Native American Ministries

The below entry was originally posted on August 18th, 2011. Connie desperately wanted our help with her requests for commercial cookware. Her eyes lit up with hope and relief that someone actually wanted to help her. It is not too late. Let’s get the job done for this kind lady and in the process shine a bright spotlight on All Nations Worship Center by giving these items to Sinte Gleska in the name of the church. She is not necessarily asking for new items, but they do need to be in like new condition. Please feel free to contact her in person for a list of items at either 605-856-8100 or 605-828-2929. Please contact me as well at 417-425-6653. I can raise matching funds toward your efforts of up to $100 per church or other agency. Believe me, word will spread quickly all over the Rosebud Reservation if we give this project the effort due the goodness and provision of our God.

Last summer, many team members stayed at the Sinte Gleska University in Mission, South Dakota for the outreach that Native American Ministries coordinated and conducted there in July. A kind lady by the name of Connie One Star, the University’s Environmental Director, was our hostess. Besides ministry teams, Connie also hosts wakes and other community events for large numbers of people. She makes available the university’s kitchen, including its commercial grade pots, pans, and utensils which can be quite expensive. In order to keep costs as affordable as possible for the Rosebud Reservation’s students, tuition is kept at a minimum. It has to be. Unemployment on this reservation often runs over 80%. There simply are no jobs available for these people in such an isolated part of the Country. This seriously limits the funds that she needs to do her job, and she takes a great deal of pride in it.

To make a long story short, in conjunction with All Nations Family Worship Center, we are returning her kindness by helping stock the University’s kitchen with commercial cookware that it is desperately lacking. She needs huge pots, pans, serving trays/pans, ladles, knives and just about anything one might imagine is needed for a kitchen that feeds hundreds of people at a time. We are asking you to either donate funds or cookware or both if you are so inclined. You may send them to NAM’s address. Please let us know the amount that you need receipted for tax deductions. Thank you.

It is a wonderful experience to see so many people involved in helping us reach our goal of 10,000 school backpacks for reservation children. We still have a lot of work to do, though, and there are several ways in which you can help. First, request more brochures and get involved full scale by filling as many packs as you can along with providing the $5 donation per backpack that helps pay for shipping, handling, and the events where they are distributed. Second, collect empty packs and send them to us so that we can provide them to churches and individuals as an incentive to get involved. Or, third, simply send a donation, via, the address provided on this website or by utilizing NAM’s PayPal account. Many people have done the latter and it is a huge blessing. Remember, this is not about just another handout. Helping Native American children with their education is a hand up to a life that frees them to fulfill God’s purpose for their lives.

One more thing. If you come across supplies with which to fill packs, we will accept them as well.

There is a huge demand for school backpacks on the reservation. As a matter of fact, it is our experience that if Native American families had to choose between receiving food or backpacks, they would choose the latter hands down. We have a plentiful supply of brochures upon request that explain how the program works. Our goal for 2011 is 10,000 backpacks filled with school supplies. Whether you are able to provide 1 backpack or 1,000, every one of them counts. There is information, including a down-loadable brochure, available on this website under the heading, “Getting Involved.” Let’s work together and send 10,000 Indian children to school this year with the supplies that they need in order to succeed.