In April, a group of 30 teens and adults from Kentwood Community Church (Grand Rapids, MI) went to Arizona to the Navajo Nation. They worked with Pastors Ben Yazzie and Darwin Tsosie, making needed repairs and improvements to their Native Wesleyan churches near Keams Canyon, and hosting community outreach events.

When the team returned home, they gave a report to the church during the weekend worship services, sharing what God did in and through them during that week.

Pastor Ben & Betty Yazzie

Later, the church received a note from a Native person who was visiting from out of state:

Why do white people seem to think that the only Indians in the U.S. are the Sioux & Navajo? Don’t they understand there are over 200 different nations in the US? Why don’t white churches try to help these within their own state boundaries?

In Michigan there is still poverty, a lot of racism and mortality, a lot of racism, substance abuse problems, a LOT of racism, inadequate healthcare, a LOT of racism, large number of school drop outs, and a LOT of racism by whites.

Pastor Darwin & Ann Tsosie

I still believe there is a role for churches to send teams to help on reservations or other locales with a high percentage of Native population. In fact, there are several opportunities for teams to serve this summer with Native Wesleyan churches.

But this note does affirm WNAM’s renewed strategy to be a catalyst that helps individuals, churches and districts to foster racial reconciliation and reach out to Natives living in their own communities, in culturally-sensitive ways, in every U.S. state and Canadian province.

We can’t do it without your help. Thank you for your continued support, which helps us create the resources and raise up the leaders that are needed to make this vision a reality!

- by Rich Avery