Native American Ministries: Year End Report 2005
This report is of a few highlights, kind of a synopsis newsletter. It is not
intended to be all-inclusive but will hopefully give some sense of what is
happening in the area of Native American Ministries within the Community of
Christ.
2005 was a full year and much has happened. Many who will read this have been
busy providing ministry in a variety of settings, both Native American
Ministries and other. To each of you I wish to extend a heartfelt thank you.
Below I will try to highlight events and happenings of which I am aware and
/or have been directly involved. If I miss something please accept my
apologies in advance. And please e-mail me about them so that I can add them to
a revised version of this report.
Native American Ministries Locations
There are active Native American Ministries in several areas of the United
States in both urban settings and in rural and reservation areas. Here are a
few:
*Arizona ….Dine/Navajo reservation Pinion, Many Farms, Chinle, …Phoenix and
Flagstaff
*Nebraska …….Omaha reservation……
*Kansas ……..Haskell INU , Sac and Fox, Kickapoo, Patawatomi, ……..
*Missouri ……..urban ministries misc…KC, Columbia ….
*New York …. Niagara Falls and Tuscarora Reservation
*Oklahoma …….Oklahoma City, Stillwater, Lawton …
*Michigan …..Pickford, Sault Ste Marie, etc……
*Washington …..
*California ……..
*Louisiana…
*Florida…
*Iowa…
*Maine…
NAM Retreats
NAM Retreats within the Community of Christ were held in three places this
year that I am aware of. The first was held in May in the Buffalo, New York
area. This was the first year for this retreat and, although I was unable to
attend due to personal reasons, it sounds like it was a good experience based on
reports I heard from who were there. I understand that stories, music, prayers
and testimonies were shared as well as a sweat lodge ceremony and of course good
food. I may be able to attend if they decide to schedule another retreat in the
future (no news one at this time however).
The second NAM Retreat was held in Pickford, Michigan, in September. I was
able to make this one and it was a good and spiritual experience. Again stories,
music, prayer, testimonies, good food, games and sweat lodge ceremonies were
shared. Usually there is at least one baptism that occurs, but that did not
happen this year, but spiritual rebirth and transformation did occur in other
ways. (This is the retreat that has been held at the Park of the Pine campground
near Boyne City, Michigan, for the past six or seven years.) A change of
location was tried for this year and it went well, but there is no news as of
yet as to the location for next year’s retreat.
The third NAM retreat was held in Willow Springs, Missouri, in October. It
was also a nice experience for the folks gathered there. Prayers, music, and
testimonies were also shared here. I believe that this is the fifth year for
this retreat.
Other Ministries
There are plans being made in Oklahoma to start an ongoing NAM program of
some type. It is in the early stages but some of the folks from Stillwater and
Oklahoma City area are putting their heads together to see what they can come up
with. In a meeting in October we discussed ideas of how to interact with and
have a positive interaction with the Native American communities in the area
including Pow-Wow ministry, also how to do something like a youth program like a
homework club and a basketball court open to the community.
I have also talked to some folks from a few other areas who are interested in
starting new NAM outreaches, and although I don’t have any addition information
to share about those other inquiries at this time, there does seem to be a
growing interest in becoming involved in sharing in ministry with Native
American folks.
As I stated in my opening paragraph, there are a number of folks who are busy
doing ministry in a wide variety of settings across the United States that are
Native American Ministries related, or at least touch the Native American
community in some positive, relational way. For instance, folks are involved in
Native Corn ceremonies and also Native Corn and Seed preservation activities in
New York, Iowa, Oklahoma, and Arizona. This activity is very important and there
is actually more than one group of folks that are engaged in this work
independently of each other but with common goal as well as those that are
specific to their unique situations. I wish I could say more about this topic,
but I do not have the expertise to say much more. However maybe some of those
folks will provide me with Web site and other information I can pass on for
those who would like to know more.
Another example of people who are reaching out to Native American peoples in
a significant way are several folks who are involved in supporting events and
both social and spiritual activities such Pow-Wows, Sweat Lodge Ceremonies,
Harvest Ceremonies and Sun Dances. (NOTE: Some of these events are closed and
should not be attended without an invitation.) For those who have been
invited, or for those events which are open to guests, there is a wonderful
opportunity for ministry in expressing the value for the people and the culture
of the Native American folks with whom you are sharing the experience.
For those of you who are engaged in these types of ministry, thank you.
Personal Involvement
In January the year started with me participating in the Diversity Summit at
the Temple in Independence, Missouri. In February I had Winter Field School at
the Temple. I visited friends and Community of Christ members in Arizona in
April, primarily on the Dine / Navajo reservation. In May I was in Washington,
D.C. as part of a Diversity Team training program. In June and July I was in
South Dakota and Nebraska twice on both the Santee Dakota and Yankton Dakota /
Sioux reservations as well as in Macy on the Omaha Reservation. In July I was
also in Montana in Billings, Bozeman, Roscoe, and Pryor (on the Crow
Reservation). In August I was in Iowa at CLW (Congregational Leaders Workshop),
and Nebraska on the Omaha reservation. (Actually I visit in Macy, Nebraska,
about every six weeks or so, as my schedule allows.) There is a growing interest
in reviving the church there, and I am working with some of my friends who live
there to assist them to that end. In September I was in Tennessee to do a
wedding, Native American style, for a new friend I met in Washington, D.C., as
well as in Michigan for the NAM retreat. In October I was in South Missouri for
that NAM retreat and Niagara Falls, New York, and Stillwater, Oklahoma. In
November I shared at the Peace Colloquy at the Temple and did some other local
ministry as well as sharing again with friends and church members at Macy,
Nebraska. December was busy with local ministry including some committee work
for the church and a Christmas service at Macy with the folks there.
One other exciting thing I would like to share: with the help of some IYF and
SPEC leaders as well as financial donations from Community of Christ members to
help provide scholarships, three young women (high school girls) from the Navajo
Reservation were able to attend IYF/SPEC this summer. They had a great time and
are looking forward to future opportunities to participate in World Church
activities.
I have not mentioned the efforts of others by name, but obviously I have not
organized and facilitated everything I have mentioned above. In some case I was
providing support ministry for the ministry being provided by others and in some
cases others provided ministerial support for an effort which I had begun. In
almost every instance effective ministry only occurs when people are working
together with a common goal in mind.
Sharing in a variety of settings I made specific mention of prayer, music,
and testimony or the sharing of stories. In some cases specific ceremonies are
part of what is happening, but in every case the ministries that are the most
successful are ones in which there is an intentional seeking of God’s guidance
and direction through prayer and often fasting.
If I started trying to list folks I would surely leave someone out, and since
many would probably prefer I not mention them by name anyway, I think I’ll just
say, "You know who you are. THANK YOU."
Please also let me once again encourage each of you who are out there doing
ministry to write in and share specifics about what you are doing. Your efforts
are important and may be helpful and encouraging to others who are not sure
where to start.
May God’s blessings and peace be with you all,
Keith Russell
Community of Christ Native American Ministries Field Specialist
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