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Vacation Bible School 2010
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The summer seems to go faster every year. (Is that a sign of getting older?)
Once again this year we had a great time with Dunedin Baptist Church from
Florida. They helped Gloria from Cedar Creek with a wonderful VBS. The kids
had a blast learning about the galaxies God created and how we need to care
for His world by going green! He appointed us stewards of the earth.
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Group Worship |
Sidewalk chalk was a big hit with all ages |
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The little ones get a little help |
The teens didn't need it |
VBS is such an important time for kids from this area. They get to come
together as one group learning through song, craft, and bible stories about
the wonderful God that created us! Relationship is so key in this culture
and the folks from Dunedin have done a great job pursuing those
relationships. As the old saying goes, “People don’t care how much you know
until they know how much you care.” The children and youth are drawn to God
because they see the love and light of Jesus shining in us.
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Bible Story: The woman at the well |
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Click here if you'd like to
see more photos of the VBS
We are excited to learn that Dunedin church has invited Pastor Gerald and
Janet to Florida to speak as part of their mission’s conference, we believe
they have much to share with those who will attend the conference. We know
all who meet them will be blessed and honored.
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This year we were
encouraged by having Mary Kate and her son, Connor come
from PA. to help Agape Lane Ministry in whatever way
possible during the month of June. It was a pleasure
getting to know them during the time they spent in our
home.
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Mary Kate was a huge help in
the office. She was able and excited to help
Howard with video work that has been piling up.
She also was Howard’s right arm for last minute
preparation, and coordination during the Sing To
The Mountain Music Festival. Connor is a great
young man and he let God mold and shape him as
he came up against some hard experiences that
helped him grow in Jesus. I personally believe
as a ten year old he allowed God to use him and
mold him in many ways, more so than we adults do
at times.
Mary Kate encouraged the two of us by
bringing fresh excitement about doing what God
has called you to do. She is about to launch her
own ministry in PGH. PA. called The Road
Ministry. I believe she is allowing God to use
her as a vessel to do what is on His heart. She
was very teachable with a huge heart to serve.
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We love you Mary
Kate and Connor
Thank you for all your help.
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Sing to the Mountains |
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In June Broken Walls and Camp Y’shua hosted the first
all Native American Artist music festival. Musicians from Canada and
different parts of the USA joined together to bring Native American
freedom in Worship. You can go to the Broken Walls blog to read a
testimony about the event.
http://singtothemountainsmusicfestival.blogspot.com/
I personally spent my time picking folks up from the
airport along with other volunteers. Howard organized the housing for
the artist and played a huge role in being a bridge between the non
Native’s who were serving with all their hearts, and the Natives who
were participating in the festival. We are always amazed at how two
cultures coming together with the same mind can be such a great
blessing. But, as pleasing as it is to our Farther God; it is that
unpleasing to the enemy. The enemy uses our ignorance of each other’s
culture to “try” and bring division. Nothing new, he is always out to
steal, kill, and destroy. I am so grateful to the Father for equipping
Howard with such wisdom into both cultures and anointing him to be a
bridge.
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As you can see by the photo’s Camp Y’Shua is a
beautiful place, one of the most beautiful in Oklahoma, but not
the easiest place to find even with directions. But we still had
Native Americans and Non-Natives from all over the US and Canada
come to the Festival. We were blessed to see numerous members
from a church in Texas that Howard had invited make the trip.
Donald Hunting Horse, a well known Kiowa Elder, opened the event
by welcoming Jonathan and the rest of the artists; and blessing
the festival with an opening prayer.
The majority of the artists composed
contemporary Christian Music, some with a Native influence
strongly apparent. Others were Native Christian Drum groups who
had composed or sang historic Christian songs composed by their
ancestors. The idea of the festival was to come |
Donald Hunting Horse & Brian Brightcloud |
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three days as the children of God, despite your race or
denomination, to worship the Creator God together. |
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were disappointed by the lack of participation by the Native
Americans right here in Oklahoma. Most of the crowd came from
other states. All those we got a chance to talk with afterwards
said how blessed they were, and excited in anticipation of
another Music Festival next year. We pray the locals will
participate next year and receive the blessing too.
To see
more photos click here |
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BUT GOD! |
Below is a testimony from a Native American woman who lives in Oklahoma. I
asked her to write down what she had shared with me to publish in this
Newsletter. This is to Give God the Glory He deserves. I want people to hear
how God is at work in the lives of Native people with or without our help.
She did not attend the Music Festival. What you read in her testimony is all
God at work on the hearts of His people who are humble enough to trust Him!
It takes place at the annual 4th of July Kiowa Gourd Clan Celebration.
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Janet’s testimony |
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times has come. God is going to empower me to speak the
language of this culture to those outside the church.
They won’t come to the church, so God is using whosoever
is willing to go out into this land to speak to the
people. Doors are opening. Our ministry is bigger than
what we think. Our gifting is bigger than what we think.
The 4th of July Celebration
On Saturday evening I sat behind the gourd dancers with
my cousin. She danced and I watched. She wanted me to
dance but I said no. It felt strange to sit that close.
I usually sit outside the dance arena. At first I felt
uneasy. I asked the Lord what am I doing sitting this
close? I shouldn’t be here. I should be sitting with my
Aunt and sisters outside the dance arena. But even if I
wanted to, I felt as though I couldn’t move.
It’s hard to explain the inner
turmoil I was experiencing at that time. A part of me
felt like I belonged there and then a part of me was
afraid. All kinds of thoughts were going through my
mind. What is the Lord thinking about me and what would
Gerald and others I fellowship with think. What I do
reflects on Gerald and the ministry God called us into.
I asked, is it okay Lord? He said, whatever you do, do
it as unto Me.
So I talked with my Dad about
it and he and others encouraged me and reminded me, God
gave us this culture to worship Him in a dance and to
look for opportunities to witness for Him. Don’t be
ashamed or afraid, He wants us to enjoy it. But always
keep Him first in all things and never put it before
Him. That helped me a lot and I sensed God was talking
to me through them.
My nephews, Phillip A. and
Nathan G. were going to dance Sunday evening and I told
Nathan I wished your mom was here to dance behind you.
He asked me to dance in her place I accepted without a
second thought. On Sunday evening of the celebration
after the processional of all the dancers my aunt told
me to come and dance. I did and I thought I was going to
dance beside her and my cousin, she told me to dance in
between my brother and my nephew, Nathan. I was out in
front and I was nervous and sweating, I never thought
I’d be inside the dance arena. I watched the main Leader
and stayed in step. It felt good to dance. I was
praising God as I danced and for giving us this dance
and culture. My brother who hasn’t danced in years said
it felt good to him. It was like a calling from the
depth of our being. It felt like it has always been a
part of us. I was dancing before the Lord.
After a few days a spirit of
condemnation and guilt attacked me. I didn’t know if I
was going to make it through. But God knew I would, I
just didn’t know at the time. I felt I let God down. I
felt so condemned and ashamed for participating in the
celebration. I felt my husband was disappointed in me
and I disgraced him, and the ministry because of what I
had done. I kept asking for forgiveness from the Lord. I
talked to my husband but he said he didn’t say anything
because I was going to do what I wanted to do. I felt
even worse after that. I regretted deeply for dancing at
the celebration. I felt condemned, defiled, dirty and
unclean. So unworthy to look up and ask for help. I
cried and cried.
But the Lord encouraged me, He
said that’s how they who call themselves my people, have
made them feel, in my name. I said what? I am showing
you what’s in your heart. Look what they (my people)
have come to believe. I gave you this culture to bless
me and others. Lord I was taught it was evil and wrong
and that it was of the devil and I believed them. Lord I
am so sorry; forgive me for making them feel this
condemnation from hell. Forgive me Lord. Change me in my
heart I don’t want this man made teaching to rule me
anymore it’s not from You. It never was. I am so sorry
for believing this lie from the enemy. Use me Lord to
reach out to Your people and to share Jesus with them.
A-ho, Daw Ky’ee, (Thank you, Son of God)
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Family time! |
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After the festival Howard and I
were exhausted so we were ready for some time
with our family. Howard’s youngest sister, Carol
and her husband Ray, spent a few days with us on
the way home from their vacation. It rained
almost the whole time they were here. So we
spent most of the time sitting on the front
porch visiting. This was good R&R. We did get to
make one trip to the Kiowa Powwow in Carnegie.
In Ray’s words, in reference to the Powwow “This
is like a big family reunion.” I thought, “Your
right I never thought of it like that but it
is.” |
Our grandson came to visit us again for two weeks. He
is growing up to be such a polite and inquisitive young
man. I jump up and down inside with excitement every
time he asks us a spiritual question. It reminds me how
God is at work to reveal Himself to mankind. We are so
grateful to God for every moment we spend with Tyler,
even though his energy is limitless.
We also had the long awaited blessing to visit our
old friend and intercessor, Mary Jo. We have been
friends with Mary Jo since God connected our hearts on
the Rosebud Reservation many moons ago. She now resides
in her home state of Missouri. Mary Jo has been fighting
the fight of her life, with cancer. Although she spent
two weeks in a comma during the spring she now is on the
road to healing. Though our time was extremely short
(one full day two nights) we are so grateful to have
been able to visit with her and remind her how dear she
is to our hearts. Her home was a blessing to us, she has
an upstairs room and God’s presence resides in her whole
home. Kind of like the women who housed the prophet. It
is amazing the people God has knitted our hearts
together with. We are so blessed, God has given us a
marvelous family! |
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