A Decade Celebration- Oklahoma (NAM)

Celebrating A Decade of Friendship and Ministry with the Native Americans In Oklahoma
It is a difficult thing to explain to someone who has never experienced the feeling of sharing the gospel and your life with someone who needs it. It is difficult to explain how we not only transform other people’s lives, but we can see a transformation in our own lives. But it easy to see the joy in the volunteers who spend time organizing and conducting the camp with the Native America Indian.

The Camp with the Native Americans in Broken Bow, Oklahoma conducted from June 4th to the 8th marked the 10 anniversary of the joint ministry between the Native Americans and the Mar Thoma Church. For the past decade the Mar Thoma Church has been working with the Native Americans in Oklahoma, preaching the word of the Lord, conducting camps, and leading rallies. This has lead to the formation of friendships that has endured over several years and over hundreds of miles. That is why so many of the people who volunteered to help at the camp this year, had volunteered for previous camps with the Native Americans.

The people who came to minister at the camp, were people of all ages and from all over the diocese. The volunteers came to minister to others by teaching them the Love of Jesus, but most of the volunteers left feeling blessed because they came to the camp. They leave desiring to return again next year. The volunteers ministered to children and youths of all ages. Most of these children stayed in simple cabins for the whole camp. Many of them came from broken homes, and difficult childhoods.

The participants came to the camp looking for people to care about them, looking for some good food to eat, and looking for a chance to show others that they have skills, talents and abilities. They come looking for encouragement and hope for the future. They come looking for a friend to share with.

At the camp, the volunteers tried to address these needs. With the theme “Adventures on Promise Island,” the participants were divided into groups based on their age. Each participant was provided with a bible that they could keep, and taught lessons about the love of God and our responsibility to others.
The volunteers lead singing sessions, conducted bible classes, provided items for craft sessions, performed skits, lead worship sessions for the whole group, helped prepare and serve the food, and some even stayed in the cabins for the whole camp with the participants. All the volunteers tried to provide love and fellowship to all the participants who came to the camp, making it a blessing for everyone.

All the people who volunteered put a lot of time and effort to make the camp successful.Their acts of compassion and Christian love have had a great impact on the lives of numerous people and will always be remembered by God.
For God is not unjust; he will not overlook your work and the love that you showed for his sake in serving the saints, as you still do. – Hebrew 6:10
Let us pray that the Lord Bless our works so that the Native American Mission Field will bear even more fruit, among the Native Americans and among us.
Rev. Shibi M Abraham
Oklahoma