Echo Spring 2023 - 25

A staggering number of these historic
boarding schools were operated
by Christian churches, so it's not
surprising that education isn't the
only thing untrusted. Joy often hears
the Diné people say, " Jesus is white
man's God. I want nothing to do with
Him. " While this is a sad statement for
Joy to hear, she isn't surprised by it.
" So many terrible things have been
done in the name of Jesus to these
people, no wonder they are turned
off to Him. "
Kellie has seen this opinion of
Christianity in her own community
as well. Rehoboth hopes to change
this attitude through a movement to
re-establish Navajo culture, helping
families find a healthy balance
between their cultural identity and
Christianity. Kellie often reminds her
students that, " You are allowed to be
Native, because that is who you are.
Jesus doesn't need to you to change
any of that, because that is who
you are. "
For Kellie and Joy, sharing the gospel
where their own cultural practices are
virtually unrecognized means they
teach by first becoming students. By
learning to understand the unique
ethnic group surrounding them, they
can introduce Christ as He would
have introduced Himself. Through
love and kindness, they can help the
Diné people build a relationship with
God while still living in harmony with
the natural world they cherish.
LBC Journey Team trips, such as
the ones Joy and Kellie joined,
help to increase cultural awareness
and teach LBC students to identify
the unique ways Christianity is
manifested across the world.
While Joy can't share Christ openly in
her public school, she regularly prays
privately for each student by name,
knowing that the love of God will
make her classroom a safe place for
many.
" Through learning so much, I have
learned that I know nothing, " Joy
said, adding that John Chapter 15 has
become her focus. " Living out here,
abiding in Jesus is the best thing I
can do for these people. ... I have
seen that my words and my actions
are powerless without prayer. "
Joy Trumbull reads to her
second-grade class on the Navajo
Reservation in New Mexico.
ECHO 25
Echo Spring 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Echo Spring 2023
