Ameritribes

Summary

Ameritribes purpose is to make the glory of God known among tribal peoples of the Americas by planting churches while helping communities develop and thrive. Ameritribes has been serving Native Americans since the 1930’s with ministry among the Dineh (Navajo) initiated on the reservation near Flagstaff, AZ. The name was changed to Ameritribes in 1994 when the organization expanded the work to include other tribes in the U.S. and northern Mexico. Ameritribes is a nonprofit organization, contributions to it are fully tax deductible to the extent allowed by law. In addition, it is a member of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA).

Contact Information: [ Back to top ]

Organization Details [ Back to top ]

Purpose [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes purpose is to make the glory of God known among tribal peoples of the Americas by planting churches while helping communities develop and thrive.

Ameritribes official "purpose statement" includes the following four points:

• glory of God - His awe-inspiring character and person.
• tribal peoples - unreached and under-reached tribal peoples of the wester U.S. and northern Mexico.
• planting churches - using a methodical approach to establish culturally relevant, reproducing evangelical churches under capable Native leadership.
• helping communities develop and thrive - offering the transforming reality of God's redemptive grace and truth through holistic ministry (meeting spiritual, physical, educational, relational, and economic needs.)

• Nahuat (Las Moras - Mexico)
• Tarahumara (La Mesa and one urban location - Mexico)
• Shoshone - Nevada
• Dineh (Navajo) - Arizona
• Tohono O'Odham - Arizona
• Pueblo - New Mexico

Mission Statement [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes expresses its purpose statement as follows:

Ameritribes is committed to demonstrating God’s love through a ministry which addresses the needs of the whole person. To that end, we pursue a church-planting strategy that includes evangelism, discipleship, leadership training, healthcare, and community development. Our distinctives include a focus on unreached/under-reached Native groups, relational evangelism, and contextualized ministry (learning and working within the language and culture).

Program Accomplishments [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes' accomplishments and programs include some of the following:

Healthcare: In Mexico, AmeriTribes emphasizes primary healthcare and the training of tribal health workers in community-based clinics.

Clean Water Projects: By assisting with well drilling, and training native workers in the maintenance of community wells, AmeriTribes seeks to reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases and improve the general health of remote tribal villages in Mexico.

Job Training: Making use of natural resources and learning new skills enables men in rural villages to realize gainful employment without leaving their families to procure jobs in the city. In Mexico, AmeriTribes helps tribal men organize and take ownership of native craft co-ops and wood-working businesses that provide dependable sources of income.

Literacy: Because the ability to read and study God's Word is basic to personal growth, AmeriTribes develops tribal literacy programs where the needs exists.

Statement of Faith [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes uses the following to communicate its values:

1. SCRIPTURE
That the Scriptures, both Old and New Testaments, are the inspired Word of God, without error in the original writings, the complete revelation of His will for the salvation of man, and the absolute and final authority for faith and life.
(2 Pe 1:20-21; 2 Ti 3:15-17; Mt 5:17-18; Ps 19:7-11)

2. GOD
That there is only one true God, Creator and Sustainer of all things, infinitely perfect and eternally existing in three persons; Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
(Dt 6:4; Mk 12:29; Ge 1; Jn 8:12-59; 14:8-17; Mt 3:16-17; 28:19; 2 Co 13:14; 1 Pe 1:2)

That God the Father is the sovereign, holy, and merciful Lord who judges righteously, and who in love pursues the redemption of His fallen creation, having sent His Son to be their Savior.
(Ps 139; Is 40; Jn 3:16-21)

That God the eternal Son, Jesus Christ, became a man through the virgin birth, uniting perfect deity and true humanity in one Person forever. His virgin birth was a miraculous work of the Holy Spirit. He lived a sinless life, was crucified, rose bodily from the dead, and ascended into heaven as Lord of all. He now intercedes for believers and will return personally and visibly to receive them, to establish His Kingdom, and to rule in righteousness and peace.
(Jn 1:1-18; Mt 1:18-25; Lk 1:30-35; Col 1:15-23; Php 2:5-8; He 4:14-16; 1 Co 15:1-8; 1 Jn 2:1; Ro 8:34; Acts 1:11; Re 19:11-20:6)

That God the Holy Spirit glorifies the Father and the Son in all that He does, not calling attention to Himself. His work includes convicting and regenerating sinners, baptizing all believers into the body of Christ at the time of conversion, living in them, enabling them to live a godly life of obedient faith, and instructing, equipping, empowering them through spiritual gifts distributed according to His will, and filling them for service and witness.
(Jn 14:16-18, 26; 15:26; 16:7-13; Eph 1:13-14; 5:18; Ro 8:1-26; 1 Jn 2:20-27; Ga 5:22-23; 1 Co 12, Heb 12:3-4)

3. HUMANITY
That God created man and woman in His own image, and they became separated from God through their sinful disobedience. Consequently, every human being is born a sinner, unwilling and unable to please God. Therefore, the entire human race, even those who have never heard the truth about God and His provision for salvation, are lost. Only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ, and the regeneration of the Holy Spirit, can salvation and spiritual life be obtained.
(Ge 1:26-27; 3; Ps 14:1-3; Ro 1:18-21; 3:10-18, 23-24; 5:12-19; 1 Co 15:21-23; 1 Ti 2:5; Acts 4:12; 10:43)

4. SALVATION
That eternal salvation is wholly a work of God. Out of His abundant grace, God forgives sinners when they repent of their sin and put their faith in the Lord Jesus Christ as the Son of God who died for them and rose from the dead. Jesus assumed their punishment for sin, credits His righteousness to those who believe, and brings them into relationship with God as His children. True believers are secure in Christ forever and have eternal life with God.
(Ro 3:21-26; 6:23; Eph 1:7; 2:8-9; Titus 3:4-7; 2 Co 5:21; Jn 3:16; 5:24; 6:37-40; Isa 53; Ro 5; 10:9-11; Jn 10:27-30)

5. SANCTIFICATION
That believers are declared holy in standing before God on the basis of the finished work of Christ. However, until they are in heaven with the Lord, they are to grow in godliness and denial of their earthly nature as they submit to Christ's lordship, fellowship in Christian community, and are filled (controlled and empowered) by the Holy Spirit.
(Heb 10:10; Ro 8:1, 28-30; 1 Jn 3:5-9; 2 Pe 3:14-18; Ro 6:11-14; 8:12-13; Col 3:5-10; 1 Pe 1:14-16; Eph 4:22-24; Ro 13:13-14; Ga 5:16-25; Eph 5:18, I Cor 14:12)

6. THE CHURCH
That the Church universal as the Body of Christ is under His headship and is composed of all believers. It is made visible by local communities of believers organized for corporate worship, discipleship, fellowship, and the continuation of Christ's mission on earth to extend the blessings of the gospel to every people group on earth. God gives spiritual gifts and leaders to the Church for its edification. Two God-ordained symbolic rites of the Church are believers' baptism and the Lord's supper, which provide an expression of faith regarding the believers' identification in Christ.
(Mt 16:18; Eph 1:22 ,23; 2:20-22; 3:8-11, 20-21; 5:25-27; Rom. 12:3-8; 1 Co 12:12-14; I Cor. 14:12; 1 Pe 2:9; Acts 2:41-47; Eph 4:11-16; Acts 13:1-3; 1 Ti 3:1-13; Titus 1:5-9; He 13:17; Mt 28:19; Lk 22:19)

7. HUMANITY'S DESTINY
That there will be a final bodily resurrection of all persons: believers representing every tribe, language, people and nation will be raised to eternal life and conscious fellowship with God; unbelievers will be raised to eternal punishment and conscious separation from God.
(1 Co 15; 2 Co 4:14; 5:1-10; Lk 16:19-26; Jn 5:28-29; 11:23-26; Da 12:2-4; Ecc 12:14; 1 Th 4:16-17; Re 20:4-15; Mt 25:41-46; Mk 9:43-48; 2 Th 1:7-9; Jude 6,7)

8. SATAN AND SPIRITUAL CONFLICT
That Satan and other fallen angels (demons) are real, have personality, and are enemies of God and destroyers of men. While they were defeated at the cross and are limited in operation, they still engage in spiritual battle against God's people and against His purpose until the final day of judgment. Through Christ believers can live victoriously in this struggle against the forces of evil.
(Ezek 28:12-15; Is 14:12-17; Ge 3:1-15; He 2:14-18; 1 Jn 3:8; Col 2:15; Mt 25:41; Re 12:10-11; 20:10; Mt 4:1-11; Eph 2:1-3; 6:10-18; Jas 4:6-7)

9. MISSION
That Christ commissioned the Church to communicate to all people by verbal witness, godly living, and acts of compassion, the Good News of God's redemptive love and provision of salvation. It is the solemn responsibility of all believers to work with Christ in fulfilling the commission of making disciples among all peoples.
(Ge 12:2-3; Ps 67:1-3; Acts 1:8; Ro 10:14-15; 2 Co 5:17-20; 1 Co 9:19-23; Jas 1:27; Is 58:6-7; Mt 25:31-46; 9:35-38; 28:18-20)

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METHODOLOGICAL VALUES

1. Church Planting Strategy: Ameritribes values a systematic approach to church planting utilizing Steffen’s five-stage phase-out (exit strategy) church-planting model (Pre-entry, Pre-evangelism, Evangelism, Post-evangelism, and Phase-out).
2. Culturally Relevant Church Plant: An understanding of Native worldview is essential to presenting the gospel in a culturally relevant manner. Therefore, Ameritribes requires an intense period of Culture and Language Acquisition (CLA). A chronological bible-teaching model utilizing a narrative approach is then employed. Where applicable, we ensure that Scriptures are translated and/or adapted into the local dialect.
3. Literacy Program: Where illiteracy is a significant factor, Ameritribes recognizes that a successful church plant must be accompanied by an effective literacy program. Field teams are required to receive training in literacy methodology specific to tribal people. Teams structure and implement a complete literacy program that enables tribal people to read and write in their own language in preparation for appropriating God’s Word in the vernacular.
4. Community Development:Ameritribes holistically empowers the indigenous people with whom we work. We do this by walking alongside them in ways that facilitate meeting their physical, economic, social and spiritual needs. Our work is to promote God’s whole plan of redemption and restoration in culturally sensitive and appropriate ways.
5. Prayer: Through prayer, we demonstrate faith in God first to rule our own lives, and then to provide the personnel, direction, and resources we need to accomplish His Kingdom purposes. We regularly practice both individual and corporate prayer. Through prayer, we exercise our God-given authority to tear down strongholds of thinking that set themselves up against the knowledge of God in the minds of the focus people. We petition God to manifest His kingly sovereignty and power, and to put to flight every enemy of righteousness, that He alone may be King over the entire world. We believe that prayer opens the eyes of the focus people, enabling them to turn from darkness to light, and receive forgiveness of sin and an inheritance among the saints (Ac 26:18).
6. Partnership: Ameritribes values partnering with like-minded agencies and churches, recognizing the synergy that results. We pursue working relationships that enhance the accomplishment of Kingdom goals.

1. Glorifying God: Ameritribes’ passion is to know, worship, and glorify God in everything we do. The principal reason for advancing God’s kingdom is to see Him glorified among the Nations as Christ is proclaimed and revealed. (1Ch 16:23-29; Ps 72:19; Isa 49:6)
2. The Word of God: Ameritribes submits to God’s written Word as the final authority in all aspects of life and ministry. We endeavor to obey its teachings and consistently seek direction from God’s Word for daily spiritual sustenance, decision making, and our message and methodology. (Ps 119:30, 105; Lk 11:28; 2Ti 3:16; Heb 4:12)
3. The Gospel: We focus on the Good News of Jesus Christ and His death and resurrection for the sins of mankind, as the only way to justification and eternal life for all believers. (Ac 4:12; Ro 3:23-24; Eph 2:5-10)
4. Community (Team): We seek to follow the example of community modeled in the Godhead and elsewhere in Scripture by ministering in teams. (Mt 28:19; 1Co 13:4-7; Eph 4:16)
5. A Spirit-Directed Life: We depend on the Holy Spirit to anoint and empower us and Native believers for godly living and effective ministry. In conjunction with our team members, we recognize and exercise our spiritual gifts to accomplish together our ministry goals. (Ac 1:8; Gal 5:13-26; Eph 4:11-16; 1Pe 4:10-11)
6. Prayer: We recognize that prayer is the primary battle and demonstrate through its practice our dependence on and faith in God both personally and for ministry. (Mt 6:9-10; Lk 18:1; 2Co 10:4-5; Php 4:6-7)
7. The Church: Ameritribes recognizes the Church as the primary agent God uses to display His glory both on earth and in the cosmos, and to complete the task of world evangelism. We utilize on-site teams to model the Body of Christ (the Church) in action among the focus people. (1) The mission of the church is to bring the gospel to the nations. (Ac 1:8; Mt 28:18-20) (2) The Church is characterized by mutual love, fellowship, interdependence, and edification. (Ac 2:42-47) (3) The authority of Jesus Christ is expressed in the Church through biblically qualified men selected by the Holy Spirit and confirmed by the Body of Christ. (1Ti 3:1-5) (4) The Church, under the care and authority of a plurality of recognized leadership, will help and direct the people to stand against evil and for truth and righteousness. (Ac 20:28; Eph 3:10) (5) The Church is to implement leadership authority through God’s design and concept of the family. (1Pe 5:1-4)
8. Spiritual Formation: We intentionally seek God’s transformational power, allowing Him to conform us to the character of Jesus Christ. This process is worked out within the context of community, exercising both personal and corporate spiritual disciplines. (Ro 12:1-2; Gal 5:22-25; Php 3:8-11)
9. Sacrifice: Ameritribes is committed to obeying Christ’s commands in serving God and others even under difficult conditions. We willingly offer ourselves in an attitude of humility and service to work together with team members and nationals to complete the task. (Eph 4:1-3; Php 2:5-8)
10. Missional Theology: We seek to present the gospel in a manner that is authentically biblical and culturally sensitive. (1Co 9:22) (1) We endeavor to build bridges between biblical revelation and human contexts where we minister. (2) It is our desire to communicate the gospel in the language and culture of real people in the particularities of their lives so that it may transform them, their societies, and their cultures into what God intends for them to be.
    
    We view ministry as a way of doing theology and as a form of worship. (Jn 14:26; Ac 15:1-33; Ps 67:1-5; Ps 96:3; Ps 117:1)

1. Leadership: Ameritribes utilizes a servant leadership style that is team-based and involves an interactive approach to decision-making.
   • Leaders are validated/selected according to their spiritual maturity, training, experience, teamwork, skill sets, and gifting.
   • Leaders passionately pursue the purpose and vision of Ameritribes while adhering to its values.
   • Leadership is exercised in a team environment where diverse gifting and experience allow for more effective decision-making.
   • Younger leaders are identified and developed within teams.
   • Ameritribes leadership pursues vocational excellence through continuing education.
2. Team: Ameritribes, being team-centered in its structure, allows for decentralized management and the pursuit of specialized ministry objectives. The team environment forms the ideal context for individual growth, community, and ministry. A team is defined as a minimum of two units (a unit is defined as a couple or a single worker.)
   • To enhance ministry effectiveness teams are formed deliberately, considering gifting, training, personality, and cultural diversity.
   • Teams provide a strong framework for individual and communal support, mutual accountability, ongoing training, and spiritual formation.
   • Living in the local context of ministry, teams model Christian values and community critical to each stage of church planting.
   • Teams pray together regularly. This also provides a platform for agreement in authoritative prayer (spiritual warfare).
   • Each team is responsible to develop and function according to its Memo of Understanding (MOU)/Team Handbook.
   • Teams are accountable to and supported by Ameritribes leadership.
3. Administration: Ameritribes supports field ministries according to the organization’s purpose, vision, and values.
   • Ameritribes will consider creative strategies, such as tentmaking, etc., to place and financially maintain staff in ministries.
4. Interpersonal Relationships: We endeavor to honor God by maintaining a spirit of excellence at all levels in relationships (Col. 3:12-14) and ministry activities (Col. 3: 23-24).
   • Levels of relationships include Board/Administration, Administration/Field, Team Leader/Team, and Missionary/Ministry Partners.
   • We strive to maintain clear, regular communication at all levels.
   • The chain of command is respected.
   • We relate to one another in an atmosphere of grace, endeavoring to foster mutual acceptance.
   • We purpose to resolve conflicts in a biblical manner according to Matthew 18:15-17.
   • We cultivate trust by being vulnerable and wholeheartedly serving one another.
   • Ameritribes maintains the highest standards of ethical, legal, and fiscal compliance (IFMA, ECFA, and IRS).
5. Board:
   • The Ameritribes Board of Directors is comprised of individuals as set forth in the By-law provisions
6. Host Communities: Ameritribes staff maintain respectful attitudes toward host communities and cultivate relationships that avoid paternalism and/or dependency. With a focus on phase-out, we wholeheartedly promote a God-dependent self-sufficiency.
   • We enter communities with an exit strategy and phase out plans in place.
   • A period of Culture and Language Acquisition (CLA) is required of all field staff as appropriate to their job description.
   • Ministries shall be structured to facilitate relationships of trust and promote God-dependent self-reliance within the host community rather than dependence upon missionaries.
   • We defer exclusively to the indigenous church for the creation of and investment in and care for its own building(s).
   • We exercise great caution even in the construction and development of non-church facilities and do so with a plan for their timely transfer to the community/church.
   • Our objective is to develop healthy indigenous churches that are self-governing, self-supporting, self-propagating and self-theologizing.
   • We strive to be respectful of and submissive to local authorities and laws.
7. Constituents: Ameritribes values partnering with its constituency through education, mobilization, and interaction in order to effectively focus prayer, personnel, and financial resources.
   • We believe the Great Commission is foremost the responsibility of the Church which relies on the mission agency to bring necessary experience and expertise into the intercultural dynamic.
   • In relationships with sending churches and independent ministry groups, the long-term welfare of the indigenous community dictates Ameritribes’ decisions and activity.
   • We seek and partner with individuals, organizations, and churches in a variety of capacities.
   • When possible, culturally relevant short-term ministry/exposure opportunities are made available.
   • Through a variety of media, Ameritribes regularly conveys ministry goals and accomplishments to constituents.

History [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes History:

1930: With a pledge of $6
On October 5, Navajo Indian Evangelization Movement (NIEM) was founded. Berlyn and Edith Stokely’s desire to bring the gospel to the families of their students from Sherman Indian Institute in California became a reality. In 1938, a land-site lease was granted at Hardrock, Arizona.

1942: Native Bible Conference
The first Native Bible Conference was held at Hardrock, and 98 Dineh (Navajo) adults participated. About this time the first camp for little sheep herders was held in Flagstaff near the present site of Ameritribes’ El Nathan Christian Camp, and 25 boys and girls attended.

In 1944, NIEM was incorporated and changed its name to Navajo Gospel Mission (NGM). Navajo Bible Academy opened at Hardrock in 1945 with 18 elementary grade students.

1961: Outreach by Dineh (Navajo)
Dineh (Navajo) pastor, Bruce Yazzie (pictured in center), held meetings with Tule River Indians in California, and 15 accepted the Lord.

Two other Dineh (Navajo) evangelists traveled to Idaho to minister to Dineh (Navajo) working in the sugar beet fields.

In the early 30’s Dineh (Navajo) conducted a preaching tour by horseback across their own large reservation, and in 1956, Dineh (Navajo) pastors began broadcasting the gospel by radio to those same areas.

1979: Preparing Others
NGM hosted its first cross-cultural Missionary Candidate School, and by 1982 there were 40 who attended, some from as far away as Sweden.

In 1993, a six-week Mexico Candidate School was held for staff who would work with the Tarahumara.

1985: To Mexico and Beyond
A church was started among the Tarahumara in La Valle, Mexico.

In 1989 missionaries were placed among Klamath River Indians of California, the Shoshone in Nevada, and the Salish/Kootenai in Montana. Pueblo work in New Mexico began in 1992.

1989: Life Water/Water of Life
The first hand-dug wells were completed in the Tarahumara villages of La Valle and Quechi. Life Water, a well-drilling project on the Dineh (Navajo) Reservation, had been started about six years earlier.

In addition to clean water projects, health care, job training, and literacy programs were also initiated in Mexico through servant evangelism.

1991: Involving The Church
NGM developed partnerships with sending churches through Perspectives since the 1980’s, and in 1988 started an Adopt-A-People program. In 1997, NGM changed its name to Ameritribes to reflect its broader ministry.

2000: New Languages
Dedication of the revised Dineh (Navajo) Bible was held in June of 2000.

The Southern Mexico Tepehuans received the Genesis Project Luke video in their own language that same year and Ameritribes was instrumental in showing it in the villages.

In 2001, a linguist joined Ameritribes to begin Bible translation for the Nahuat Tribe.

Ministry Needs [ Back to top ]

Ameritribes is a faith mission. Missionaries trust God to provide financial support through churches and individuals. This support is channeled through the home office.

Research Analysis

Transparency Grade [ Back to top ]

MinistryWatch.com 5 Star Financial Efficiency Ratings [ Back to top ]

Ranking Category	Rating	Overall Rank	Community Development Sector
Overall Efficiency Rating		250 of 352	13 of 23
Fund Acquisition Decision		235 of 352	13 of 23
Resource Allocation Decision		220 of 352	14 of 23
Asset Utilization Decision		223 of 352	13 of 23

Shining Light [ Back to top ]