Dunn shares testimony of how vision became partnership
By Steve Dunn
Associational mission strategist Bethlehem and Pine Barren Baptist associations
In May 2021, Beaver Baptist Church — a Cherokee congregation in eastern Oklahoma — invited members of Bethlehem and Pine Barren Baptist associations in south Alabama to join them in building a new room and awning at their church and to be a part of revival services in both the Cherokee and English languages.
I brought some members of both associations and completed the work — adding a room and awning onto a church building — while building some forever friendships. The fellowship and construction work at Beaver Baptist could not have been better.
The Alabama and Oklahoma churches are a part of developing an intercultural partnership that has its roots in a 22-year ministry relationship between myself and Phil Lawrence, who has served with Native American churches for the past 38 years in the Dakotas and Oklahoma.
I was a pastor in Bismarck, North Dakota, in the late 1990s when I met Phil. We partnered in working with Native American churches on various Indian reservations in the Dakotas.
In 2004, I moved from Bismarck to pastor a church near the tribal land of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, near Atmore, Alabama, while Phil continued his work in Native American churches.
I had driven through the Poarch Creek tribal land many times, but in the fall of 2017, I sensed an urgency to get to know and work with the people there. Naturally I called Phil.
Soon after that, Phil drove to Alabama and met with me to begin this partnership between the two states.
Phil compiled a Native American testimony book titled “Jesus My Everything,” which we gave out to the Poarch Creek Counseling Center and to the residents of its assisted living facility.
At one point Phil commented, “Native American people are some of the most loving, caring and giving people I have ever known.”
A few months later in 2018, some leaders from Big Arbor Baptist Church (Muscogee congregation close to Eufaula, Oklahoma) visited south Alabama at my invitation to formally begin this partnership.
The pastor of Big Arbor, Roley McIntosh (Muscogee), who is also a dentist; his wife, Debbie; and member Joe McGirt were truly a blessing as this long-term journey began.
In October 2018, I took on a new role as associational mission strategist for the two associations.
Soon after, I drove to Oklahoma at the invitation of pastor McIntosh. For that trip, I brought a team from the Bethlehem Baptist Association to Oklahoma to start building some solid relationships and also to work on the MSW (Muscogee, Seminole, Wichita) Indian Baptist Association Assembly Grounds.
The Native American ladies fed everyone each day. The two groups worshipped together in the evenings with English hymns and a lot of Muscogee Creek hymns.
Over a period of two years, this two-state partnership was well on its way. In May 2020, Phil temporarily moved to South Alabama for seven months to continue to develop this partnership.
A few months later Phil’s pastor from Oklahoma, Gary Hawkins (Muscogee and Cherokee), and his wife, Paula, came to south Alabama to visit and to preach in some of the churches.
Brother Gary is the pastor of Native Stone Baptist Church in Sapulpa, Oklahoma, and also the executive director of FoNAC (Fellowship of Native American Christians).
FoNAC’s website states that its vision is “to be an integral part of developing a network of people, places and partnerships working together to see a movement of God beginning among the 574 tribes of the United States and the 634 recognized First Nations governments or bands spread across Canada, then extending to the Indigenous people around the globe.”
Brother Gary continues to encourage the partnership from both states.
The Lord taught us the absolute necessity of building relationships first.
This partnership is being guided by Paul’s heart in Romans 1:11–12 — “For I long to see you, that I may impart unto you some spiritual gift, to the end ye may be established. That is, that I may be comforted together with you by the mutual faith of you and me.” Amen!
To learn more about the Fellowship of Native American Christians, visit fonac.org.
Mission Statement of Fellowship of Native American Christians
- To serve as a ‘Catalyst’ for ministries connected with Native Americans … .
- Networking with individuals, churches, associations and state conventions to initiate partnerships for Native ministry.
- Develop resources relevant to Native culture while remaining true to the word of God.
- Identify and facilitate existing ministries that are working to develop Indigenous church planters and missions pastors.
- Work with national networks and SBC partners to assist in planting Native congregations in Send Cities.
Visit this website for more information, fonac.org/our-mission
Helping Young Widows
Ministering to young widows can be a difficult journey. It can be hard to know what to do or how to reach out. Here are just a few tips to pray and think through if you know a young widow:
- Remembrance. To be remembered is one of the most meaningful things, whether in the early days of grief or years down the road. This includes the anniversary of the hard days, the happy days, doing special things for holidays and remembering these women every single day and letting them know it.
- Commitment. Grief is a long road. Widows need constant support and commitment they can depend on. With all the changes going on in their lives, if the church can be the one physical constant, it can provide the stability necessary for healing.
- Safety. Church should be a safe place — physically and emotionally. Young widows need the church, but so often no longer know where they belong.
- Physical needs. If a church can come alongside and meet as many physical needs as they possibly can, such as mowing the lawn and bringing meals, that will free the widow mentally, emotionally and physically to take care of other things that no one else can do for her.
- Love. There are many ways to reach out and love young widows and their families, and each way shows God’s special care and love.
God will use His church to care for widows; the church just needs to seek His plan for their care.
Spring Rutland
Women’s ministry representative for the Southern Baptists of Texas Convention
(This article originally appeared in the Southern Baptist TEXAN and is edited for space.)
The act of love can positively impact and shape the life of the community in which we live.
Beck A. Taylor
President, Samford University
Two years ago before the pandemic, most Americans thought we were bulletproof in a way. The world was stunned we could be brought to our knees so fast … to realize that if everything I’ve already depended on could pull out from under me so quickly, there has to be something else.
Pastor Chris Bell
3Circle Church, Fairhope, Ala.
It’s a rare thing for a church to have this many years of history to celebrate and to be able to look back and give thanks for all the Lord has done was a joy.
Pastor Clint Landry
FBC Wetumpka, Ala. On celebrating the church’s 200th anniversary
The distance to one’s nearest church has changed almost overnight. A form of communication that was not even used by most churches before the pandemic has now reached almost half of Americans.
Scott McConnell
Executive director, Lifeway Research
Reflecting on surge in online worship during the pandemic
It is not practical to always whisk our child away from every anxiety-provoking or fearful experience. We want to teach our children to tolerate or cope with their anxiety. We want the child to understand that the emotion will come, peak and pass. … As parents, we need to express confidence that they can overcome the event when they don’t have that confidence within themselves.
Sarah Ball
Licensed social worker
pathwaysprofessional.org/blog
It is important for people to realize that faith questions surface in grief. God is not put off by our wrestling with those issues or asking those questions. When we do that, it makes our faith more personal.
Bob Terry, editor emeritus
The Alabama Baptist
We can become beacons of light and love to this dark world when we remember from where we have come.
French Harmon, president
Kentucky Baptist Foundation
From the Twitterverse
@ricklance
Pam texted me about the worship service @montgomeryfbc — She said, “Even though we are in the parking deck, it feels like the upper room. The fire at FBC could not prevent genuine worship being experienced.” …
@micahfries
A good pastor is one who is intimately aware of how broken the church is, and yet is relentlessly optimistic about her future.
@SISellers7170
The preacher who is more interested in advancing himself in his community and denomination may look good on the outside, but on the inside he is being eaten up by the Worm of Pride. The cure is nailing self to the cross.
@brocraigc
Pastored 30+ years. Been a DOM for 4 years. As a pastor, I was a member of the church I served, but [also] the leader. As a DOM, I’m in a different church almost every Sunday. All that to say, I love being a member of a local church that I can return to and count on. Belonging matters.
@jaredcwilson
They napped nearby while He was sweating blood. Still He proceeded to the cross. The longsuffering patience of Jesus is overwhelming to me.
@DianeLangberg
Traumas suggest we are worthless and do not matter. Talking tells the truth and gives dignity because the story matters as does its impact.
@michealpardue
I’m not a fan of the celebrity pastor culture prevalent in our convention. However, I’m even less of a fan of men who want to become famous by tearing down popular pastors simply for the sake of making a name for themselves.
@AlanLCross
Look to Jesus. Get to know Him for who He is. Stop trying to make the Bible fit a false understanding of history and culture and race so you can protect your way of life. Go to the cross and live. Jesus will receive you and renew your mind and give you a new heart.
@JackieHillPerry
I’m not sure why we are so heavy handed toward those who are struggling with their faith. Maybe somewhere in us, we still believe the law is better than grace. I don’t know. What I do know is that Scripture has given us a better way: Have MERCY on those who doubt (Jude 1:22).
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