We have all heard the phrase “famous last words.” Jesus left the earth in bodily form in Acts 1:9 in pretty dramatic fashion.Going up into the sky and disappearing into a cloud before everyone is about as awesome a departure as anybody can have.As he is leaving the earth, Jesus tells us what to do with it.He said, “But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”

The disciple Matthew gives his eye witness account of Jesus’ life in his gospel and ends in chapter 28 not quite at the point of Jesus leaving earth but still with some final instructions for the men he has trained.Jesus says, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."

Between these two statements, Celebration Church has been guided in our assignment to make disciples and strategically target certain areas of our planet.We financially and prayerfully support the following organizations that are making disciples in these targeted areas.

Church Planting in Isreal:          Tents of Mercy   

                                              www.tents-of-mercy.org

Local Outreach:                        House of Faith   
                                             www.hofministries.org

Church Planting in U.S.A:           Association of Related Churches   
                                              www.relatedchurches.com

World Evangelism:                    Reaching Souls International   
                                             www.reachingsoulsinternational.org

From August 2 through August 7 our youth group here at Celebration Church is going to an Indian Reservation at Smith Lake, New Mexico . This 6-day mission trip puts us in the action where we get to reach out to the Navajo children while also learning more about their people and their culture.  During our time there, we will be helping to renovate a facility that the local ministry has recently secured with a 25 lease.  We will also be conducting a day camp for the kids to teach them some daily skills that will help them in their relationship with God.

The Navajo Nation Native American Indian Reservation encompasses the land, kinship, language, religion, and the right of Navajo people to govern themselves. It extends into the states of Utah, Arizona and New Mexico, covering vast areas of pristine wilderness, majestic canyons, high mountain meadows, dry deserts, flatlands and blue skies. Diné Bikéyah, or Navajoland, is larger than 10 of the 50 states in America and home to more than a dozen national monuments, tribal parks and historical sites. Smith Lake, New Mexico is the site of our southwest rural mission trip. It is located in McKinley County and is the most populous city between Albuquerque, New Mexico and Flagstaff, Arizona and is approximately 45 minutes from Gallup, New Mexico. Gallup is sometimes called the "Indian Capital of the World", for its location in the heart of Native American lands, and the presence of Navajo, Zuni, Hopi and other tribes.

Many homes lack the modern conveniences of electricity, running water, or telephones.  The Navajo Nation has no urban centers, and most roads remain unpaved. The nation's unemployment rate is 44 percent, the median family income is $11,885, and the per capita income is $6,217. Over 56 percent of Navajos live below the poverty level—one of the highest poverty rate in the U.S., even among indigenous communities. And one of the most alarming statistics is the child poverty rate of 43% for McKinley County. While the data paints a picture of poverty and desolation, the Navajo people still have their land and most enjoy a rich cultural, spiritual, and quotidian life based on small-scale farming and ranching. These human strengths, traditional life-ways, knowledge and talents testify to the quality of the people and their tenacity for survival.

Cornerstone Ministries, Inc. (CMI), located in Smith Lake, NM, is working with Christian pastors of All Nations to improve the lives of Native Americans living on the reservation. CMI is unique in that it was formed by a Christian Native American who understands the challenges, the cultural setting and the needs experienced by those who are living and working in the Four Corners Area. CMI has secured a 25-year lease on the Smith Lake School and are developing the Cornerstone Christian Training and Resource Center. This 24,000 sq ft building is no longer used by the school system, and can be adapted to meet the needs of those in need and renovations there will be the focus of the summer mission trips.    

This is the organization that organized the trip: http://www.cityconnexx.com/  

This is the local group we will be staying with: http://www.cmiallnations.org/