Two Native Ministries Share in God's Word

Lutheran Indian Ministries staff, Tim Norton (missionary and vicar at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church in Navajo, New Mexico) and Clarence De Lude III (missionary-at-large in O’ahu, Hawaii), recently attended a Best Practices in Ministry Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. “There were around 1,500 people there and all very mission-oriented,” says Tim, adding, “We enjoyed the large discussion groups and meeting a number of friends in ministry. We also visited with fellow students and faculty from the Cross-Cultural Ministry Center (CMC).”

Pictured with Clarence (left) and Tim (second to left) are Rev. Dr. David Kim (alumni and faculty), Rev. Jim Gwaltney, Rev. Sean Pica, Jacob Boessling and Rev. Mark Siegert (CMC program coordinator).

While Clarence was in Arizona for the conference, he visited with our Navajo friends at Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church and preached on Sunday, March 1, and led them in Bible study.

Navajo members Louise Lee, David Lee Jr. and Debbie Etsitty were greatly encouraged by Clarence’s presence and sermon. Eager to express their gratitude, they recently shared their reactions on Facebook:

Louise wrote: “I love my new son, Clarence, from Hawaii!”

David wrote: “’God thirsts for us and we thirst for Him.’ Thank you for the Word, Clarence, my brother from Hawaii!”

Debbie added: “[Clarence] gave a good sermon today and greeted us with a very beautiful Hawaiian Love chant his great aunt would sing to them. It was very beautiful to hear the Hawaiian language. I have always heard great stories about him. It was an honor to meet him in person.”

It is exciting to see our Lutheran Indian Ministries staff apply what they learn in their theological studies and share in cross-cultural Native ministry. To God be the glory!

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