Save people serve people--Native New Life church develops more leaders for Christ

This month I received an update from Arnold & Bessie Betoney serving with Native New Life Church in the Southwest USA helping Native American churches grow.  Grace Church partners with the Betoney's to assist in developing leaders among Native American church planters.   

The Betoney's are making a transition from the city (Albuquerque, NM) back to the reservation (Red Lake, AZ). The purpose of Native New Life Church is to develop more followers of Jesus Christ and to nurture young Navajo church leaders.  This move offers them more direct availability to the numerous emerging young Native American pastors leading churches in Arizona and New Mexico.  

Elephants Feet Rock Formation near Red Lake, AZ

In addition, Arnold leverages his training in counseling to help guide Native Americans and other people to choose Christ as they struggle to recover from substance abuse. Pastor Arnold teaches counseling classes and leads a 90-day program at the Christian Discipleship Center in Cortez, CO.  

Would you please pray with them right now? Offer a short prayer for one of their requests. 

Please pray for the Betoney's:

• Ask God to help their transition from Albuquerque to Red Lake.
• Ask  the Holy Spirit to facilitate the healing from substance abuse experienced by Native Americans and their families
• Ask the Lord to give great health to the Betoney family
• Ask God to encourage Arnold and Bessie as they develop fully devoted followers of Christ.

If you'd like more information about praying or giving, then please contact Arrnold Betoney via email at abetoney@juno.com to receive their updates. Or visit Arnold's Facebook page. 

   

My Heroes: Navajo Rug Weavers

Traditional Navajo Loom

In honor of International Day of the World's Indigenous People (Aug 9), I want to send a shout-out to my clan-relative Bessie Betoney and master rug weaver, Roy Kady.  Both artists are Navajo rug weavers and teach others the craft of weaving too; while preserving and advancing Navajo culture to others.

I laud their efforts to showcase Navajo rug making and to perpetuate the craft, one class at a time. On her own, Bessie teaches ladies how to weave as part of her lifestyle and ministry in Native New Life Church. It may take hours, weeks, and months of weaving, undoing, and re-weaving. But Bessie helps each person complete their small rug.

Roy is a master weaver teaching in places all over the world. He practices his craft and shares its blessings with many others. In fact, he has conducted the 15th annual Sheep is Life Celebration this past June where the sheep and the Navajo are intertwined like warp and woof. Visit his Facebook page to view his photos from the past Sheep is Life Celebration.

My heroes for preserving and enhancing our Navajo culture are Bessie Betoney & Roy Kady Three cheers to you both on the International Day of the World's Indigenous Peoples!

Bessie & Arnold Betoney

Roy Kady