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– Jesus is Lord, yah weh yah eh,
Jesus is Lord, yah eh ah way
This probably doesn’t sound like the music in your church.
But it is authentic Christian praise and worship by Native American believers who meet weekly at Mesa View United Methodist Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Pastor Casey Church began Soaring Eagle Ministries at Mesa View UMC to help Native Americans embrace both their heritage and their Christian faith. Pastor Church knows the conflict many Native Americans face concerning Christianity and the profound rejection many experience.
“There were things in my life that I was battling with -- my Native American identity and my Christian walk,” says Pastor Church. “Why couldn’t I be both? Why couldn’t I live in both and be accepted in both?”
Despite 450 years of evangelism, less than five percent of Native Americans claim to be Christian. Pastor Church began Soaring Eagle Ministries to improve those numbers. He remembers the words of direction he received from the Lord.
“He said, ‘I made you, Native American. I didn’t make you a White person. Like Paul was called to reach out to the Gentiles, I want you to reach out to your Native American brothers and sisters because they have been in this breach of identity for so long.”
Pastor J. Bradley Bennett welcomes this unique ministry in his church.
He says, “We have a large population of Native Americans here in Albuquerque and surrounding areas. To have a ministry that speaks their language and yet speaks the language of Jesus is a very good thing.”
The Native American service at Mesa View is strangely different yet familiar. There is worship, prayer for the sick, and an offering.
Pastor Church explains that the offering is taken in this way: “You bring it from yourself, give it to the Lord, and you place it on the blanket.”
Every aspect of the Native American service is Biblically based and solid in doctrine. Pastor Church and Pastor Bennett want to extend an invitation to all the 39,500 Native Americans in Albuquerque and beyond to come and visit.
“I believe that God has called us to be faithful in ministry, but also to be effective as we can, and part of that is to do what needs to be done to reach out to the Native people,” says Pastor Church.
For your commitment to reach Native Americans with the Gospel, The 700 Club salutes you, Mesa View United Methodist Church of Albuquerque, New Mexico.
A caring friend will be there to pray with you in your time of need.
