We are grateful to everyone who provided financial support for this and other Native Christmas outreaches!

The new churches, in Pierre (the state capital) and Eagle Butte (on the Cheyenne River Reservation), are extensions of the “mother” Native church in Rapid City, called He Sapa New Life Wesleyan Church.

Larry & Cindy Marshall

Rev. Larry Marshall, former staff member and director for Wesleyan Native American Ministries, died September 23, from injuries he sustained in June from a well-drilling accident.  Please pray for Larry’s wife Cindy and their family.

Here is a message from Cindy, which she posted on Larry’s Caring Bridge website:

Well, I do not understand the Lord’s ways, but I trust him.  Larry passed away today at 3:40 pm.  The doctor called us at midnight to come in because they were having a hard time keeping his blood pressure up even with 3 blood pressure meds and his breathing was becoming much harder.  His white blood count had gone up to 32.

In the end, Jordan and I were able to stand there by him as he passed.  He will be dearly missed!  I guess it is hard to even believe that it has happened.

Right now we are planning on having the funeral on Saturday, Oct. 3rd at 2:00 pm at First Wesleyan Church in Rapid City.

If there are any changes I will post it here.

Thank you all so much for all your amazing love and support for us.  You were all such a blessing to us.

Cindy for the family

Photo credit: Dennis Nett/The Post-Standard

The Wesleyan Chapel Among the Onondagas, in Syracuse, NY, was destroyed by fire on Sunday, July 5 at about 8:30 a.m. A United Methodist Church nearby also sustained fire damage.

Two teens from the Onondaga Nation were arrested and charged with robbery and arson. The Wesleyan Chapel building was deemed a total loss and part of it was bulldozed later in the day.

Please pray for Pastor Sandy Sinesi and the congregation, as well as the alleged arsonists and their families.

In the coming days we’ll have more information on how individuals and churches can help.

Here are links to local TV and newspaper coverage of the fire:

July 13, 2009: “Onondaga Nation church members keep worshipping after fire” – Post-Standard.

July 10, 2009: “Services relocate after arson ruins Wesleyan Chapel on Onondaga Nation” – Post-Standard.

July 5, 2009: “Two Onondaga Nation teens charged with setting fire to two churches” – Post-Standard.

Dr. Jerry Yellowhawk (left) and Rev. Larry Salway (center left) and Rev. Greg Laurie (right).

Evangelist Greg Laurie hosted his Black Hills Harvest crusade in Rapid City, SD, May 15-17.  The three-day event was attended by 19,000 people, which is about one-third of the population of Rapid City.  Laurie especially sought to reach out to Native Americans in the area.

Native Wesleyan leaders helped plan and organize the event, and also organized a ceremonial Native greeting for Laurie.  Rev. Larry Salway, Dr. Jerry Yellowhawk and other leaders welcomed Laurie and presented him with a Pendleton blanket, star quilt, honor song, and a Lakota prayer.

We praise God for the 1,500 people who committed their lives to Christ at the event, and for He Sapa Church, which is helping with follow-up and discpleship.

Native ministry leaders from Hayward Wesleyan Church

Hayward Wesleyan Church, located in the Wisconsin northwoods town of Hayward, is impacting the 4,000 members of the nearby Lac Courte Oreilles (Ojibwe) Reservation.

Over 20 people from the church work in various positions of service on the rez: in the health department, pharmacy, funeral home, schools, after-school recreation centers, and more.

In addition, the church runs a van ministry which brings people from the rez to church on Sundays (they’re praying for funds so they can add a bus) and a teen mothers program on Tuesday nights.

Please join Hayward Wesleyan in prayer as they consider additional youth and family outreaches, and maybe even a church service, on the rez.

They’re also praying about the possibility of buying a 168-acre farm adjacent to the rez, which would be called Hope Haven.  Pictured above are Hope Haven visionaries Jathan and Becky Brubaker (center), along with Pastor Mark Wilson (far right) and other church leaders.

This working farm would offer transitional housing, life skills classes, Bible studies, family reconciliation programs, and work opportunities for those who have recently come out of jail/prison or drug/alcohol treatment programs.

Hope Haven would also provide a safe coffee-house type of community center where people of all ages could come to connect with people who care, play games, study the Bible, and more.

Community leaders tell Becky and Jathan there is a growing need for these types of programs on the rez.  Please pray for wisdom as these plans develop, and funding in order to purchase the property.

Work teams are needed to help with facility repairs and improvements at multiple locations in both states, including roofing, flooring, painting and general handyman work.  In addition, a team is needed to run a sports camp for Native children in Rapid City, SD.

Teams will learn about the local Native culture and how the Native Wesleyan churches are impacting their communities.  They’ll also enjoy side trips to places like the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert or ancient ruins in Arizona, or Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands or Black Hills of South Dakota.

To learn how you can get involved, please contact WNAM at 616.456.0097 or info@wnam.org.