The first few years of Conrad's life took place in the northern Manitoba Cree community of Garden Hill, along with his three brothers and sister. His father was a hunter and trapper, out in the bush weeks at a time. When Conrad was about eight, his father turned ill, necessitating a move for the family to Winnipeg.
Up North Conrad had always gone to church with his mom. "But they didn't really teach us about salvation there," he says. At age 18 a motorbike accident helped Conrad realize that he wasn't really in control of his life. He began searching for purpose.
Soon after he married Florence, who had also grown up in northern Manitoba, at Red Sucker Lake and Garden Hill. Their first couple years of marriage were hard, not making much headway in improving their lives.
It was Conrad who first made a decision for Christ, while visiting a church one Sunday, and he began witnessing to Florence. Later they moved back to Garden Hill and, when Conrad got baptized, Florence realized that he was serious about the Lord. She had grown up being taught good morals, thinking she already was a Christian. But through Bible studies she had begun to realize that she, too, needed to surrender her heart and will to the Lord. That same night she made a commitment.
A number of believers at the NEF church in Garden Hill had attended Key-Way- Tin Bible Institute and they encouraged Conrad to consider going. It took Florence a bit longer to get used to the idea, but in 1995 they moved to Alberta to begin studies.
After graduation from KBI in 1998, the Fletts returned to Garden Hill. The church elders had been encouraging Conrad to consider serving with NCEM's Tribal Trails ministry, but he decided that there would have to be a direct invitation, and he had put it out of his mind. That fall, before taking up a job offer in Garden Hill, they headed out west for a couple weeks of volunteer work at KBI.
En route to Alberta, without extra money for motels, they took up a previous offer from NCEM staff to stay overnight in Prince Albert. That stopover turned out to be a pivotal point in their lives.
In a short time Conrad was convinced that Tribal Trails was where the Lord really wanted them. "And the voices of three of my church elders echoed in my ears," he remembers. "After that it was just like glue!" he adds. "We stayed. We knew we still had to raise our support, but there was work to be done here."
Along with reaching out to the other native churches, the Fletts are especially fulfilled knowing that through television and Radio they're helping encourage Native believers all over. With their four children they are also involved with local Native church ministry in Prince Albert. He's the president of Native Evangelical Fellowship of Canada and chairman for Indian Life Ministries.
Conrad & Florence Flett live in Prince Albert where they have served with NCEM's Tribal Trails television ministry since 1998.
Condensed from a tract by Conrad Flett as edited by Northern Lights magazine (Issue #493), published by Northern Canada Evangelical Mission (NCEM). Enjoy more from Conrad as he speaks at our Indian Life banquet this month.
