Every time it rained, water flowed like a river down the wall of the Yasho UMC sanctuary in Broken Bow, Oklahoma. But now, according to Kimberly McKinney, the lay missioner giving pastoral care to Yasho and a second church, Bethel Hill, the roof has been replaced and the church is dry.
“Our church is a multicultural congregation, with Choctaw, Cherokee, African American and Caucasian of all ages attending. We sing our tribal hymns and use the United Methodist Hymnal too,” McKinney said. “We are a small congregation, but we pay our apportionments, keep church open every Sunday and Wednesday night for services, and we continue to keep our clothing pantry open once a month, free to anyone in need. We make a big impact in our community.”
In 2020, Global Ministries therefore designated a significant portion of Native American Ministries Sunday funds for repair and reconstruction of Indigenous worship spaces.
Your gifts on Native American Ministries Sunday helps support the ministries of the Committee on Native American Ministries in their annual conferences. This offering serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society.
In addition to the need for a new roof for the sanctuary and the fellowship hall, Yasho needed to replace a covered walkway used by seniors and others who need assistance entering the building.
This congregation also has historic roots dating back to the Trail of Tears. McKinney said the name of the church comes from the Choctaw word yashau, meaning “big black pot.” The oldest male member of the church told her this story:
“When we were forced to move, and our ancestors walked the Trail of Tears, there was a man who carried this big black pot. Every stop he would cook in it to feed the people. He would gather herbs and make medicine for those who were ill. When they made it to this area in Broken Bow, he put his black pot down and said, ‘this is where we will gather to worship the Savior.’”
When Broken Bow became a town, the church was moved to where it now stands. “Yashau is a good name,” McKinney said, “because there was healing, gathering and fellowship from that large black pot. It brought people to know Christ and His love for all.”
Given the concentration of Native American congregations in the OIMC, much of the reconstruction work takes place there. However, Native American congregations outside the OIMC have also benefited from Native American Ministry Sunday funds. For instance, St. John’s UMC in Bridgeton, New Jersey, spiritual home for a Nanticoke Lenni Lenape congregation, received funding to finish reconstruction of their church after a fire that happened years ago. In addition to providing a dedicated and safe worship place, the rebuilding project also allowed them to expand their food pantry for the community.
The goal of the grants designated for Native American church repair and reconstruction is to create safe and comfortable worship environments for churches serving Native communities and to build capacity for local churches to revitalize ministries.
excerpt from a story by Christie R. House, consultant writer and editor with Global Ministries and UMCOR.
One of six churchwide Special Sundays with offerings of The United Methodist Church, Native American Ministries Sunday serves to remind United Methodists of the gifts and contributions made by Native Americans to our society. The special offering supports Native American outreach within annual conferences and across the United States and provides seminary scholarships for Native Americans.
When you give generously on Native American Ministries Sunday, you equip seminary students who will honor and celebrate Native American culture in their ministries. You empower congregations to find fresh, new ways to minister to their communities with Christ’s love. Give now.
