Dear Friends,

The last couple of months have been hectic here on the reservations. Every church has a Christmas program for the community. At the Hollywood Reservation we are no exception. This year we formed an adult and children’s choir, with a nativity scene and hay strewn all around all around the platform. Over a hundred came; however I think our people were more blessed through the practices and performance than were those who came to watch.  We also just completed our twelfth annual Winter Bible Conference. Our theme was “Growing Strong in Christ.” The teacher was Huron Claus, a Kiowa/Mohawk Indian from Phoenix Arizona. We certainly feasted on the Word of God. The theme of the conference was based on a Sunday School campaign we are also having, “Getting in S.H.A.P.E. at Sunday School.” The lessons are based on each of the letters in the word S.H.A.P.E.

 

Our Saturday night meetings for recovered alcohol and drug abusers are coming along nicely. The attendance has leveled off and many look forward to our meetings each week. A lady in our church has also started a Youth Meeting on Friday nights.

 

I recently told our church that I thought it was time that we start seeking a native pastor for Chickee Baptist Church. I believe the church would grow and prosper even more under native leadership. We are also praying about a youth leader. I have not resigned as Pastor of the church, but as I told our members, as soon as a native pastor could be found, I would step aside. When a new Pastor is found, we will take some time off for a furlough and then continue to work among the Seminole churches on all of the four reservations. There is a great need for teaching and developing leaders in all of our Seminole Churches. I would like to ask you to seriously pray about our search for a national pastor.

 

Thank you so much for praying for us and supporting the work of the Gospel among the Seminole Indians of Florida.

 

For Seminole souls,

Arlen J. Payne
Missionary to the Seminole Indians of South Florida
E-mail: APayne@bbfi.org

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