Greetings from British Columbia...we trust this finds you well.

We are in a time of Ministry Partner Development (i.e. support-raising).

We’ve been working full-time in missions since 1995 and overall our sup-
port has been good. However, these last couple of years have been chal-
lenging with the global economic recession and changes in donor demo-
graphics.

Pillars

Previously, most mission staff could rely on a number of larger “pillars” to

give them capacity to carry out ministry. Pillars represent larger dona-
tions and fewer supporters funding a ministry. These pillars were often
larger church budgets and older generation Christians with financial ca-
pacity and stability. If connected to these networks, support was attain-
able. However, when a number of these pillars are no longer in place or
changing it requires shifts in the ways we partner.

Bricks

Going forward with God’s help we are rebuilding our support founda-
tion. Rather than relying on a significant number of pillars we are look-
ing to build a support structure of smaller bricks that are just as valu-
able. Bricks represent smaller donations given by more supporters to
fund a ministry. In sports, the bricks are the blue collar lunch bucket
teams that collectively get the job done with more team than individual
glory. In architecture, pillars and bricks are both aesthetically pleasing
and each have their place. We’ve all walked on beautiful public walk-
ways lined with bricks and individual contributor’s names on them. In
business it’s called diversifying. In our experience, some of the bricks
already laid in our support foundation have been some of the most
faithful through the years...keeping us engaged through prayer and
communication.

GOAL

A successful businessman involved with non-profit and Christian organi-

zations over the years states, “Raising personal support for those who are
called of God to full-time service is always one of the most difficult and
never-ending tasks.” While this part of our ministry is challenging, it has
also been one of the most rewarding...opening us up to the generous
spirits, prayers & encouragement of others. Also, many new relation-
ships are in place that would not exist otherwise. We are profoundly
grateful for this.

Our Ministry Partner Development/support goal is to raise a $2,000

monthly shortfall (we have raised $750 so far). For $1,000 of this
amount, we are looking for 40 people to contribute $25 per month.
Would you be one of those who commit to $25 a month?

The next pages give an idea of our heart for ministry.

Our “bread and butter” is evangelism & disciple-
ship, partnering with Native friends to strengthen
local churches and reach the world for Christ.

First and foremost we strive for God to be glori-

fied in all we do…at the end of the day or activity,
if what we’ve done doesn’t point to the Gospel
and lift God’s name high, it’s all for not.

“The truth about stories is that’s all we are.”

-Thomas King (Native author)

What are the stories we’ve heard and believe

about our Indigenous brothers and sisters? Grow-
ing up on a British Columbia reserve and having
Native friends as peers gives me a glimpse into
the stories and gifts Indigenous peoples bring to
the church.

Plight & Potential

Most are familiar with the plight of Native North Americans...higher

disease rates, abuse, addictions, etc. The stats can feel overwhelm-
ing and are real challenges facing communities striving to regain
capacity on many levels. However, there are great things happen-
ing that you may not know about. Indigenous peoples are being
used for God’s glory in the West and beyond. As one Native elder
commented, “We are more than our issues!”
 2010

Watching the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics was an un-

forgettable experience. The world came to Vancouver and
the opening ceremonies included an inspiring tribute to
North American Native peoples and for me a glimpse into
Revelation 7 and the afterlife…“I looked again. I saw a huge
crowd, too huge to count...all nations and tribes, all races
and languages...standing before the Throne and the Lamb
and heartily singing: Salvation to our God on his Throne!
Salvation to the Lamb!”

The Big Idea of Scriptures—God gets His Family Back

The prominent place of Indigenous people in the 2010 Games brought

some of my Native friends to tears. To be recognized and valued on a
national and international scale…taking their rightful place among po-
litical and cultural leaders was uplifting. Can this happen in the church
and ministry? Absolutely. God is using the stories, culture and gifts of
Native people in powerful ways.

First Nations Partnership

Feedback from all over the world shows Native people have high credibility as
missionaries. People know their history and pain and highly respect them.

Movies like Dances with Wolves, Avatar, The New World and others have
shown them to be tremendous survivors in spite of years of attempted cul-
tural genocide. (I do not endorse all viewpoints expressed in these films).

Because of their stories and identity they can bring the Gospel to many areas
that are closed to Anglo (or western) missionaries. A few examples are China,
Tibet and Pakistan.
 -

Peru (A country of 23 million Indigenous people)

A North American Christian Indigenous leader spoke of his reception in this South American country:

“I shared at the national pastor's conference what I believe is God's heart for the Church of Peru. Hundreds of pastors
from throughout the nation gathered and I challenged them about the missing and needed contribution of their Indige-
nous brethren in fulfilling the Father's heart for the nations. It was met with great applause and cheers. I shared a vision
for the emerging role of Indigenous people in the earth today that is free of shame and inferiority, and full of grace and
dignity, and many of them wept during our time of prayer as everyone rose to their feet to say yes to God's call on their
lives to impact the nations. We shared our peoples' common struggles with dominant culture political ideologies, oppres-
sive religious systems and colonial subjugation, yet always coming back to Jesus as the one who brings true freedom and
healing of scarred identities.”

“When you know even for a

moment that it’s your turn, you
can walk with the power of a
thousand generations.” -Bruce
Cockburn (Canadian musician)

1 Chronicles, Deuteronomy and

Psalms communicate “God is
faithful...remembering His
covenant love forever to a
thousand generations.”
 WCGIP

The World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People began

in 1998 and is held every 2-3 years in locations all over the
world. The most recent was held in Jerusalem and featured
a delegation from B.C.’s West Coast and other parts of Can-
ada. The next is in New Zealand from January 9—17, 2011.
This gathering celebrates that Native people can be fully
Christian (followers of Jesus) and authentically Indigenous
(who God made them).

Unity

In 2004 we had a ministry group travel to Northern Ireland at the invite

of a friend. What stood out most to those in this deeply divided coun-
try was not seeing Indigenous people for the first time nor the stories
and culture of Native Christians. What registered was witnessing tradi-
tional and perceived enemies (Native and non-natives—“Cowboys &
Indians”) working and ministering side by side. Unity is powerful stuff
in today’s world...regardless of context.

“The greatest apologetic of the Gospel is not

the actual telling of the story in proposition as
powerful and necessary as that is…it seems the
thing that will cause the world to really believe
that Jesus is God’s Sent One is when the world
comes together in response to Jesus’ prayer of
reconciliation.” –Brian Buhler (Alliance Pastor)
 Where NAIM Works and What It Does

For the last 60 years NAIM has reached out

and worked alongside Indigenous people.
Field ministries include; youth outreach,
summer internships, community-based evan-
gelism, long-term discipleship, staff working
under Band leadership and church develop-
ment. NAIM works in the Canadian prov-
inces of BC, Alberta & Saskatchewan, and the
U.S. states of New Mexico and Washington.

Our Part

Tim is the Operations Director of NAIM overseeing field

directors and ministries. He also works with NAIM staff
and Native professionals in providing vision and leadership
for current and future opportunities in and outside NAIM.
Lana works full-time for Trinity Western University as the
Project Manager for the School of Human Kinetics and
travels with Tim when she can.

Help and Thank You

At their simplest, the two most

common prayers include the words
above. These are also common
refrains for us working in missions,
and right now our prayer is for
help. We are focusing our efforts
on fundraising to continue moving
forward. Thanks for reading these
snapshots.

Tim & Lana Higginbotham