| Arizona Mission Ministry Team |
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The Lampeter Church of the Brethren first began participating in Mission to the Good News Church in 2004. There have been several opportunities to minister to this community since then. The Good news Church is located in the area of Houck in the Navajo Nation. The reservation land includes approximately 27,000 square miles. Its boundaries extend from northwestern New Mexico into northeastern Arizona and southeastern Utah. Dine Bikeyah, or Navajoland, is larger than 10 of the 50 states in America.
So why travel to this place within the United Sates to do mission? The Navajo Nation truly is a nation within a nation. They function with their own tribal government under the federal government of the U.S. These tribal people within our own country had been first oppressed by Spanish moving north from Mexico, then U.S. settlers moving west. They have gained their own territory and homeland but in the process have lost trust, leadership and been plagued with corruption. Life on the reservation is difficult. The unemployment rate on the there is 58%, compared to an unemployment rate for the U.S. of about 5%. More than 50% of Navajo families on the reservation live below federal poverty levels compared with less than 13% of the general U.S. population. Much of this has to do with their way of life and the land. Tribal government operates in a way that make it difficult for even Navajo owned large businesses to operate and many people must move away from the reservation to find work. Traditional trades like silver smithing, beadwork, jewelry work and rug making are now able to be made cheaper in Asian countries. Their is little to no infrastructure (safe paved roads, public sewer, water or gas) away from any major town. Depression and alcoholism are common. Attempts to bring them Christian faith have been quite disastrous over the years. The tribal faith of the Navajo people is steeped in mysticism, witchcraft, and superstition. The freedom from fear that we find in Christ is very foreign to them. A loving God is not a familiar idea. Even those who have claimed Christ as Lord and Savior have to work hard to balance belief in God and honoring their own heritage, not to mention all of the issues they must deal with living under the rule of the tribal leadership. The families we have met at the Good News Church have set a goal to continue to be a non-denominational congregation that is Navajo operated. They have found encouragement from their Christian faith and want to teach those surrounding them that there is hope in Christ and freedom from fear. Past mission goals have included building and painting, Vacation Bible School, cleaning and demolition, and sharing time in fellowship, worship and praise with the Mission team members and the Good News Church community. Each trip is generally planned with an objective that is coordinated with the leadership at the Good News Church. Each mission though is a unique opportunity for spiritual growth and service. Do you think you have what it takes to share and witness in this way? Mission work is fun and tiring. Teams will need to be balanced with workers willing and able to do many tasks. Past work has included: block laying, truss construction, carpentry, roof installation, electrical wiring, ditch digging, plumbing, painting, teaching, singing, entertaining, and acting. Team members are ask to fill out an application and medical form. To be in mission the most important thing you need to do to prepare is pray and ask God for direction, strength and faith. Click on thumbnails to view photos.        |