All Things Work...

This blog site used to be a place of debate, and personal reflection on theology and faith. For the past 2 1/2 years my "free time" has been spent in ministry, planting seeds, and waiting for harvest. And most of my blogging has been reporting the slow and steady progress of The Farmington Free Methodist mission. It seems that that chapter is coming to its end. And I won't be blogging much anymore.

But I need to post the following paragraphs because I don't want them to be wasted. Just before I found out that "The Mission" was being sold and "The Ministry" was being shut down, I put together 3 special news letters. The pictures and annoucements would be the same, but the scripture reference and focus paragraph would be different. One would be sent out to the many families that participate in our events, get help from our food and clothing distribution, but do not come to church on Sunday. Another would be for the small churches on the Rez, and the area ministries that have partnered with us. The third would be for our donors, and potential doners.

Hebrews 10:24,25

What is church and why is it important? Ask 10 people and you’d probably get 10 different answers. Here at the Mission on the Bisti, church is a tiny, 50 year old chapel. It is a group of people, multi-generational and multi-cultural. It is singing songs to the creator – contemporary Christian songs, old time hymns in Navajo and English, and songs to the beat of the drum or the haunting melody of a cedar flute. It is Sunday Morning at 10:30. Studying the Bible with Pastor Art and having refreshments afterwards. It is children participating in worship and making crafts or playing Bible Bingo during the sermon. It is important because the Bible says so. It is important because the Great I Am commanded it. If you are looking for a church, where you and your family can grow in the wisdom and knowledge of the LORD, where you can learn and serve as well... we invite you – we welcome you – come to our “church” at the Mission on the Bisti – Be blessed.

1 Corinthians 12:14-20

Partnership? That’s what we are hoping for here at the Free Methodist Mission on the Bisti. We don’t have much in the way of resources, but what we have, we want to share with our Navajo neighbors and we want to reach out a hand of friendship to the other “little” churches in the area. We don’t want to “steal your sheep” but rather we want to work with you to reach the “lost sheep” that are wandering around in the darkness of sin and hopelessness. Some of our plans include a special luncheon for area pastors and ministry partners on December 12, a Saturday Seminar on Spiritual Gifts in January, and an Open House – Children’s Ministry Workshop – what is Free Methodism? event in February. You might want to tell your congregation that we have a clothing and food distribution every Tuesday from 4:30 to 5:30pm. Why not give Pastor Art a call, just to say Ya’aateh. He’d love to hear from old friends or get to know new ones!


2 Corinthians 8:1-6

Here at the Mission on the Bisti, we are all about restoration. Restoring families, restoring hope to wanderers lost in the dark, restoring relationships with reservation churches, and restoring a 7 ½ acre site that was desolate and in ill repair for many years. We are about planting seeds. Handing out treat bags and sacks of potatoes at the Shiprock Fair parade (and upcoming Holiday Parade in Farmington), distributing canned goods and warm coats on Tuesday afternoons, inviting our Navajo neighbors to eat with us, play with us, and worship with us. Our needs? Of course we need cash donations. Walmart cards come in handy too! We need tangibles such as: personal size toiletries – lotion, chap-stick, handi-wipes (no mouthwash) socks, gloves, and hats (it does get really cold here during the winter months), hard candy, little toys (brown skinned dolls are especially appreciated), kids’ books and blankets or quilts for the elderly. Mostly, really, we need your prayers! May God continue to bless us, everyone!

Well, that's that. I still can't believe this is over. After the Healthy Church Growth Seminar we went to last month, and the strategic planning meeting we had last Sunday, and the prayer vigil pastor and I were having...I really thought it was time to begin harvesting, not time to plow it all under, well - to everything there is a time...turn turn turn