Every morning, up until a month ago, I (Donnie) drive my two oldest girls to their bus stop near the Ted Gallegos Community Center on Coors Boulevard here in Albuquerque, NM. During the 15-minute drive we usually listen to the radio or put on some Spotify if the girls need some motivation to get their... Continue Reading →
A Gathering of Navajo People who are followers of the Jesus Way
ABSTRACT Since contact with missionaries of various Christian Denominations and other religions there has been an attempt to totally eradicate Navajo culture. The most recent attack on Native North American[1] culture was set against Native American and First Nations children. The last Indian War was waged against Indian children. The weapon of choice was education.... Continue Reading →
Who Doesn’t Like Kake (Alaska)?
In 2009, Renee and I, along with a few college students arrived by ferry to Kake, Alaska expecting to make a difference in the community. What we found was a very welcoming place full of people who loved to play basketball, eat good seafood, fish and have enjoyed life in one of the most beautiful... Continue Reading →
Junípero Serra – the Founding Father of California
Click here for PDF File Junípero Serra, a Roman Catholic Spanish priest and member of the Franciscan Order, is considered the founding father of California. Born on the island of Mallorca, inhabited by the Spanish, Serra left his home, Petra, at a young age to study at Palma to join the Franciscan order. Serra was... Continue Reading →
Creeper Van (Part II)
Last time I wrote about the creeper van that drove through my mom's house on the Navajo reservation a few summers ago. In 2018 a new crop of missionaries have come, but this time they brought their own van and actually came up to the door of my mom's house on the Navajo reservation. ... Continue Reading →
Creeper Van (Part 1)
I (Donnie) grew up thirty miles North of Gallup, NM on the Navajo reservation. I lived on the rez for eighteen years of my life and fled right after high school. After graduating from college, entering the workforce, and living off the rez for many years I find myself making my way back home as often... Continue Reading →
Renee on Native American Ministry
Native American ministry is uniquely different from Cru's model of ministry. For one, "Life is lived through relationships," as Mark Charles would tell us. Native American ministry is doing life within Native American communities. Donnie & Renee has been on staff for over 10 years in Cru. They started "Nations" in 2004 on the campus of... Continue Reading →
I AM FROM
People love to be known and understood. When we introduce ourselves to others, what are the informational pieces that we usually share about ourselves? Our name and our occupation are usually the first things we may share given the context. We try to place ourselves the best way we can to be understood and in... Continue Reading →
One Year Later: Dakota Access Pipeline
Sacred Stone Camp was the first site for water protectors who went to try and stop the construction of the Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL). Sacred Stone Camp is a few miles North of Cannonball, ND on the Standing Rock Sioux Reservation. The pipeline was approved to be built on land considered sacred by eight tribes... Continue Reading →
Guidelines for Native American Ministry
1. Thank the Native person and their community for being the host. Remember whose land you are on! 2. Native people don’t always want to talk about being Native. For many it sucks to be Native. It’s not always fun to talk about the violence, alcoholism, and historical trauma of Native history. 3. Native people are proud... Continue Reading →
THE TALKING CIRCLE 