FIRST NATION MINISTRIES, INC.

P.O. Box 30055 Portland, OR 97294

Phone: (503) 408-2391 Fax: (503) 256-8560

Issue 14               Visits No. 44-45-46-47-48-49-50

(The response to poetry in our newsletters has been overwhelming. This poem was sent in by Bro. Duke McCluskey. Hope you enjoy it!)

THE MIRACLE OF DREAMS

That night when in Judean skies the mystic star dispensed it’s light,

A blind man moved within his sleep, and dreamed that he had sight!

That night when shepherds heard the song of hosts angelic choiring near,

A deaf man stirred in slumber’s spell and dreamed that he could hear!

That night when in the cattle stall slept child and mother cheek by jowl,

A cripple turned his twisted limbs, and dreamed that he was whole!

That night when o’er the newborn babe the tender Mary rose to lean,

A loathsome leper smiled in sleep, and dreamed that he was clean!

That night when to the mother’s breast the little King was held secure,

A harlot slept a happy sleep, and dreamed that she was pure!

That night when in the manger lay the Sanctified who came to save

A man moved in the sleep of death, and dreamed there was no grave!

-Susie Best-

A CHRISTIAN TEEN TODAY

Now I sit me down in school where praying is against the rule,

For this great nation under God finds mention of Him very odd.

If Scripture now the class recites, it violates the Bill of Rights

And anytime my head I bow becomes a federal matter now.

Our hair can be purple, orange, or green, that’s no offence; it’s freedom’s scene-

The law’s specific, the law’s precise, prayers spoken aloud are a serious vice.

Praying in a public hall might offend someone with no faith at all,

In silence alone we must meditate, God’s name is prohibited by the state.

We’re allowed to cuss and dress like freaks and pierce our noses, tongues, and cheeks

They’ve outlawed guns, but FIRST the Bible, to quote the Good Book makes me liable.

We can elect a pregnant Senior Queen and the "unwed daddy" our Senior King,

It’s "inappropriate" to teach right from wrong, we’re taught such "judgments" do not belong.

We can get our condoms and birth controls, study witchcraft, vampires, and totem poles

But the Ten Commandments are not allowed; no word of God must reach this crowd.

It’s scary here I must confess, when chaos reigns, the school’s a mess,

So Lord this silent plea I make: should I be shot, my soul please take! Amen.

(This poem was posted on the bulletin board of an Arizona Public School. It was written by a teen.)

MISSION VISITS No. 44, 45, 46

Early Saturday morning, September 27th, Marv Boettcher and Dave Gowan took the ‘99 Western Star truck and the ‘95 forty-eight foot trailer with its load of vehicles, office equipment, and food and headed for Montana. They ministered at Northwest Indian Bible School at Alberton and on the Blackfeet Reservation at East Glacier and Browning. They met up with Bob King, Don Cline, and Leon Hansen who had left the day before with the Dodge Diesel and the 14’ van trailer with its full load. What a joy to join the worship at the school on Sunday.

Mission VISITS No. 44, 45, 46 (cont.)

Early Monday, Sept 28th, we were in East Glacier and Browning on the Blackfeet Reservation. Our Indian brother, Rev. Gordon Monroe, has been our point man for many years and has been a great blessing in helping make our efforts effective. It was a real joy to give Brother Ernest Whitford the Chevy Nova as his car was totaled from hitting a deer and rolling over. His son, Fred, is Karen Jim Whitford’s husband at the Celilo Indian Village in Oregon. Fred was along with his dad in the accident and both were seriously injured. We are so happy for God’s mercy in sparing their lives, and that we can be a part of their ministry for the lord.

                             Gordon Monroe ministers at Browning                                      Last of the big load

MISSION VISITS No. 47, 48, 49, 50

This team and the pick-up had already visited the Rocky Mountain Mission Society at Ravalli and were blessed by Bro. Lee Wraith’s report of victory and appreciation for help given by First Nation Ministries. Added to this, the visit to Sister Bernadine Lovell and her outreach ministry at St. Ignatius caused our cup to overflow. Then both teams visited Browning, Montana on the Blackfeet Reservation. The gift of a nice ‘77 Chevy Nova brought smiles and tears of joy to Indian minister Ernest Whitford’s eyes. His accident with a deer rolled his car over three times making it a total loss. His serious injuries are healing nicely as are those of his son, Fred Whitford of Celilo, Oregon, who also received a vehicle from First Nation Ministries.

MISSION VISITS No. 47, 48, 49, 50 (cont.)

What a joy and privilege to be helpers to the wonderful servants of the Lord that God has put to work on Indian reservations. Neighbor, God has placed some of His choice servants on these hard, hard mission fields. The churches of our land have done a far better job on foreign fields that right here in our own back yard, yet these consecrated, loyal servants faithfully take the good news of the glorious Gospel to those who still sit in spiritual darkness. We praise God for the open doors to us on the Flathead and Blackfeet Reservations, both of which are in Western Montana within 600 miles of First Nation Ministries’ headquarters in Portland, Oregon. We thank you, Teammates, for your prayers and support.