Native American Field Council

Last week Howard and I were invited to participate in Mission to the World's NATIVE AMERICAN FIELD COUNCIL. It was held in Atlanta, Georgia this spring, and will be meeting in Lethbridge in October. The Native American Field Council consists of all of MTW's on the field Missionaries and invited consultants. 

We were so energized by this meeting for so many reasons.  We will share a few of those with you here, and be sure to read through to the end and watch the video of the gift the participants and staff at MTW were given by Huron Claus.

The first thing that we were blessed by when we arrived was the fact that there are 6 missionaries/couples that are currently working with the Native American/First Nations people in the United States and Canada, and there are 4 other families that are raising support to join teams working with the Cherokee in North Carolina, the Lummi in Washington, and Moose Factory, Canada. There are also many short-term projects being held around our countries. If you click on the links in orange below, you can find out more about the areas where God is working through his people.

Native American

MTW seeks to walk with indigenous peoples of the Americas, wherever they are found, growing together in the grace of the gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Blackfoot First Nation     Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada  • Eastern Band of Cherokee    Cherokee, North Carolina • Mokahum Ministry Center    Bemidji, Minnesota • Chippewa Nation     Red Lake, Minnesota   • Colville Nation, Nespelem     and Omak, Washington • Cree First Nation, Maskwacis, Alberta,     Canada  • Cree First Nation, Moose Factory,     Ontario, Canada  • Omaha Nation, Walthill, Nebraska  • Lummi Nation     Bellingham, Washington  • Suquamish Nation     Bainbridge Island, Washington  • Tohono O'odham     Sells, Arizona

Did you know this? 

We knew that MTW has some presence among Native Americans, but didn't realize the extent. We are so encouraged and excited to know others have a heart for the Native populations to know Jesus.

The next big thing that blew me away was the fact there there is already a ministry, in Bemidgi, Minnesota, working to train Native Americans in the gospel and raise up leaders who will return to their tribes to share the gospel. 

Mokahum Ministry Center

One of the greatest needs of the Native American church is spiritual leadership. Mokahum Ministry Center is responding to this need. Located in Bemidji MN, central hub of the Red Lake Indian Reservation, White Earth Indian Reservation, and the Leech Lake Indian Reservation, Mokahum's programs emphasize theological education, life skills, and ministry experience. "Mokahum” comes from an Ojibwe word meaning “sunrise” or “new day.” The vision for Mokahum Ministry Center is that Native people will come here to experience their own new beginning, moving forward with hope into the future God has planned for them. MTW missionaries Bill and Susan Carr serve at Mokahum. Bill serves as educational director for the center. Susan teaches enrichment and study skills classes for the students.

Lastly was the privilege we were given of meeting Huron Claus.  Huron is a Mohawk Native American and a Fifth Generation Christian.  His wisdom and knowledge was so great to learn from. You can learn more about his ministry to the Native American people and Chiefs through CHiEF Ministries.

Here is the gift of song he shared with us.  The song is sung in the Seminole language and is a song that celebrates the union of all Christian, Native and other in Heaven someday singing Hallelujah to our God.

Huron Claus song

We are privileged to be able to work with many awesome fellow Christians among the Native American populations. We look forward to welcoming many of you to visit us in Lethbridge to share in our work with the Blackfoot people there.

more than Short Term Missions

Scenario - Cherokee, North Carolina - summer Missions opportunity:


You are the project leader on the Cherokee Indian Reservation. One of your teams has been placed in a day program for Indian children to do a Backyard Bible Club. The relationship with this particular program has in the past been strained. The group seems to be getting along very well with the children and the staff seem to be especially open.

In order to show appreciation to the group, the day program staff invites a local legend teller to come in and share some of the Cherokee legends. One of the legends, which is the children's favorite, is especially scary. After the legend teller leaves, one of the adult leaders  of the church group comments to one of the day program staff that it was a shame that the legend teller couldn't have told stories that were true and not so scary.

The scenario above was a real one that had occurred in the past. Howard and I were challenged as part of our training last weekend to think about how we would respond in that situation and encourage both the adult leader and the staff at the Cherokee program in a loving, Christ-like manner.







On Palm Sunday weekend Howard and I joined fellow volunteers at Goose Creek Campground in Cherokee, North Carolina for a time of learning how to serve others better as they experience a short-term mission trip.  Mission to the World needs Associate Staff to make these weeks happen, and in January we signed up for this program as we weren't sure what our summer plans would be - we didn't know that we are only 17% away from having our total funds for our work in Lethbridge raised.  
















As part of our work in Lethbridge, Alberta, we will be welcoming teams of volunteers from the U.S. and elsewhere to join us as we reach out to the Blackfoot people in and around the city.  To prepare ourselves we signed up to serve this summer as Associate Staff in Cherokee, N.C. where there is an established volunteer program in place. This training program was excellent and taught us so many things we will need to know here in the U.S. and in Canada. 

The purpose of MTW's Short-term, One & Two Week Missions Program is to provide one-to-week missions experiences for individuals and church groups in order to strengthen the church of Jesus Christ, expand the kingdom of God, and cultivate the next generation of missionaries.

100% of long-term missionaries 

have experienced a Short-Term trip!

Mission to the World sends over 5000 people annually all over the world to experience 1 week to 1 year long short-term mission trips - you can find out more about how you could be involved by checking out the MTW site: Get Involved  

Next year Lethbridge will be one of the places you can come and experience!

 The take-away from our weekend of training was:

PFTL*

(people first - task last)

All mission trips are about relationships not about the bricks and mortar project being done.

Relationships between fellow workers, relationships with the people, and personal relationships with our Savior will all be grown - the accomplishing of a project is a side benefit.

Howard and I are looking forward to working for a week in June in Cherokee with those who will be coming to Show Jesus to the people in Cherokee, and then taking what we have learned with us first to Belgium during the month of July for our Cross Cultural and Relationship training, and then on to our new home in Lethbridge later this summer.

Philippians 2:13 - Trust in the Lord - he will give me what SHOULD BE in my heart - He will give us THE WILL and the ability to do what is needed. 

Show People how much 

God Loves Them!

Thanks for your prayers for us as we travel and learn.