NEW ORLEANS (BP) – FoNAC, the Fellowship of Native American Christians, met Monday, June 12, at the New Orleans Convention Center, with attendance boosted by people who had talked with FoNAC members in the “All Nations” booth area in the exhibit hall.
“I was encouraged by that,” Executive Director Gary Hawkins told Baptist Press. “They were people who wanted to learn more about ministry with Native Americans.”
In his expansive report, Hawkins spoke of how Native people “balance life in two worlds.” Most have been assimilated into the “dominant culture,” with resulting loss of identification with their own culture, traditions and language. In some states with a sizable Native population, such as South Dakota, Montana, Arizona and New Mexico, more than 30 percent of them live below the poverty level.
“Indigenous peoples of North America experience a higher percentage rate, per capita, of unemployment, domestic violence, sexual assault, alcoholism, drug addiction and suicide – to name just some of the ills – all of which contribute to a sense of hopelessness,” Hawkins told his listeners.
“Absolute essentials for effective ministry among Indigenous people, and for that matter, all people, are developing culturally relevant, biblically sound materials for evangelism, disciple-making and church planting, because every culture is challenged by the Word of God,” Hawkins said. “For us, this means empowering Native Peoples of North America. We want materials that speak to the heart of our people.”
In process are culturally-relevant adaptations of “The Hope,” an 80-minute film “of God’s epic story of redemption as revealed in the Bible, from creation through the promised return of Christ,” according to the Mars Hill Production’s website.
School to the Nations, a Missouri nonprofit ministry founded by Randy Copeland, reached out to FoNAC for its help crafting several Native American-specific adaptations and supporting materials of “The Hope” that provide cross-cultural and missions training to equip churches to adopt the unreached.
“For us, this means if it’s focusing on the Northern Plains, there would be scenes with buffalo, and for the Navajo, scenes of those red rock landscapes seen in so many Western films,” Hawkins said. “We’re not just trying to make videos for Native Americans, but reflective of them. Dave Wright in Canada is doing something along the same lines through Ethnos 360. I really believe it will open doors for us to be participants in these endeavors.”
Contacts developed during the pandemic, when international ministries were unable to leave the United States, are beginning to bear fruit, Hawkins told his listeners. This includes Harvesters Ministries, among others.
“Our whole thing is trying to help; we’re a network connector. Their whole focus is Indigenous and the unreached,” Hawkins said. “We don’t have deep pockets and they don’t have our connections.
“Networking has been key to the ministry of FoNAC,” the executive director continued. Hawkins went to the Onion Lake Cree Reserve in Saskatchewan, Canada, to teach last July. In March, he gave a 20-minute presentation to the National Association of Evangelicals’ board of directors, where leaders from at least 40 denominations were present. In April, Hawkins taught and preached at the Native American Awakening Conference in Albuquerque.
Also in April, FoNAC co-sponsored the Native American Disciple Makers conference led by Steven Loots of South Africa, founding director of Harvesters Ministry, which focuses on indigenous people in more than 60 nations.
“We serve as a catalyst for ministries connected with Native people in North America,” Hawkins said. “FoNAC aims to lend both voice and visibility to the 574 tribes in the United States and the 630-plus First Nations communities in Canada by initiating partnerships with individuals, churches, associations, and state conventions interested in Native ministry.”
Guest speaker was Mike Keahbone, an Oklahoma pastor who last year brought “Resolution 4” to the SBC annual meeting, which addressed the forced assimilation and conversion of Native peoples in the 1800s and 1900s. Keahbone preached on Ephesians 4, about being empowered to effect change.
“Too many times we quote Henry Blackaby” who has been frequently quoted as saying the next Great Awakening will start among Native people, Keahbone said. “It is now time for us to stand, to take a more proactive approach, to say, ‘We’re still here!’ and to get people in positions across the SBC who can effect change.”
In business, the budget remains unchanged.
Jordan Kanuho, pastor of Belvin Baptist Church in Okmulgee, Okla., continues another year as president. Josh Leadingfox, pastor of Immokalee First Seminole Baptist Church in Southwest Florida, continues as treasurer. Junior Pratt, pastor of Cushing (Oklahoma) Baptist Church, continues as assistant treasurer.
Board member Chris Webb, pastor of New Bethel Baptist Church in Clinton, N.C., recently resigned from FoNAC’s executive board. Steve Strickland, director of missions for the Burnt Swamp Baptist Association in North Carolina, was elected as the newest FoNAC board member.
“Dr. Webb is super busy, overloaded, so he stepped down from the executive board,” Hawkins said. “What a blessing it is to welcome Steve Strickland, from the same association. Burnt Swamp has been a supporter of FoNAC from its inception.”
FoNAC wants to add another board member, Hawkins said. “We want someone who will be active particularly in opening doors to the Southwest.”
A regional gathering is to take place in September in Oklahoma, with additional ones possible for the Southeastern as well as Northeastern United States.
Despite the cancellation of the Tribe of Judah dancing and singing group because of family illness, music was provided by leaders singing, in turn, in the Muskogee-Creek, Pawnee and Lumbee languages.
Karen L. Willoughby is a national correspondent for Baptist Press.
