Pacific Southwest District Native Ministry Committee

Last week, Rich Avery traveled to Southern California to meet with the Pacific Southwest District’s Native Ministry Committee.  Members pictured from left to right are:  Rev. Joe Martin, Rev. Cecil Lucas (the District’s Native Ministry Director), and Rev. Bob Lenz.  These men have made multiple trips to the Navajo Nation in Arizona over many years and are passionate about the ministries of Pastor Darwin Tsosie at Red Rock Community Church and Pastor Ben Yazzie at Low Mountain Wesleyan Church.

At the meeting, the team shared their plans for several work team projects scheduled for this spring, summer and fall.  They also discussed the importance of raising up the next generation of Navajo leaders to lead current and future Navajo Wesleyan churches.

We’re grateful for what God is doing through our partnership with the Pacific Southwest District, and we thank you for your continued support, which makes it possible.

Dakota District Native Ministry Leadership Team

Rich Avery, WNAM’s director, met recently with the Dakota District’s Native Ministry Leadership Team in Rapid City, South Dakota.  Pictured from left to right are:  Mrs. Johanna Yellowhawk, Dr. Jerry Yellowhawk, Dr. Paul Turner, Rev. Isaac Smith (District Superintendent), Mrs. Dale Salway, Rev. Larry Salway, and Rev. Rich Avery.

Members of the team shared their goals for summer work teams, plans for relaunching Native churches in Eagle Butte and Pierre, and updates on the launch of the Lakota Theological Education by Extension program (which will equip future pastors and ministry leaders).  Pastors Larry and Dale Salway also shared how their church, He Sapa New Life Wesleyan Church in Rapid City, is experiencing exciting growth through new conversions, and is at capacity many weekends with 70 in attendance.  They are now talking about adding a second Sunday worship service to accommodate future growth.

We praise God for what He is doing through the District to multiply Native believers, leaders and churches.  And we thank Him for your continued support of WNAM, which helps make this all possible.

Next week, WNAM’s director, Rich Avery, will be in South Dakota to meet with the Dakota District’s Native Ministry Team. They’ll be discussing work team projects for the summer, the launch of the Lakota Theological Education by Extension Program, potential economic development projects that will improve the livelihood of low-income Native peoples, and other programs.

Last summer, we announced that WNAM’s office would be relocating. For over 60 years, our office has been in South Dakota, because our schools and most of our churches and programs were located there.

Today, it doesn’t really matter where WNAM’s office is located, as we are changing and expanding our reach in order to impact Native peoples all across the United States and Canada.

WNAM’s office is now located in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Our new address is:

Wesleyan Native American Ministries
1345 Monroe Avenue NW, Suite 234
Grand Rapids, MI 49505

Our new phone number is: (616) 456-0097.

Our mail and phones are still being forwarded from Rapid City to Grand Rapids. You may continue to use donation envelopes with our Rapid City address. Later this spring, our letterhead and donation envelopes will reflect our new address.

WNAM is pleased to partner with the Dakota District of The Wesleyan Church to re-launch a Native Wesleyan church in Pierre, South Dakota in 2009.  Repairs and improvements are now being made to the facilities and we anticipate that church services will begin by Spring.  Please pray for the church’s launch team as they make preparations and reach out to the Native community in Pierre!

This week, I was blessed to be in sunny and warm Florida with my family, connecting with many of WNAM’s supporters on the Gulf Cost.

It was great to meet with over 100 people at the Wesleyan Village in Brooksville on Tuesday, where we hosted a banana split dessert reception.  It was a blessing to hear that so many people here have been supporting and praying for WNAM for many, many years.  Special thanks to Dr. Lila Cockrell and Dr. Charles Paine for helping us make those arrangements.

On Thursday I met with the very active (and generous) JOY group from Park Place Wesleyan Church in Pinellas Park.  I’m grateful to Melvin Smith and Sandra Turner for their hospitality.

On Friday, Pastor Rick Stevens of Diplomat Wesleyan in Cape Coral hosted a luncheon for us.  It was great to meet with him and key leaders from his church to discuss WNAM’s recent changes and renewed focus.   We also explored ways WNAM could serve Diplomat and the Florida District and help them reach out to Native people in their area.

He Sapa's Native Nativity Program

Thank you to everyone who gave toys, clothes, cash and other gifts for our Native churches’ Christmas outreaches.

Hundreds of Native families were blessed with gifts in South Dakota on the Pine Ridge Reservation, in Rapid Cit, in Eagle Butte, and Pierre.

Pastor Larry Salway of He Sapa New Life Wesleyan Church in Rapid City reported that over 150 braved the extremely cold weather on December 21st to attend their Christmas Celebration and the Native Nativity program, where the children acted out the birth of Christ, Lakota-style.

A holy hush came over the room during “The Drummer Boy” song and presentation, as the chiefs (the wise men) walked in slowly carrying gifts of sweet grass, cedar, burning sage, Pendleton blanket, star quilt, and buffalo robe.  True worship of baby Jesus was felt, and God’s presence was there in a powerful way. Most of the people in attendance come from very traditional Native religious backgrounds.  They heard the message so clearly, and responded very positively.

Following the play, Pastor Larry gave a culturally-relevant presentation of the gospel, speaking on the shepherds who responded to the news of Christ’s birth.  He prayed the sinners’ prayer with them, and gave them the opportunity to surrender their lives to Christ, and allow Christ to hearl their pain.  God’s presence was very real, and no one wanted to move after the closing prayer.

Several responded after the service and said they “got” the message of christ for the first time.  We praise God that they are now attending worship services at He Sapa!