IMCA Report by Art Soldner

When I was asked to write this article on the possibilities for IMCA this year, I, of course, began to reflect upon our past. Someone once said, "You can't know where you are going unless you know where you have been." Nine years ago, a group of people met at Walter Weldon's home to discuss the possibility of coming together in our Indian Ministry efforts and letting God help us in deciding how to proceed. Little did we realize what He had in mind.

For those who were at that meeting, these last ? year~ have been very eye opening and extremely busy to say the least. We started out with the idea of maybe putting together a newsletter on Indian Ministry. What we have wound up with (thus far) is a not-for-profit organization dedicated to taking the gospel message of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon to the Native American people, camping programs on various reservations, ministerial trips and cottage meetings resulting in several baptisms, prison ministry, witnessing weekends, a training program for those interested in Indian Ministry, work teams helping repair homes, assisting at the Osage dances, and administrators of a 42-acre camping area dedicated to teaching the Native Americans about Jesus Christ and their heritage through the Book of Mormon. Add to this the "outside activities" our volunteers are involved in, such as the Morning Star program and trips to the Lakota Reservation with food, clothing and blankets.

There is a saying: "You cannot become what you need to be by remaining what you are:" To that end, IMCA continues to explore areas where we can be of assistance to the Native American community, and to upgrade our commitment and message of Jesus Christ and the Book of Mormon within the framework of the restoration gospel. With the completion of the camping facilities, we are now working with Indian organizations scheduling activities on the grounds throughout the summer.

We are looking forward to camps on the Blackfoot and Navaho Reservations again, possibly adding a trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. In our attempts to help the Indian people find employment and adjust to the "Anglo" work ethic, IMCA and Heart of American Indian Center have entered into an agreement with the Cargill Corporation located in California, Mo. Indian people who are looking for secure employment will be interviewed by Heart of America and IMCA, and then their names will be given to Cargill for further employment processing.

IMCA is also at work developing a slide presentation for use in cottage meetings or other opportunities we have within the Native American community. This slide set is being designed specifically for use with the Indian people. Another slide series is being prepared for use by IMCA personnel who go on "witnessing weekends" to congregations wanting to know about Indian Ministry. If your congregation would like to schedule such an activity, let us know. We will be happy to come to your area.

I don't pretend to know the mind and will of the Lord concerning Indian Ministry, or where He will lead us. All I can do is look at what has happened over the last decade, at the prospects for this year, and marvel at how God has blessed us in our attempts to serve Him. As Grandmother Little Pigeon said: "When the Lord starts to move in Indian Ministry, you had better have your track shoes on, or you won't be able to keep up." I just made a mental note to be sure and go to the Sporting goods store this week.