Native American & First Nations Ministries
Current Ministries
- DONATE to Native American Ministries
- Brochure (.PDF)
- Events & Conferences
- MNA Advice on Native American/First Nations Worship and Cultural Practices -
Approved by the MNA Committee March 5, 2009 - Suggested Reading
- One Church One Tribe
Current Ministries
I saw God before me for all time.
Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope…
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
With your face shining sun-joy all around.
Acts 2:1725, 26, 28 “The Message"
Did you know…
There are over 500 Native American/First Nations tribes in North America? The Gospel of Grace has not penetrated many of these tribes. As a denomination, we have barely begun outreach to these Nations within our Nation. Among Native Americans there is a strong pull toward spirituality, and they are reaching back to their roots to find their identity and heritage. They often believe that to become a Christian means giving up their culture and their identity, and so they reject what they perceive as “The White Man’s Gospel.”
Share the “Life-Path” Vision…
MNA's hope and desire is to work with PCA churches and presbyteries in developing ministries that point these Native American/First Nations people to the “Life-Path.” Only in Christ will they find their true identity and become all that God intended them to be. He will set their feet upon the “life-path” and his face will shine “sun-joy” into their lives.
Work among Native Americans is relational. Relationships take time. We must be committed to ministry for the long haul. To be allowed into their lives we must be willing to share in their lives. We cannot just talk about the love of God, it must be demonstrated, “fleshed out” among them.
Historically, our government and its representatives have consistently broken treaties and trust with Native Americans. These people endured many atrocities, some even done in the name of the church. Why should they now accept the “religion” of these “whites” who have never kept their word? Walls of anger, hurt, and deception must be broken down and replaced with trust, love, and acceptance. Again, this takes time.
Discipleship is key. There is a great need for development of materials for discipleship training and the teaching of the doctrines of grace in a non-traditional format, easily grasped in Native American cultural context. Native American men need encouragement in their preparation to become leaders and pastors in their communities.
So, what should Native American churches and ministries serving the Native American community look like?
We don’t know. We do know they won’t be typical! They should rise up from the culture and reflect the community. They must be culturally relevant. We need to resist the urge to impose our cultural context upon any Tribe, and allow the truth of Scripture alone to guide the shape of each church, for church is not a building, but a Body of Believers that God has brought to Himself.
How does the Life-Path vision become reality? One step at a time …
MNA’s initial goal is to increase the awareness of our presbyteries and churches of the potential and challenges that await us in ministry to Native Americans/First Nations.
We hope to facilitate and encourage the development of seminars and curriculum to offer training in this kind of cross-cultural ministry for use in churches, colleges, and seminaries.
We will aim to find ways to help meet the need for development of materials for discipleship training and the teaching of the doctrines of grace in a non-traditional format, easily grasped in Native American cultural context.
Churches and men and women in our churches will catch the vision and begin to reach out to Native American/First Nations communities across this continent…one person at a time.
How can you be involved?
Pray!
There is no way this can be overemphasized, for in prayer the battle is fought and won.
To devote ourselves full-time to the development of this ministry we will need your financial support. If God stirs your heart to be involved in this way, give what He asks you to give.
We hope that you will be moved by God’s Spirit to partner with us in this exciting venture. It will take the Body of Christ working together in harmony to enter this battlefield and see the victory of many Native American and First Nations people walking the “Life-Path” for His glory and by His grace!
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to this ministry online. You can also mail contributions, made payable to Mission to North America, to:
Mission to North America
1700 North Brown Rd., Suite 101
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8122
Designate: Native American/First Nations Ministries
For additional information, contact Bruce Farrant:
Cell: (865) 292-3098
Office/Home: 865-980-6420
Email: bfarrant@pcanet.org
Bruce Farrant
Native American/First Nations Ministries Coordinator
Nothing can shake me; he’s right by my side.
I’m glad from the inside out, ecstatic;
I’ve pitched my tent in the land of hope…
You’ve got my feet on the life-path,
With your face shining sun-joy all around.
Acts 2:1725, 26, 28 “The Message"
Greetings!
Did you know…There are over 500 Native American/First Nations tribes in North America? The Gospel of Grace has not penetrated many of these tribes. As a denomination, we have barely begun outreach to these Nations within our Nation. Among Native Americans there is a strong pull toward spirituality, and they are reaching back to their roots to find their identity and heritage. They often believe that to become a Christian means giving up their culture and their identity, and so they reject what they perceive as “The White Man’s Gospel.”
Share the “Life-Path” Vision…
MNA's hope and desire is to work with PCA churches and presbyteries in developing ministries that point these Native American/First Nations people to the “Life-Path.” Only in Christ will they find their true identity and become all that God intended them to be. He will set their feet upon the “life-path” and his face will shine “sun-joy” into their lives.
Work among Native Americans is relational. Relationships take time. We must be committed to ministry for the long haul. To be allowed into their lives we must be willing to share in their lives. We cannot just talk about the love of God, it must be demonstrated, “fleshed out” among them.
Historically, our government and its representatives have consistently broken treaties and trust with Native Americans. These people endured many atrocities, some even done in the name of the church. Why should they now accept the “religion” of these “whites” who have never kept their word? Walls of anger, hurt, and deception must be broken down and replaced with trust, love, and acceptance. Again, this takes time.
Discipleship is key. There is a great need for development of materials for discipleship training and the teaching of the doctrines of grace in a non-traditional format, easily grasped in Native American cultural context. Native American men need encouragement in their preparation to become leaders and pastors in their communities.
So, what should Native American churches and ministries serving the Native American community look like?
We don’t know. We do know they won’t be typical! They should rise up from the culture and reflect the community. They must be culturally relevant. We need to resist the urge to impose our cultural context upon any Tribe, and allow the truth of Scripture alone to guide the shape of each church, for church is not a building, but a Body of Believers that God has brought to Himself.
How does the Life-Path vision become reality? One step at a time …
MNA’s initial goal is to increase the awareness of our presbyteries and churches of the potential and challenges that await us in ministry to Native Americans/First Nations.
We hope to facilitate and encourage the development of seminars and curriculum to offer training in this kind of cross-cultural ministry for use in churches, colleges, and seminaries.
We will aim to find ways to help meet the need for development of materials for discipleship training and the teaching of the doctrines of grace in a non-traditional format, easily grasped in Native American cultural context.
Churches and men and women in our churches will catch the vision and begin to reach out to Native American/First Nations communities across this continent…one person at a time.
How can you be involved?
Pray!
There is no way this can be overemphasized, for in prayer the battle is fought and won.
- Pray for these Nations. Pray for specific tribes.
- Pray for the PCA—that we will catch the “Life-Path” vision.
- Pray that God will call out men and women to bring this vision to life.
- Pray for MNA as we seek to break new ground, that God will lead and provide what is needed to transform the vision into reality.
- Pray that all of us will stay committed for the long haul in this ministry outreach.
- Pray that the King and His Kingdom will come to these Nations
To devote ourselves full-time to the development of this ministry we will need your financial support. If God stirs your heart to be involved in this way, give what He asks you to give.
We hope that you will be moved by God’s Spirit to partner with us in this exciting venture. It will take the Body of Christ working together in harmony to enter this battlefield and see the victory of many Native American and First Nations people walking the “Life-Path” for His glory and by His grace!
You can make a tax-deductible contribution to this ministry online. You can also mail contributions, made payable to Mission to North America, to:
Mission to North America
1700 North Brown Rd., Suite 101
Lawrenceville, GA 30043-8122
Designate: Native American/First Nations Ministries
For additional information, contact Bruce Farrant:
Cell: (865) 292-3098
Office/Home: 865-980-6420
Email: bfarrant@pcanet.org
Bruce Farrant
Native American/First Nations Ministries Coordinator
Native American/First Nations Ministries is supported primarily by designated contributions from PCA individuals and churches. Will you prayerfully consider giving a gift today? To DONATE, please click here.
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