Hidden Springs AZ.
The Last day of April 2019 I headed out on a month long three stop mission trip. Thank you so much for praying, God’s hand of protection and guidance was apparent from the beginning. I left two days late because the pastor that I would be working with in Arizona, Ellson Bennett, had a death in the family and needed time to minister to his family and oversee the service. At first I was a little disappointed because I knew it would reduce the number of days I had to teach, but I was certainly sensitive to what the family was going through. But God was looking out for me too, severe weather dealt harsh storms and the destruction was apparent all along my path to AZ. I saw 18 wheelers on their side blown over by the wind and portions of road washed out by floods. Though rain was in the forecast, I never hit a drop the whole way there. Although it did rain one night while I was asleep in the hotel.
When I got to Hidden Springs Navajo Reservation I sensed a real heaviness (which is not uncommon for any of you who have visited a reservation) even with the employees at the hotel. I even noticed it in some of the students and others I met on the reservation.I contacted Charlyne and asked her to pray and spread the word, almost immediately I felt the heaviness lifting. The Lord gave me words to speak to my students (one in particular) that seemed to be just what they needed to hear. God is so amazing, if we are willing to open our mouth for Him, He is faithful to fill it with His love and wisdom.
My largest class during the 4 days I was there held 8 people. Most of them were 20 something’s but I had one 17 yr old, one 40 yr old, and one in his 50’s. The classes went well but were long because we had to consolidate 6 lessons into 3. I was afraid they would suffer from information overload but they all did really well. The man in his 50’s is a Native business man who wants to invest in putting video to work in the church to reach the local communities for Christ. It blessed me so much to hear his heart. Thank you God, bless him and continue to inspire him. |
Me & Students |
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It was Cinco De Mayo while I was there and because several church members have Mexican heritage the church had a potluck dinner and a little celebration for the kids. Although one of the Mexican parishioners told me that it is not really a Mexican holiday (I never knew that). It was fun to break bread with our brothers and sisters of Hidden Springs and join in the festivities, especially watching the kids go after the piñata. |
I was blessed to be able to interview Pastor Ellson Bennett and his daughter Callie (Winner of a Native American Music Award) on the subject of contextual ministry. Basically Contextual Ministry is the idea of reaching indigenous people, or anyone really, with the Gospel of Jesus Christ through media/ways that are familiar to them, within the context of their culture such as music. Much of what we do in church is according to the culture we were brought up in, God created all of our cultures and there are signs of Him in every one of them. As pastor Bennett pointed out in his interview, “Culture should not be confused with Race. Two people can be of the same ethnicity but because of being raised under different circumstances not have the same culture.” |
Callie & Ellson |
And last but certainly not least I had the opportunity to record an interpretive dance by China Bennett performed to one of the songs from her sister’s latest album. China has a ministry there on the Reservation teaching young people interpretive dance. It is an awesome tool to reach into the lives of these children with the love of God and inspire them to express themselves.
Ed Slonchka joined me on the reservation on the 5th and spent the next several days scouting out practical helps projects that could be future outreach into the area for a group of hard workers. He and Ellson discussed several possibilities. Ed also was a great help during the dance videotaping. He is an awesome “Grip” for those of you who understand film crew terminology. |
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Covenant Of Faith Church
New Mexico
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While we were in AZ and NM Oklahoma was having severe weather including tornados and flooding. By the time we got there it was all over and the weather was nice, a little chilly the first day but then it warmed up.
Not sure what it is about OK. But the devil doesn’t want me going there. Last November when I went I was hit by a car crossing the street on my way there. However the Lord’s angels were about me and I was unharmed. This year on my way I suddenly had extreme pain in my lower right abdomen. Me and the nurse at my old Dr’s office thought it could be appendicitis. When I called I was still several hours away from the Dr’s but he said, “Just come straight to the office I will wait for you to get here.”
After he examined me he believed I had an internal abdominal wall hernia and ordered a CT scan at the hospital. However the hospital could not give me the scan until the next morning. I went to where we were staying, at the YWAM base, and went to bed in terrible pain (so bad I couldn’t stand up straight). After taking 3 extra strength ibuprofen and several hours trying to go to sleep, I finally drifted off. Woke several times during the night because of the pain, but when I woke in the morning the pain was gone, I was still sore (like someone had punched me in the gut) but the ripping, tearing pain was gone.
Ed and I went to the hospital for the CT scan (making plans for how we would handle the logistics of getting me home if it was serious). After the scan we went to the Dr’s to get the results, the CT scan showed absolutely nothing. The Dr couldn’t understand it at first, but I told him that I had requested that all our prayer warriors would pray and I believed God reached in with His finger and healed me on the spot while I slept. He said that’s the only plausible explanation because he knew the pain I was in and was certain what was wrong after his examination (Dr Birdwell is a believer). Covered in prayer and therefore under His wing!
Later that day we had dinner with the leader of the YWAM base there in Oklahoma, Cindy Logan. And the following day we scouted out possible lodging for a work team that will hopefully go to Oklahoma sometime later this year or 2020. The next day Ed had to fly out so he could meet his work schedule.
 I spent the next five days videotaping Legacy Video interviews. The first was with Delores Harragarra, she is considered a historian for the Kiowa Tribe and has worked extensively with their language programs and cultural preservation. She is a retired school teacher. She was a little nervous at first, almost cancelled our appointment, but once she realized what the program was all about things went well. She just needed to know that she could trust me and that my intensions were for good and not evil. I believe that her stories will be cherished by her family for generations to come. |
The next interview was with Shirley Davilla, she is a member of the Wichita Tribal Government. She had so many good stories about her childhood, her family, and Tribal traditions and community life. We were there with several family members until pretty late at night but no one seemed to mind. I am so grateful for their hospitality and her story telling ability. Again I’m sure that some of her descendants that she may never meet are going to be blessed to hear what she shared and encouraged by her faith in our Creator.
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And a Cherry on Top. |
The Old Bridge that led to Hidden Springs
So after 21 days and almost 5,000 miles I returned to PA safely. The trip was an awesome experience watching God move at every turn. Seeing people touched by Him through each of you who prayed or contributed financially, and experiencing physical miracles in my own body. And knowing that the lives that were touched are not just the ones that we came into contact with, but generations to come will know His faithfulness. All of it made possible by your prayers and generous gifts. Thank you for your gift of love that made it possible for me to share His gift of love.
Next Newsletter We’ll tell you all about The Crow Reservation trip and new things on the horizon.
We have a new way for you to help support our ministry every day just by searching and shopping online or dining out at your favorite restaurants. We’ve registered Agape Lane Ministry with GoodSearch.com, a company that helps non-profits like ours raise funds through the everyday actions of our supporters. Every time you use a Good Search service, they donate to the non-profit you’ve designated.
You can start using it now. Just go to www.goodsearch.com and click on the link in small letters under the search text bar that says “Choose your cause” That will open a small search window where you will type in “Agape Lane Ministry” You will be transported to another window where you can register as a supporter of our ministry/cause. Then anytime you use Good Search they will donate to our ministry.
We’d like to begin building our presence on GoodSearch.com. Please join our community on GoodSearch.com and help us raise money for our mission. Get started by clicking the
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Please join us and invite a friend.
Just wanted to let you know there is another easy way that you can support Agape Lane ministry just doing the things you normally do. When you make purchases at Amazon through the Amazon Smile project. There is no extra charge to you but Amazon will donate ½ % of your purchase price to our ministry. Just click on the link below to register us as the ministry you want to support.
http://smile.amazon.com/ch/43-1957219
You can also just go to the Amazon Smile website at http://smile.amazon.com then in the search box under the "Select a Charity" area type "Agape Lane Ministry" into the search box and click the search button, then choose our ministry in Apollo, Pennsylvania as your charity. That's all there is to it. As long as your computer is set up to accept cookies every time you go to Amazon Smile it will automatically apply the donation to our account. If your computer doesn't except cookies then you will need to enter the information each time you shop.
Thanks so much,
Howard & Charlyne
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