Grace Brethren pastor (and GraceConnect board member) Daron Butler, who is Next Steps pastor at Grace Church, Wooster, Ohio (Nick Cleveland, senior pastor), has been participating in the United in Christ conference in Bemidji, Minn., this past week. It is a conference designed to bring people together who are involved in Native First Nation ministries, or those who want to be involved. Daron, a Navajo, was also one of the speakers. The Pioneer reported on the event. A portion of the article appears below. Click here for the complete story.
Breaking down barriers: United in Christ conference underway in Bemidji
The Evangelical Free Church of Bemidji has been filled with diversity this weekend as part of the United in Christ conference.
The inaugural event, which has brought in attendees from all across the country, is an opportunity for Native Americans and non-Natives alike to collaborate in bringing up the next generation of disciples for Jesus Christ.
“Understanding the importance of unity within that movement of coming together, whether it’s denominational, racially or some of those barriers that we understand in Christ, (is important),” said co-coordinator Paul Straubel, “so we can have a more powerful movement as we reach Native American people for Jesus.”
The event, which started Thursday and runs through today, is host to an estimated 280 people and includes worship, workshops and guest speakers.
The speakers attending are pastor Dobie Weasel of Omaha, Neb., Daron Dutler of the Navajo Nation, Rev. Winfred Neely of Chicago and Ryan O’Leary of the Bois Forte Band of Ojibwe.
Click here for the complete story.