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As I prepare this newsletter Howard is working on
the final preperations for our furlough time. Howard will be in
the PA area for six weeks beginning April 19th through May 30th.
Work and the scheduling of the furlough prohibit me from
enjoying the whole furlough time with Howard. I hope to see many
of you at the picnics. If you are interested in attending our
fellowship picnics and have not received an invitation please
contact us. Although we will have a table with information this
is a fellowship picnic not a fund raiser please come expected to
have fun and fellowship!
I ask that if at all possible
you would please extend a hand of hospitality to Howard as he
will be roughing it (six weeks is a long time to intenerate
without your other half). For a brief reminder to those who may
not be familiar with furlough. It is a time for us to report to
churches and individuals who are interested in how their support
has helped in the ministry to Native Americans. And to expand
our support base. If you received a letter from us with the
three stranded cord message please pray about who you might
share Agape ministry with. If you did not receive a letter and
would like to share our ministry with someone who may be
interested in prayerfully or financially supporting this
ministry please contact us.
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Walls Came
Tumbling Down! |
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thought it fitting since it is time to look back on what
the Lord has been doing in the ministry to share a
testimony of God at work in Oklahoma. Many of you know
that over the years we have promoted Native American
ministries that we believe are in the front lines paving
the way for others Native Americans to serve Jesus in a
culturally relative way.
One of those ministries is Broken
Walls, with Jonathan Maracle. A Christian worship band.
Jonathan’s web site address is www.brokenwalls.com if
you would like to know more about his ministry. It has
been eight years since we had the privilege along with
Cedar Creek Church, (at that time Pastor Monroe &
Johanna) to bring Jonathan into Oklahoma for the first
time.We were able |
Pastor Monroe & Jonathan |
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to host him, and a band member at that time, Scotty in our
home.During that time in was clear to us in the
spiritual that Jonathan had an anointing and a calling
to break down walls of separation.Walls built by man
that say you can only worship this way if you love
Jesus, walls that call everything Native evil, walls
that bring bondage instead of freedom.
It was difficult for Pastor Monroe and Johanna to take
that giant step by inviting Jonathan to worship at
church. But they took that step of faith and the Lord
has clearly honored their obedience. Jonathan has been
back to Oklahoma several times since then in many
different venues, and much chipping at the walls has
taken place.
Although we were not personally involved in bringing
Jonathan to Oklahoma for this recent visit, we are so
excited to share what we just witness this past month.
Broken Walls was invited by a large church in Anadarko,
and the Pastor was so gracious to share the time Broken
Walls had with other Native churches. Broken Walls
ministered at Ware’s Chapel (Where Pastor Monroe &
Johanna now pastor) and Indian Nations Ministries.
Howard and I were unexpectedly able to attend all the
church services.
Thursday evening we attended the Indian Nations
Ministries Church. This church was full of Native
people, I am not positive but I believe we were the only
people there not Native. We quickly recognized that they
had already begun to walk in a measure of freedom
because they had a Native drum that they use to worship
the Lord.
As Broken Walls began to play the anointing was
wonderful. We began to see people break free to worship
the creator. I feel inadequate to describe what took
place that night other than to say I believe I saw many
walls come tumbling down. And we rejoice that what we
believed we saw God doing eight years ago was being
manifested before our very eyes. |
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Jonathan Praying for Johanna's
father, Nelson Bigbow |
A church with a drum |
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Worship! |
Teresa Stead in the purple shaw |
We were so honored to witness His heart, His
moving among His Native people. There was much more to the time
that Broken Walls was here it was all good and God. But that
time in that church was indescribably incredible.
We stand in awe as we look back and are reminded how God ever so
slowly started chipping on the walls that keep His Native people
from entering into an intimate personal relationship with Him.
And now we see walls tumbling down before our very eyes. Yes
there are still many walls that need to come down but we believe
the domino effect is not taken place. It is unstoppable now! He
is bringing freedom to the state of Oklahoma. Ready or not here
it comes! I know many of you have prayed with us for the Freedom
to come and let me say God is answering your prayers.
The icing on the cake!
To top off the weekend of ministry, our friends
from Rosebud Reservation Bob and Teresa Stead along with many
from her family, came down to participate with Broken Walls.
Teresa gifted me with a beautiful shawl. I am ever humbled by
their precious and generous spirit. Teresa and Bob have fostered
over one hundred Native children over the years. Talk about
training up children in the way they should go. They have a
church on Rosebud called White Horse Ministry; they continue to
reach out with the love of Jesus to all who will listen. |
