Q Why do Zuni Christian Reformed Church (ZCRC) and Zuni Christian Mission
School (ZCMS) consider themselves to be a "mission" organization?
A Throughout their long history, the
Zuni people have repeatedly endured the infringement of outside groups
seeking to dominate them (e.g. the Navajo, Spanish, Mexicans, and
Americans.) Zuni has "survived" by frequently accommodating outsiders
but never fully adopting their ways. The same is true with the
Christian faith. Traditional Zuni religion has always exerted a
powerful influence on Zuni families and even today, the Reservation's
religious climate is closed to outside religious beliefs.Cultural,
religious, and kinship loyalties make it difficult for Zunis to embrace
Christianity. Those who show interest in Christianity or identify
themselves as Christians risk being highly criticized by community
members and may be estranged from their families. It is estimated that
less than 2% of the 10,000 people on the Zuni Reservation are practicing
evangelical Christians. In many respects, the Gospel and traditional
Zuni religion stand in opposition to one another, thus the Mission's
presence in the Pueblo hinges on maintaining a respectful relationship
with local Tribal entities. Even the property on which the Mission is
built is leased from the Tribal government. With these realities, it is
easy to understand why the church and school in Zuni operate with a
missionary mindset, not unlike missions in some settings abroad.
Q What is the relationship between Zuni Christian Reformed Church and Zuni Christian Mission School?
A Since their beginnings over 100
years ago, ZCRC and ZCMS have worked together in bringing witness to the
Gospel of Jesus Christ to the people of Zuni. While high-profile and
intrusive evangelism is discouraged, Zuni's Tribal and religious
authorities have high regard for the long-term commitment of the church
and school to the overall welfare of the community. Tribal authorities
appreciate the loving and benevolent care provided to Zuni families
through the various ministry programs of ZCRC. Similarly, the community
acknowledges the high-quality educational program delivered by ZCMS
that provides an alternative to the Public School system. Together, the
church and school support and complement one another through shared
facilities, inter-connected staff, pooled resources, and unified
ministry programs.
Q How do the church and school work together?
A Even though the church and school
are separately incorporated and have separate governing bodies, the two
bodies work as a single ministry, each with distinctive roles.
The church serves the school:
- The Church Council is an advisory body to the School Committee [Board].
- Church members serve as School Committee members, chapel speakers, and classroom resources for the school.
- The church administers a scholarship fund to assist Christian
parents in sending their children to ZCMS for elementary school and
Rehoboth Christian School for high school.
- The church provides resources to school families who have special needs.
The school serves the church:
- The school faithfully plants the seeds of the gospel in the lives
of the students through their years at ZCMS. Often fruit is not seen
until many years later when, as adults, some come to faith and join the
body of believers.
- The school directs school families with particular needs to the services of the church.
- School children contribute music to church services.
Q What affiliations and fiscal relationships do ZCMS and ZCRC maintain with the Christian Reformed denomination?
A ZCRC and ZCMS were established as
ministries of the Christian Reformed Church (first under the Board of
Foreign and Indian Missions and later under the Board of Home Missions).
ZCRC became an autonomous Christian Reformed Church, affiliated with
Classis Red Mesa, in 1987. ZCMS remained under the fiscal and
administrative control of Christian Reformed Board of Home Missions
until 1992 when it became a self-governing mission school.
The mission is grateful for its long and fruitful relationship with
the Christian Reformed Church. Both the church and the school continue
to receive annual grant funding from the Christian Reformed Church
through the Board of Home Missions. This support has been and continues
to be critical, particularly for the school. While local contributions
through tithes and tuition have steadily increased, the mission
continues to depend on outside gifts to sustain its ministries. With
the blessing of Christian Reformed Home Missions, the church and school
now have the responsibility of representing Zuni Mission directly to the
Christian Reformed constituency. This also means applying for grants
from the denomination.
Q Are the ZCMS and ZCRC ministries
in Zuni financially linked with Rehoboth Christian School and Rehoboth
Christian Reformed Church in Gallup?
A No. Zuni and Rehoboth share a
common history and both were, for many years, directly administered and
fully funded by the Christian Reformed Church. During those years,
Rehoboth was the administrative and service center for all mission
stations on the Navajo and Zuni Reservations. Thus Rehoboth has often
been perceived as synonymous with Native America Ministries in the
Southwest. After Christian Reformed Home Missions gave governing
responsibility to individual churches and schools, Rehoboth no longer
coordinated business services on behalf of the denomination.
Now Zuni and Rehoboth are separate organizational entities. Each has
separate governing boards, separate organizational structures, and
separate operational budgets. There is a persistent and commonly held
misperception that financial donations given to Rehoboth also provide
monetary support for the mission programs in Zuni. This is not true.
Each organization is responsible for raising its own operating funds.
The Zuni Reservation's depressed economic realities make outside fund
raising critical and its unique cultural context requires sensitive and
low key approaches to outside fund development.
Q What are the similarities and differences between Zuni and Rehoboth?
A Zuni and Rehoboth share common spiritual
and historical roots in the Christian Reformed Church's outreach to
Native American people in the Southwest. Zuni and Rehoboth have always
maintained high levels of respect and support for one another, including
close spiritual, personal and collegial bonds among staff.
Professional relationships, consultation, and the exchange of ministry
ideas continue to stimulate and enrich the ministries in both places.
Rehoboth Christian School has historically served people from the
Navajo Reservation from its 162-acre campus located on non-reservation
property just east of Gallup. By contrast, the Zuni Mission ministers
exclusively to people living on the Zuni Indian Reservation and operates
from a 1.6-acre tribally-controlled property located in the heart of
Zuni Pueblo. The vastly divergent cultural, social, and economic
realities of the two ministry settings have necessitated that Rehoboth
and Zuni develop distinctively different ministry styles and approaches
as they address the unique needs of their respective target populations.
In recent years, Rehoboth Christian School has successfully shifted
its focus to become a fully independent Christian school (K-12) that
emphasizes high academic standards while serving an ethnically diverse
student body of about 400 students. ZCMS continues its distinctive
status as a "Mission School," providing Christ-centered education (K-8)
to about 75 students from mostly non-Christian, economically challenged
families who live on the Zuni Reservation. Since ZCMS goes only through
the 8th grade, Zuni students who wish to continue Christian education
into high school are encouraged to enroll at Rehoboth.
Zuni Christian Mission School and Rehoboth Christian Schools have a
professional partnership through an annual partnership agreement. Zuni and Rehoboth Christian Reformed Churches are both
members of Classis Red Mesa of the Christian Reformed Church.
Q What is the relationship of the Zuni Christian Reformed Mission and the Red
Mesa Foundation?
A The Red Mesa Foundation was
established in 2000 as a nonprofit organization to develop and manage
land assets received from Christian Reformed Home Missions for the
benefit of Christian Reformed ministries in the Red Mesa Classis.
Pursuing this mission, the Red Mesa Foundation seeks to encourage,
inform and financially support the churches of Classis Red Mesa and the
schools of Red Mesa Christian Schools Association. Zuni Christian
Reformed Church and Zuni Christian Mission School are among these
ministries.
Q What unique challenges face the Zuni Mission?
A Despite laudable efforts by tribal and
government authorities, the Zuni community faces a variety of social,
economic and health problems. Zuni is ranked as one of the poorest
communities in the nation with an average household income of $22,559
(2000 census). Many families are ravaged by alcoholism, substance
abuse, and family violence. Serious health issues, including diabetes,
depression and suicide, burden many families. These factors render life
expectancy in Zuni well below the national average. Non-Christians
believe that the practice of traditional Zuni religion is an avenue
through which blessing should come, but they acknowledge that there are
no certainties.
These realities impact the ministries of both church and school.
Zuni Christian Reformed Mission has the privilege to announce to this
generation of Zuni people the goodness of God and His loving intentions
towards them.
Q What is the long range vision for ministry in Zuni and what are the prospects that your efforts will be fruitful?
A Zuni people are deeply spiritual. Many
recognize that the choices they have made have not met their deepest
spiritual needs. Recognizing that Christianity poses a different Way,
adults seek out Christians to inquire about the Christian faith and to
express their unfulfilled longings. Parents who desire a different way
for their children enroll them in the school. In these ways, church
attendance and school enrollment steadily grow. Other factors
positively impact ministry: Zuni Christians have prominent roles in
leadership and governance at the Mission as well as in the community.
Positive relationships and partnerships have developed with Tribal
entities and resources. Nuturing support from constituencies outside of
Zuni for volunteers, planning, and financial support continues to bear
fruit.
In 2004, ZCMS, with input from ZCRC, embarked on a comprehensive
strategic planning process to define a vision for the future of ministry
in Zuni. Called "The Winds of Change," the plan calls for an ambitious
program to broaden and strengthen a.) educational and related services
to meet ever-changing community needs; b.) internal staff support
structures; c.) relationships and communication with constituencies
outside of Zuni. d.) The "Winds of Change" plan also set in motion a
major building and capital fund project to replace the "temporary"
facilities built after the fire in 1971 and is reconfiguring the entire
Mission compound to increase functionality and effectiveness. Read more about our current initative The Building Program: Foundations of Faith - Faces of Promise.