January Update

Psalm 126

“How can we best help you and your congregation spread the gospel this month?”  This is the question we are asking each of our partner churches this year.  The COVID-19 pandemic has changed how we serve churches but not the end game.  We are still looking to support bottom up ministry.  We are here to equip congregations to spread the gospel.  This means that we are doing something different for each congregation.  

This month discovered that one of our partner pastors and his wife have started providing no cost funerals for those lost to COVID.  They conducted four funerals last week alone.  They desire to spread the gospel to all those in attendance while providing safety as well.  They requested that we provide ziploc bags, hand sanitizer, disposable masks and Bible tracts.  These will be distributed at each funeral they oversee.  What creative thinking in such a challenging time!  Another church has its leaders driving to distribute food/supplies to those impacted by COVID.  They also take gift cards to be used for fuel to pick up their family members who are being discharged from hospitals.  The hospitals on the Rez are overwhelmed and not as equipped as others to treat those seriously impacted by the virus.  Many patients are flown to Phoenix, Salt Lake, Albuquerque or St. George for treatment.  The family then has to figure out how to bring the family member home after discharge.  You may say, “Sure, they met a physical need but how does that spread the gospel?”  I was thinking the same thing.  However, these leaders are telling individuals who receive help, “Remember us when this is all over.  Remember that it was our God who answered your prayers.  Come to our church and share a meal with us when we can gather again.”  We provided assistance to a pastor and his family directly.  The pastor’s wife and her mother had COVID at the same time.  His mother-in-law was taken home to meet her Savior while his wife was in ICU, unconscious on a ventilator.  She was visited by her mother who told her that too many people depended on her and it was time to fight.  She told us she saw the faces of her children, grandchildren, congregation members and our own children.  She awoke and came off the ventilator.  She is home now recovering and we were able to meet their needs this month so they can focus on recovery and be back serving as the hands and feet soon.  

It’s not all sadness however.  Our newest partner church was struggling to keep its doors open prior to the pandemic.  They are located in a border town and not impacted by the lockdowns.  They went from a congregation of 5-10 on a Sunday to 35-45.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is restricted to every other week attendance for its families.  They were looking to attend somewhere on their “off Sundays” and were welcomed by this pastor.  He has made it clear that his church is a Bible believing only church and that nothing from their book will be taught.  However, they are drawn to the love of our Savior.  He is now in need of a Sunday School/Children’s Ministry set up.  We purchased the first set of Children’s Bibles, provided our Navajo designed curriculum and purchased the first month of craft and activity supplies.  For the first time in history this church will be operating a children’s ministry!  We are still working to provide enough supplies for the first year of craft and activity supplies.  Come alongside us in this effort.

We appreciate each of you and ask for your prayers to be with us this year as a family and ministry.  We are always asking God to let us be a part of what He is doing.