2015–2017 Mission Grant: Hope and Healing to the Navajo People — Rocky Mountain District, $75,000 fully paid

Our LWML mite offerings are at work helping to bring Hope and Healing to the Navajo people in New Mexico. In April, four Lutheran Indian Ministries’ (LIM) staff, including Vicar Tim Norton, who serves at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran church in Navajo, New Mexico, attended the Beauty for Ashes (BFA) training in Anchorage, Alaska. This faith-based conference was designed to educate and train individuals on how to interact with, and respond to, those whose lives have been impacted by domestic violence, abuse and neglect.

During the conference, Vicar Norton and his wife Heidi each had opportunities to share the Gospel with individuals who were experiencing much pain due to past abuse. One grateful participant stated, “I want to know Jesus the same way you do.” We believe this training will open doors for a healing ministry among the Navajo people.

Funds are also being used for an upcoming Confirmation retreat. Navajo youth face many challenges, and recently the community lost one young man to suicide. Vicar Norton’s hope is that youth retreats will help provide a stronger connection to the body of Christ for Navajo teens so they do not to feel alone and isolated.

As the LWML reaches out to our Navajo brothers and sisters in Christ through youth camps, after school programs, Bible studies and support groups, funded by this mission grant, may they experience the love, forgiveness and power of the Holy Spirit in their lives. 

For more information about this mission grant, view the individual mission grant page here.