Dear Friends and Supporters,
Greetings to you in the name our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We are blessed to be part of the family of God and even more than that, to be entrusted with this particular ministry calling to Native America. The Lord is moving in Native America, and we are trying to keep up with Him.
Special Thanks
We are thankful to those who were able to join us for our humble Vision Dinner. If you were unable to make it, please know that we are available to come to you in Central Florida.
Our Financial Burden
Also, since we have switched ministry assignments (not field), we have been quite busy with a lot of initial, front-end ground work and planning, but the kicker is, we are also on a sort of HMA (Home Ministry Assignment, a.k.a. furlough). All that to say is that we need to travel and raise more support for our new ministry proposals, as we continue with the projects that have already been initiated.
If you are reading this and you are a pastor, member of a missions committee, or know someone who is, please consider having us at your next missions conference. Better yet, let's have a Skype or ZOOM meeting right now.
We are in real need to raise and sustain our support. It began to drop as soon as we got to the field in Minnesota in 2017. We appreciate all those who helped us get there, but the work continues. We must press forward, especially as the Lord has clearly opened the doors for us. For all who read this, let us encourage you that these open doors are for you to pass through with us.
Prayers Answered for Native Pastors Gathering 2020
Pictured above: Rev. Huron Claus (Kiowa, Mohawk), president of CHIEF Ministries
One opportunity in particular is the Native Pastors Gathering next October 12 - 14, 2020 at the Twin Lakes Conference Center and Camp in Florence, MS. We are overjoyed with this event, especially as we saw the Lord move on our behalf with all the right people, perfect timing, and significant funds. We received nearly all the funds already for the event, but we have a little more to raise. If you prayed with us about this, then rejoice with us. It is happening!
The gathering is a two-and-a-half day event for Native pastors. We are especially targeting those who are bi-vocational, and the bonus is their wives are invited as well. We hope to give them an all-expense-paid retreat for rest, reflection, encouragement, solid biblical teaching, and an in-depth introduction to Third Millennium Ministries curriculum.
Our key note speaker is my former missions professor in seminary, Dr. Elias de Santos Medeiros (RTS Jackson). Part of what makes this event special for me is not only do I get to work with a man who was so instrumental in our journey to the mission field, but more than that is that we will be joined by another one of Dr. Medeiros' students, PCA pastor, Rev. Josh Tsavatewa (Hopi Tribe). It is amazing how the Lord weaves all of our stories together for His glory.
There is a lot of work yet to be done before the event. We have only just started. Pray we can take care of all the details leading up to this event.
Occom Discovery Center
"Discover the God who is and your place in his kingdom"
We have mentioned it before, but we are now really imploring you to beseech the Lord with fervor about the establishing of the Occom Discovery Center. This is our greatest desire and heaviest burden of our three ministry goals in Native America. We have been watching, waiting, observing, dreaming, thinking, praying, inquiring, and researching for more than ten years.The need is more pressing, the vision is more clear, and the burden has only become heavier for us. We truly believe that this what the Lord has been preparing us for all these years.
If you are familiar with Francis Schaeffer's L'Abri Fellowship, think in those terms, but specifically for Native American/First Nations Christians trying to determine their place in the Lord's kingdom and their role in the Great Commission. The Occom Discovery Center is a place to discover:
- Redeeming Grace/Common Grace
- Work/Sabbath
- Word/Deed
- Community/Solitude
- Unity/Diversity
- Spiritual Gifts/Natural Talents
- Risk/Safety
- Giving/Receiving
- Listening/Expressing
- Personal Identity/Corporate Identity
- Increasing/Decreasing
- The God who is and your place in his Kingdom
There is so much more that space will not allow for, but solid biblical and theological foundations will be laid at the discipleship and leadership development levels.
But none is this will happen unless we get established. We are in need of many things, but we first need a place. We are praying about acreage in the Southeast, preferably in Appalachia. We have put together a list of specific criteria for the location. There is simply too much to list here, but let us know if you like us to email you a copy of the Occom Discovery Center Vision Document, and we can have a conversation.
Native American Heritage Month
November is Native American Heritage Month here in the U.S. (see the latest Presidential Proclamation here). In light of Veterans Day, I would like us to recognize that per capita, Native America has given more of her sons and daughters to the military than any other people group. You can read more about that history here.
As it relates to the kingdom of God and the Great Commission, I would like to recognize Rev. Samson Occom (Mohegan, 1723 -1792), the namesake of the Occom Discovery Center. Rev. Occom was the first Native American ordained Presbyterian minister. One of his driving desires was to give the gospel to Native people and provide them with education that would enable them to live in and thrive in their rapidly changing world. He taught at the Wheelock's Indian Charity School (later renamed Moor's) for Native Americans in Lebonon, CT. Later the school was moved to New Hampshire and became Dartmouth College, which did, for a short time, provide higher education to Native people, only without Samson Occom. You can read more here.
What's on the Calendar?
April 2020 - MTW West Coast Witness Conference
July 2020 - United in Christ 2020 Conference, representing Third Millennium, Bemidji, MN
October 2020 - Native Pastors Gathering, Florence, MS
Pray for us
1. Giving is down -- Yes, it is still down. But with this new endeavor, we will need to increase our budget. Please pray as we seek the Lord on what steps to take to increase our pledged support.
2. Pray for wisdom, patience, courage, and perseverance. There always seems there is too much to do, but the Lord loves to show his power in our weakness. There is much to do. We need wisdom to prioritize and keep a good calendar.
3. Pray for us as a family. We are all back home, yet we are ever-looking to new horizons as the Lord leads us.
Ministry Prayers
Native Pastor's Retreat 2020 - We applied for special funds for this project. Please pray those who make those decisions will see the value of this event and supply us with the funds necessary to make it happen. We will also have a special account opened up for this event. Once it is open, we will let you know how you can contribute to this important ministry outreach. ANSWERED! You prayed for it. The Lord gave it.
Occom Discover Center - We need a core team for initial stages and long-term team members for the long haul. We need acreage. Do you know someone who has land? The Lord owns the cattle on a thousand hills and he owns the hills, too. Someone out there has a hill that could be offered up for this purpose. We need to get the word out. We need funds and short-term teams to help establish the campus. We are praying for the Lord to raise up missionaries to join us.
How can we pray for you? We would be honored to pray for you. Please let us know how we can pray.
All for the Kingdom!
Patrick & Regina
Patrick & Regina Lennox #14241
Phone: (407) 416-1482
Email: lennoxletters@gmail.com
Blog: www.lennoxletters.com
Skype: lennoxclan5
Facebook: Facebook.com/patrick.r.lennox
Twitter: @PatrickLennox
Instagram: /Patrick_LennoxLetters
#PrayForNativeAmerica
Feed My Sheep
Native Pastors Gathering 2020
Twin Lakes Conference Center
Florence, MS
October 12-15, 2020
The Kingdom of God is advancing in Indian Country, but with the highest rates of suicide, domestic and sexual abuse, drug and alcohol addiction, and poverty in the country, the battles are hard-won and relentless.
Native American pastors need rest, refreshment, reflection, encouragement, and solid biblical and theological training to be able to serve the sheep entrusted to their care. Recognizing this need, MTW, through the efforts of IMnA, in collaboration with CHIEF Ministries and Third Millennium Ministries is hosting the Native Pastors Gathering 2020.
Our theme and title of this event is Feed My Sheep, calling attention to Jesus’ command to Peter to feed the flock of God. But for so many Native pastors, lack of time and resources combined with the tyranny of the urgent, adversely prohibit adequate attention to the study and application of Scripture.
Shepherds feed the sheep, but who feeds the shepherds? For three days, Native pastors and their wives from the U.S. and Canada will gather at the Twin Lakes Conference Center in Florence, MS, to receive rest, refreshment, and resources to better feed their flocks.
We are offering an all-expense paid retreat experience, including transportation costs for those who cannot afford the expense. Please consider supporting this important event. Checks are payable to:
MTW
P.O. Box 744165
Atlanta, GA 30374-4165
Or online: www.MTW.org
Ref: Native Pastors Gathering, Americas – North Project #99971 (This # may change. Please inform us if you decide to give to the project).
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