Update June 3 - 10:00 am
This morning reports have come in that Denare Beach has fallen to wildfire. This devastation weighs heavily on those who have lost their homes and businesses. Also, the loss of the Adult & Teen Challenge men's campus.
June 3, 2025
Former pastor couple at the Killarney Calvary Baptist Church, Darryl and Cindy Hartwig, have made their home in Denare Beach, Saskatchewan, working with Adult & Teen Challenge Canada.
Denare Beach is a northern village on the east shore of Amisk Lake.... Located 20 kilometres southwest of Flin Flon.
The Hartwigs have been on staff at the Adult & Teen Challenge men's campus over the past few years, with Darryl as campus manager.
Last week's evacuation order meant the Hartwigs and their students and campus staff were on the move south with the rest of their community to join the residents of Flin Flon out as the wildfires gained ground on these northern communities.
"It was pretty intense to say the least just because the fire is kind of wrapping itself around the community of Creighton, Saskatchewan and then also Flin Flon," shares Darryl Hartwig. "Those two communities are very close together. The fire was moving towards the Perimeter Highway that just goes around the community. But it was getting closer and closer,” explains Hartwig.
“Myself and a few of my staff and our students, we were doing a roofing job in Creighton and the authorities came by and just said go and get packed quick - it's a mandatory evacuation. Everybody's got to leave.”
What happened next was the collection of personal items, important paperwork; everything they would need to continue the program for the six students under their care at a different location. The students and staff are now safe in the Adult & Teen Challenge campus in Steinbach.
One of the organization's biggest current challenges stems from the dual nature of the Adult & Teen Challenge program, which consists of two main components: academics and vocational work detail. On the vocational side, students are taught practical job skills and can earn certifications in trades such as carpentry and roofing.
However, this work detail also serves a critical financial function. During the spring, summer, and fall, it becomes a primary source of income that helps cover the program’s operational costs. At present, the organization is completely shut down and unable to generate any revenue, which is a major concern.
Another significant challenge involves the students themselves. Due to recent circumstances, the organization has had to relocate them, which is particularly difficult in a program like this. Many of the students are already facing substantial personal challenges, and transitions can be especially disruptive to their progress.
There is also uncertainty surrounding the duration of the evacuation, which adds to the stress for both students and staff. These two issues—the financial impact of the shutdown and the disruption to student stability—are currently the most pressing concerns the organization is facing.
"My heart just goes out to all the evacuees,” shares Hartwig. “When we were traveling south, when we were evacuated, we saw people sleeping in their cars, people having no place to go at that time and so ... a big prayer request would be to pray for all the evacuees. And there's a lot of panic. You know, I've I seen a lot of people panicking and people afraid that they're going to lose everything."
“But we're very thankful for organizations like the Red Cross who have really helped out and many communities in Manitoba are helping,” he adds. “And so that's just a real blessing, you know, to see how the province is coming together to look after one another.”
Please listen to more with Darryl Hartwig below.
For more information visit the Adult and Teen Challenge Central Canada website, and for funds designated for Denare Beach click HERE!
Photo credit Darryl and Cindy Hartwig