Because
Zuni is an isolated and disadvantaged community, the Mission
continually faces serious challenges in generating sufficient financial
resources to carry out its ministry. At one time fully funded by the
Christian Reformed Church, the Mission has rightly and steadily assumed full responsibility in generating the needed ministry resources. Both Zuni
Christian Reformed Church and Zuni Christian Mission School are responsible for their ministries' funding. For many years, Christian Reformed Home Missions (now Resonate) provided annual support from the denomination. As of 2019, all funding from the denomination has now ceased and we thank God for guiding us through this transition, and for many churches and individuals who still remember Zuni and have a heart for the Kingdom work happening here. God has faithfully filled the gap with other funding resources, and we continue to share the exciting things happening in Zuni with new friends around the country.
Financial support for the Mission from the Zuni Tribal Government
is not possible due to our religious orientation. Revenue from
tuition and donations from local sources are also limited
because of the high levels of family poverty and the lack of business
and economic development on the Reservation.
Thus the Mission’s existence depends heavily on appealing to a
wider network of prayer support, financial assistance, and volunteer
involvement to sustain and broaden its cross-cultural ministry. Only
recently has the Mission begun developing the capacity to seek and
nurture these sources of outside help. It is humbling to depend on God guiding the hearts of His people to give each year, but His provision is abundant and we give praise for every gift poured into this place!
Participating Through Prayer
Most surely, God’s blessings come to the Mission through the
prayers of his people. We invite you to pray regularly for Zuni people
and for the ministries of the church and school.
To prompt and facilitate your prayers, the school publishes a quarterly news bulletin called The Torch and a monthly e-mail Prayer Bulletin. The Torch, published each September, December, March and June, is available in print form. Online versions of The Torch are available here.
Contact us to receive either the prayer bulletin or the Torch.
How to Help Financially
Operational Gifts
Of course, anyone is welcome to make a general donation to the
Mission. The church and the school are deeply grateful for the many
generous gifts that regularly come from individuals, churches, schools,
Sunday schools, businesses and foundations to support our mission
efforts in Zuni.
The Mission has various several specific avenues and programs
through which our mission partners can channel their benevolent
contributions.
Avenues that specifically support Zuni Christian Reformed Church:
Pastor Partnership: The support of individuals and
churches is vital for the leadership of our church. While the congregation has increasingly assumed responsibility for the salary, benefits and professional development of the pastor; gifts continue to offset the gap between limited congregational resources and needs. Pastor Mike Meekhof has recently retired after 30+ years of ministry. The Church Council and Interim Pastor continue to seek new leadership for the next chapter of the church's ministry.
Benevolence: ZCRC often has opportunity to
help people in the community with their physical needs. Food, wood and
gas are common needs to which the deacons respond. During the summer,
mission teams often assist community members with basic home repairs.
Discipleship Ministry: In 2014, the church opened a new position that provides Christian teaching and support to individuals and small groups. Part of Tim Eisenga's salary comes from the Zuni congregation and the rest comes from gifts.
Youth Pastor and Ministries: From summer
Kids’ Clubs to scholarships for students attending ZCMS or Rehoboth
Christian High School, weekly youth activities to camp-outs and
conferences - the church provides a wide range of activities for children
and young adults which can . The youth pastor has the responsibility for
activities targeted for junior high and high schoolers, the building up of trusting, supportive relationships, and discipling the next generation of Zuni Christian leaders in discovering their gifts and calling.
Avenues that specifically support Zuni Christian Mission School:
Student Sponsorship: Outside support helps low-income parents pay their portion of school
tuition. Sponsorship also helps the school offset the gap between the
parent provided resources and the cost of education and provides an
avenue by which donors can build a relationship with a child and his/her
family.
Staff Partnership: Some donors
desire to support specific staff persons who come to Zuni as mission
workers. This partnership helps ZCMS pay staff costs for salary,
benefits, and professional development.
Endowment: ZCMS has established a
permanent Endowment Fund for the long-term support of the school. Read more about the Endowment Fund
The school and church operate as complementary
arms of the same mission effort, but have developed separate financial
mechanisms to facilitate each ministry’s particular focus.
* If you wish to give to the church, a check or online contribution should be written or directed to Zuni Christian Reformed Church.
* If you wish to give to the school, a check or online contribution should be written or directed to Zuni Christian Mission School.
* Electronic transfers (both recurring or one-time) can be set up via this form. Please mail the form and a voided check to P.O. Box 445, Zuni, NM 87327.
* Checks written to Zuni Christian Mission are divided equally between church and school.
* Donations for either church or school can be mailed to:
P.O. Box 445,
Zuni, NM 87327
Please Contact us with questions if needed.
How to Volunteer at Zuni:
Although limited housing options on the
Reservation restrict the number of on-site volunteers that can be used
at any one time, the Mission has developed variety of ways in which
Christians outside Zuni can be integrally involved in ministry to the
Zuni people. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Joy Burmeister or Zuni Christian Mission School.
Zuni Ambassadors:
People who have visited or worked in Zuni can join (or start)
groups of fellow Zuni supporters in specific corners of the country to
communicate the Zuni story and advocate for prayer, funds and
involvement on behalf of Zuni Mission.
Short-Term Volunteers:
The Mission uses a limited number of volunteers who have special
skills to fill specific, short-term, on-site roles such as teacher
assistants, tutors, technology consultants, and building/maintenance
workers. Short-term volunteers generally stay from two weeks to two
months.
Work Team Volunteers:
Typically, the Mission hosts 2-3 groups of volunteer work/mission teams per year and hopes to
increase that number as facilities and resources can be expanded to
accommodate more groups. Work teams generally come for one week in the
summer. Typically, arrangements are made a year ahead of the anticipated visit.
Cultural Tour Groups:
The Zuni Ambassador group in Michigan can organize small groups to
visit Zuni and the surrounding area in order to expose people to the
unique cultural environment and ministry programs at Zuni.
Classroom to Classroom Connections:
There are opportunities for elementary students from Christian
schools to link up with ZCMS students through the cross-cultural
exchange of information, friendship and prayer.
Please Contact us with questions if needed.