UIM Connection

UIM Connection!

April 28, 2015

"There's no place like home."

This phrase famously was uttered many years ago in the classic movie The Wizard of Oz. In this classic tale of "coming home" the character Dorothy awakens with a renewed appreciation for the valued simplicity of "home."

UIM International does not live in a fantasy world but in the real world of needs and opportunities among First Nations and Native American people groups of North America. Some missionaries "leave home" to find "home." Others remain "at home" to continue fulfilling ministry long established and effectually reaching people with the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

Be inspired by the stories of God's grace at work through the dedicated lives of Tyrell and Kate Zehner and Johanna Charley. Perhaps you will discover a "new home" and place of ministry and service unto the Lord you've not known before. Perhaps you will be newly awakened to needs and opportunities you've not realized before.

Might this UIM Connection! touch your heart to pray, give, and even go that others might find an "at home" relationship with Jesus Christ.

"Now, therefore, you are no longer strangers and foreigners, but fellow citizens with the saints and members of the household of God, having been built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, Jesus Christ Himself being the chief cornerstone, in whom the whole building, being joined together, grows into a holy temple in the Lord, in whom you also are being built together for a dwelling place of God in the Spirit."

(See Ephesians 2:19-22.)

In Reality, in Christ Jesus,

Dan Fredericks, Executive Director

UIM International

Coming Home

Nearly 10 years ago Tyrell and Kate Zehner spent four months in Northern British Columbia working under UIM with the First Nations people as part of their college internship program. While spending time with the UIM staff, they were introduced to Fred and Sally Brown, retired missionaries that had worked in Fort St. James with the Carrier people. The Browns invited Tyrell and Kate to visit their community and consider being the next generation of missionaries in the place they had labored and loved.

Four years ago when the Zehners felt God calling them to work full time in sharing Jesus with the First Nations of BC, they took a survey trip to see what community they felt God would have them make their home and base. Fort St. James was their last stop in a long list of villages, and the moment they drove into town, they knew they were home.

This past October after completing raising support, cross-cultural training, and an internship under UIM, they were finally given the green light to move to Fort St. James and begin the hunt for housing. They spent several months struggling to find a place to live and then housing came together in such an amazing and miraculous way that they knew it was God who was the grand orchestrator. They were thrilled the beginning of March to finally come "home" to Fort St. James.

They look forward with pleasure to meeting and getting to know the Native people in the area. They desire to continue to share Jesus and His love with the people that Fred and Sally so faithfully loved and served for many years. The glow of love on Sally's face when she talks about her friends and community is an inspiration to them as they begin to pour their lives into the Fort St. James area.

Continuing On

Navajos John and Lena Charley had a ministry among the elderly in senior citizen centers and nursing homes. They also taught preschool and boarding school children, had adult Bible studies, and visited homes and hospitals. John preached from time to time at camp meetings, and he and Lena taught Navajo reading and shared Christ at many funerals. A number of Navajos, including a medicine man, came to Christ through their witness.

In 2001 while running errands, Lena Charley died when a gusty wind caused her pickup to roll. It was during a week of Vacation Bible School and Foothills Bible Church from Littleton, Colorado, was there leading it. With John's encouragement, VBS continued.

After Lena died, Johanna, the youngest, continued in ministry with John. Home and nursing home visits built friendships. In homes when a need was expressed, the Word was opened and prayer was given to the only One who had the answer. If a family member died, John and Johanna were at the funeral encouraging those who were mourning.

Johanna expanded her ministry to church activities at Black Mountain Mission in the Tselani-Cottonwood area. Along with the things she did with her dad, she helped with Child Evangelism and taught youth. When John became ill with cancer, she took some time to care for him. Since John's death in 2014, she has carried on what they were doing together and what she was doing on her own. With her sweet and caring spirit she has been able to have a large impact on the youth of the community and of the church.

Foothills Bible Church has made it a tradition to come to the Charley home each summer and put on a VBS and the John and Lena Charley Memorial Basketball Tournament. This year's tournament will be held June 22-26 from 1-4 p.m. at the Tselani-Cottonwood school gymnasium. Johanna's siblings, Leslie, Jonathan, Jonah, and their children help Johanna with the tournament, working with the kids and giving their personal testimonies. Young and old look forward to the annual tournament. The event draws many children to the VBS and adults and youth to the tournaments. Many have come every year but there are always new faces.

Johanna is following in her parents' footsteps and was recently approved to start raising support to be a full-time missionary with UIM International. She desires to have the Lord glorified and lifted high as she strives to reach her people in the Tselani-Cottowood area for Him.

Check out the John and Lena Charley Basketball tournament on Facebook.