I n d i a n M i n i s t r i e s

O f

N o r t h A m e r i c a , i n c .

P.O. Box 3472 Cleveland, Tennessee January 2009

Johnny Hughes, IMNA President is greeted by an excited

group of children at the Hunter’s Point Boarding School.

T here was no shortage of min-

istry opportunities during the

Christmas outreaches for the

staff and volunteers of Indian Ministries of

North America. From giving a simple meal

to the elderly, to singing carols and giving

toys to a longing child, volunteers from

various Christian denominations came

from Mississippi, Alabama, Maryland,

Tennessee, Texas, Georgia and North

Carolina to help.

The first event took place at IMNA’s

Grace Point Ministry Center in Hammon,

Oklahoma on Friday evening. Families

came to worship services and heard the

ministry of Rev. Cecil and Dawn Deel of Cleveland, Tennessee. A meal was served after

the Saturday morning service, prior to a distribution of toys and clothing to the families.

The kids were excited to get their new gifts while the adults sorted through clothing and

were able to leave with a lot of much needed items for their family. A Sunday afternoon

worship service concluded the weekend event.

The group then traveled on to Gallup, New Mexico to the Navajo Reservation. This

is the annual Christmas celebration where IMNA partners with the Southwest Indian Min-

istries to supply toys, clothing and other household items for the families. There was a lot

of work to be done. First unloading the tractor-trailer packed full of supplies to be distrib-

uted. Several thousand dollars worth of toys had to be purchased at the local Wal-Mart

with funds from supporting partners of IMNA. These were (continued on page 2)

Left: A young

Navajo girl receives

a hug from IMNA

volunteer, Pat

McCoy, Knoxville,

Tennessee.

Right: Excited kids

anxiously await their

gifts from volunteer,

Tim Stewart, Carters-

ville, Georgia.

(Continued from Page 1) Christmas: A Time of Joy

sorted by age and arranged for distribution. The climax of the week was on Saturday,

December 13, where nearly 1000 people were served at a banquet hosted by SWIM and other

area churches. The pastors and evangelists were honored and presented an assortment of gifts

and financial blessings. IMNA volunteers prepared 80 gift bags for the pastors and their fami-

lies. First aid/health supply boxes were also given to each. More than 425 children were then

blessed with Christmas gifts of toys, snacks and other personal necessities. Members of the

Navajo, Hualapai and Apache tribes were represented at the banquet.

On Friday night a youth rally was held in the capital city of the Navajo Nation, Window

Rock, Arizona, at the local Church of God. Approximately 125 people attended the event where

Stephen “The Burnin” Bush ministered and emceed the event. Also ministering in music was

Mikeless and his DJ, Two-Tone, a Navajo Christian rap artist. The evening continued with

Paradigm leading praise and worship followed by the evening speaker Mark Casto. A powerful

word from God was given by this young minister from the T. L. Lowery Global Foundation in

Cleveland, Tennessee. Several people responded to the call of God and went forward for prayer

and ministry.

Earlier in the week, IMNA volunteers were blessed when they were asked to help deliver

home meals from the St. Michael’s Senior Center in Window Rock, Arizona. Teams were able

to go to about 20 different homes and deliver meals as well as praying and ministering to the

residents. There were 150 health care kits that were dropped off at the Senior Center as well as

blankets and general household supplies. After their hard work, the group was invited to eat at

the Chapter House and sang Christmas carols with the people there.

We were also fortunate to serve the students at the Hunter’s Point Boarding School with

105 goodie bags filled with candy, school supplies, socks, a stuffed toy and more. The students

were extremely excited to see the return of IMNA Director Johnny Hughes and The Burnin

Bush at the giveaway. The true story of Christmas was shared with the students and each one

received a special hug from many of the volunteers.

The week was filled with a lot of work, but the genuine smiles and hugs from the kids

and adults, made it all worthwhile. Thanks to everyone who donated, volunteered and prayed

for these holiday outreaches. It was our working together that made a world of difference to

many children and families. They were blessed with new toys for Christmas, a coat or blanket

to stay warm, and the assurance that someone truly cares and loves them.

Above: Johnny Hughes and volunteers

pray with a Navajo youth at the rally in

Window Rock, Arizona.

Right: As worship was released, God

moved in the lives of many during

prayer time.

Above: Mark Casto ministers to one

of many who came forward for prayer

following his message on being a fore-

runner for Christ. His emphasis was

living a life that is sold out to Jesus.

Rev. Cecil Deel ministers in Oklahoma This Navajo grandmother’s smile says it all!

Allison Allen, of Church of the Lamb,

gives gifts at the Cherokee Snowbird

Christmas party in North Carolina.

I n addition to Christmas celebrations in Oklahoma and New Mexico,

IMNA also participated in giving gifts at the Snowbird Community party

in Robbinsville, NC. This Cherokee community has become one of

IMNA’s primary stops in the Cherokee area. The Church of the Lamb, under

the leadership of Pastor David Allen, has become a strong ally in reaching out

to the Cherokee community.

Toys were also distributed at the Cherokee Church of God in Chero-

kee, NC. This is the church where the fulfillment of the IMNA vision began

some 40 years ago. Rev. James A. Hughes began ministering there with his

family, before spreading to other reservations throughout the country.

Under the direction of Dimple Tillman of Eagle’s Wings ministry,

handmade stockings filled with gifts were shipped to the Flathead Reservation

in Montana. They also supplied stockings for Oklahoma and New Mexico.

The ladies from Faith Temple Ministries also prepared stockings for the

Southwest Indian Ministries. Both ministries are based in Wauchula, FL.

A Visit to Big Sky Country, Montana

During September, a group of IMNA members travelled to Montana to visit with various ministries

serving the Native people of that state. We had the privilege of blessing each with a financial honorarium

which was raised by IMNA board member Tom Swartz of Blairsville, GA. The group made a stop at the Four

Winds Ministry Center in Big Timber. Under the leadership of Ron and Kathy Countryman, this ministry is

reaching out to area reservations and focusing on ministerial leadership training for the people. Stops were

also made in Browning at a private Christian school under the leadership of Marty Balk and his family, and

then on to East Glacier where Johnny Hughes had the distinct honor of sharing the IMNA vision with the

Blackfeet congregation of New Hope Baptist Church. This church is under the leadership of Harold Under-

wood, originally from Blairsville, GA. Then a turn to the south found the group on the Flathead Reservation

where a visit to Duff and Jeannie Two Teeth was very rewarding and inspirational. Montana is beautiful ex-

ample of the creative power of our God. The breathtaking scenery is MAJESTIC and gives HIM GLORY!!

Special Needs

YOUR PRAYERS

ALSO

Large Screen Television

Ice Machine

Digital Media Projector

Letter Folding Machine

Lawn mower

Warehouse Shelves

Enclosed Trailer (12ft.)

Microphone stands

Cordless Microphones

Headset Microphone

Volunteers

Warehouse workers

Skilled laborers

Financial Support

Contributions can be

Sent to:

IMNA

(See address below left)

or

Church of God

World Missions

Project # 7530073

or

Designated Offerings at

First Baptist

Kinser Church of God

Cleveland, TN

Online

www.indianministries.org

March 27-28 Kindred Spirits Campmeeting, Blairsville, GA

April 17-18 NativeFest, Youth Gathering, Gallup, NM

July 4-11 New Mexico

July 13-17 SWIM Teen Camp, Gallup, NM

Other Summer Dates to be announced

Dec. 3-6 Grace Point Christmas, Hammon, OK

Dec. 6-12 SWIM Christmas Celebration, Gallup, NM

If you are interested in participating with an IMNA mission project, or would

like to have a representative share with your church or organization, contact

our office at the information listed below.

Indian Ministries of North America, Inc.Indian Ministries of North America, Inc.

P.O. Box 3472P.O. Box 3472

Cleveland, Tennessee 37320Cleveland, Tennessee 37320

(423) 479(423) 479--3831 13831 1--877877--664664--IMNAIMNA

www.indianministries.orgwww.indianministries.org

April 17 - 18

Gallup, New Mexico

Let the River FlowLet the River FlowLet the River Flow

S ince the flow of the IMNA vision began several years ago, we

have been blessed by many tributaries flowing into the ministry.

Tributaries of people, businesses, ministries and churches, have

stepped into the flow of this river. People of many denominations that

have heard the cry of our Lord, “It is about MY KINGDOM.” It is

that Kingdom work that mandated IMNA to bring together those from

various denominational backgrounds to focus on our similarities and

win souls for Jesus Christ. A river fed by tributaries grows larger as it

travels downstream; likewise the ministry of IMNA is constantly

changing and increasing as the Lord leads and partners feed into the

flow. Just as the tributaries feeding a river, we must realize that when

we begin to operate in the flow of the Holy Spirit, we lose our individ-

ual identity and take on the identity of the main flow. IMNA is en-

deavoring to surround this flow with a circle of intercessory prayer

warriors to protect the banks of our river (vision), and to keep a steady

direction of flow in the will of God.

W here does the river flow for 2009? There are many opportunities awaiting you and anyone who

feels a calling and a burden for seeing our Native brothers

and sisters come to know the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We

have new areas of ministry coming this year. One such opportunity is

the mentoring of teens during the summer months. Traveling with

IMNA volunteers, they will experience first-hand, many ways of ful-

filling the Great Commission. Other opportunities for you to become

involved will be announced in the near future. We need you more than

ever to share the vision of IMNA, because with new ministry comes

added financial responsibility. But remember “Together We Can.”