto First Nation, and in St. Mary’s. Young people are particularly affected; deaths from overdoses are far too common, with fentanyl in particular bearing the blame.

Venus is especially saddened by some of the young parents who have become substance dependent, including some who accepted Christ eagerly as children when she taught them at camp years ago. Though addictions are present, they haven’t overrun St. Mary’s as they have other places, Venus says, because it is a community that cares for and helps each other. Oromocto has fared worse, and it is a concern for Venus, who ministers there together with other believers from St. Mary’s.

Shortly after Venus moved to St. Mary’s from Nova Scotia more than 20 years ago, the couple she was there to assist moved away and she was left to make friends and start ministry on her own. She decided to start by connecting with people at the local Alcoholics Anonymous and, through the friends she made there, she learned about Martin and Sue Bear.

Martin and Sue, along with friends Richard and Melody and Donnie and Joy, were all new believers who had begun a Bible study. They were eager to learn and put their faith into practice and Venus was ready to encourage them and help in any way. “It was a privilege,” Venus says, to walk alongside this group. Donnie, or “Papa Don” was a father figure and his influence was very important to First Nation Christian Outreach, the name of their group.

The Christian Outreach group continues to meet every Tuesday evening for a Bible study as they have since they began, with 15 to 20 people or more attending. It is a mixed group with both Indigenous and non-Indigenous people participating. Richard is a gifted musician and is in the process of opening a loft space called The Upper Room for Sunday evening services.

The primary ministry Venus is involved with now is the group of youth and young adults that the Bears, Merrill, Kevin and Venus lead together. They have been meeting since the young adults were kids, often in the school building but sometimes, as when we spoke, in Venus’ home for a supper-and-games night. They are walking with the Lord, they want to be together, and they want to learn. Seeing them grow in their faith is a great encouragement to Venus and the other leaders.

Venus is currently struggling with poor kidney function—only about 20 percent. That, together with a cancer journey not long ago and several recent family tragedies, has been very tough for her, but she sees how they give her a way to demonstrate her faith to the people around her. One of these people is a woman who has gone blind and spends a lot of time alone at home. Venus is one of the few friends who stop in now.

Venus is grateful to the EMC Board of Missions and the churches for believing in her and supporting her. She sees EMC as an organization that loves its missionaries and does what it can to support them. She is excited to be at EMC Festival this coming summer and looks forward to meeting people and sharing about her work.