Friends of Navajoland

By GJ Gordy

Friends of Navajoland has always been rooted in relationships. As we continue renewing this ministry, we are returning to that simple idea: friendship is not only about helping one another. It is about knowing one another.

Over the past year, we have been thinking together about what Friends of Navajoland can become. We want it to be a place where friends across the Church can hear directly from people in Navajoland, learn about our life and ministry, pray with us, celebrate with us, and better understand both the joys and challenges of serving our communities.

 We have already seen what can happen through relationships. Friends and partners have supported youth opportunities, Vacation Bible School, school supplies, food ministry, the Giving Tree, Fuel for Warmth, and many other ministries over the years. Behind each of these efforts are people and congregations who have chosen to continue walking alongside Navajoland.

We are also exploring ways to make that relationship more mutual. Through online gatherings and opportunities such as the Hogan Learning Circle, we hope to create spaces where we can learn from one another, share stories, ask questions, pray, and deepen our understanding of Navajo life, culture, faith, and ministry.

 Friends of Navajoland is still taking shape, and we are continuing to listen and learn as we determine what comes next. But perhaps that is appropriate. Relationships are not programs that we finish. They grow over time.

As we live into K’é Bee Hózhó, Beauty Through Relationship, we are grateful for those who have walked with Navajoland in the past, those who walk with us today, and the new relationships still to come. Friends of Navajoland remind us that none of us does this work alone.