2019 has been a year of blessings and challenges. In January Terry was in recovery mode from a heart attack in November. For 3 months he attended cardio rehab sessions.

After much prayer, we felt it was time to finish our work at Northport Indian Mission Church in northern Michigan and move back to Arizona to focus on the First Nations Version. Our house sold to the first couple that looked at it and gave a cash offer. And we were surprised and blessed at how quickly Creator provided a new pastor for the Northport Church, a woman who had worked with our congregation in the past and most already knew and loved her.

The previous December we were invited to attend Urbana 2018 by InterVarsity Native Ministries to serve as Elders in the Native Lounge. They ordered 500 First Nations Version to give away to students and staff. The Theme for Urbana 2018 was Revelation. Terry was able to prepare 18 chapters of Revelation ahead of time to draw some of the students into a review process with him during their break.  InterVarsity Native Ministries has adopted the FNV for use in their groups. 

Before moving to Arizona we still had some local ministry commitments to finish. As RainSong we were invited to the Lac Vieux Desert Reservation in Watersmeet Michigan--the upper peninsula in February. On the way, we stopped by the InterVarsity Cedar Camp to connect with the leadership and then made our way to the reservation where we spent a week sharing our music, storytelling and the First Nations Version with many tribal members both at the church and on the reservation. The tribe purchased both our music and the FNV for use in some of their programs.

In mid-March we moved to Arizona with the help of Jake and Shannon Walters from Traverse City who drove our Uhaul all the way. Once we settled in Terry was able to hunker down and work on the First Nations Version. We also found a little time to do some local and national ministry. 

Some of our travels also took us to: YWAM Native Ministries retreat in Montana to share the FNV and honor local elders. Vineyard Community Church in Gilbert Arizona to help lead worship and share about the FNV. Wiconi Family Camp and Sing to the Mountains Native music festival in Turner Oregon. YWAM Tribal Winds in Flagstaff Arizona in May and October. We partnered with InterVarsity Native Ministries and Cru Nations to help them connect with a local Arizona tribe, the Pima - Maricopa Indian Community for the Would Jesus Eat Frybread Conference in November. Terry was a speaker at a community conference hosted by Montana Indian Ministries and Lutheran Indian Ministries on the Fort Belknap reservation in Montana. 

Sometimes we cannot believe the incredible way the First Nations Version is touching the hearts of Native AND non-Native people across the country and beyond.  HE is able to do exceedingly abundantly over anything we could ask or think... We entered into this project with no idea if or how it would be accepted or needed. Much to our surprise and great joy many have written to let us know how it has changed their lives or to share a story about someone who received it. Churches take it with them on their mission trips and the college students keep asking for more.  We can't get this finished fast enough! 

We finished the year with about 92 percent of the drafting done and about 70 percent of the reviewing finished. We hope to be ready for print in mid-summer of 2020. InterVarsity Press has shown great interest in publishing the FNV New Testament when it is done! 

There is still time to give an end of year donation. Please prayerfully consider supporting this ministry and the FNV Project.

If you normally connect to us through US Postal Service please check that you have updated the mailing address: 

RAIN MINISTRIES  PO BOX 1082  MARICOPA  AZ   85139