A Church Is Born
Glory to God for Maaqtusiis Community Church in the Ahousaht First Nation
“Maaqtusiis” is the Nuu-chah-nulth name for one of the principal villages of the Ahousaht First Nation on Flores Island, off the west coast of Vancouver Island, BC. In their language, the name reflects a deep, enduring connection to the land, which is a reminder that places are not merely locations but stories of people, history, and belonging.
It is in this place, where the hope of the gospel and Christ-centred reconciliation are so greatly needed, that Fellowship International missionaries Jacob and Rachel Hwang have been faithfully serving since 2016. Their journey began as itinerant missionaries in Port Alberni, BC, which is about three hours away from Ahousaht Island. Then, in God’s providence, a woman from an Ahousaht family invited them to move into her home in 2018. Since then, the Lord has blessed them with four more children, and they now raise their six children on the island — a family living out the gospel in both word and deed.
Through their ministry, God has been pleased to bring gospel transformation to lives within the Ahousaht community. In partnership with Fellowship Pacific, and through much prayer and spiritual battle, a new church — Maaqtusiis Community Church — was born in 2024. It stands as a testimony to Christ’s promise: “I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” (Matthew 16:18).
When I had the privilege of preaching the Word there, I was deeply moved — not only by Jacob and Rachel’s faithful labour but by the evidence of God’s work. In this small but growing congregation, people are gathering to pray, to study the Word, and to learn to obey the Word as disciples of Jesus. From this church, three young people are now preparing to attend Northwest Baptist College & Seminary in Fall 2026, a visible sign that God is raising up the next generation of leaders for His glory.
As God invited us to co-labour for the gospel, would you prayerfully consider partnering with what God is doing through Jacob and Rachel Hwang in their missionary efforts among the Ahousaht First Nation?
To learn more or support their ministry, visit fellowship.ca/jacobandrachelhwang or email them at jrhwang@fellowship.ca.
Thank you for your partnership in the gospel.