About LIM
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Listen, Learn and Love.
Native cultures place a high value on relationships, in innate connections. Before they will hear you, they must first know you.
Native people are natural storytellers. Storytelling is deeply embedded in their culture and history. They connect, teach, and build relationships primarily through story.
That’s why, in the communities we seek to share the Gospel, we first take the time to listen. To know and become known. We don’t come with an agenda, we come with love.
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Love is an action, not an emotion.
If Native people cannot see Jesus through our actions, then they will never listen to the Gospel message from our mouths.
Listening, learning and loving Native people is how we build trust. It’s how we come to understand and be understood.
It’s the only way we truly learn where the needs are greatest. Where the pain is most pronounced.
And only then can we begin to come alongside them, working together to identify and attend to these needs.
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"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
Our Vision
We envision a day when every nation, tribe and people come to know and experience the Father’s love. That by the power of the Holy Spirit, as we come alongside Native American and Alaska Native people, they will:
Understand the forgiveness, salvation and healing they have through Jesus Christ.
Come to know that God created them on purpose, for a purpose. That He sees and loves them as they are—worthy, precious and cherished.
Thrive in stable and healthy families and communities with empowered leaders devoted to Christ and to their wellbeing.
Embrace the uniqueness of each tribe’s heritage and share and learn from each other.
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TO THE ENDS OF THE EARTH
Lutheran Indian Ministries envisions the day when all nations walk together in the light of Christ:
Receiving forgiveness and salvation in Christ.
Proclaiming the life-changing Gospel of Jesus Christ in a way that touches the people at the point of their need.
Gaining self-worth as children of God who created each one uniquely for His purpose.
Thriving in stable and healthy families and communities.
Embracing the uniqueness of each heritage and its fulfilment in Christ.
Sharing, mutually enriching and learning from one another.
Finally, we anticipate gathering on the Last Day when we shall see "a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb” …proclaiming “Salvation belongs to our God who sits on the throne and to the Lamb.” (Revelations 7:9-10)
Our Origins
Lutheran Indian Ministries was originally known as the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots and was founded in 1985. We became Lutheran Indian Ministries in 2010.
We are a nonprofit organization headquartered in Brookfield, Wisconsin serving Native American communities in dispersed locations, including Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kansas, the Makah tribe in Neah Bay, Washington, and others.
Our Operations
We serve to strengthen community relationships, educate children and adults, improve individual health, and foster practical expressions of God’s love and share the life-changing power of the Gospel.
While we have Lutheran origins and affiliations, we are not funded or operated by the denomination. We draw on our own network and partner with supporting churches and individuals for funding, resources and volunteers.
Healing & Restoring
As we first listen and learn, we then offer directly, or through partnerships with experts, the delivery of remote and in-person support, counseling and training services in the following areas and specialties.
Click this button for questions about our services. Or let us know if you are interested in partnering with us as a provider.
Our Support Programs & Services
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Since all healing comes from God, to leave Him out of individual or group counseling or training programs and sessions means healing, renewal, and restoration will be incomplete.
Only the Holy Spirit can reach, heal and change the source of all pain, trauma and behavioral issues.
The following individual and group support programs and services are delivered either in-person or remotely online.
Anger Management
This program meets and exceeds all industry behavioral health standards. Additionally, it addresses the root of anger as a response and heals hearts and souls with God’s profound love, grace, and forgiveness.
Bible Trauma Healing
Led by trained Native people who intimately know and understand Native trauma, this program offers biblically-based healing of minds, hearts and souls.
Survivors of Suicide
These group meetings, held in-person or online, focus on healing and support for people who are coping with a devastating loss to suicide.
Note: Our programs and services are tailored to specific community needs. More are in the process of being added.
Please use the “More Questions?” form to inquire about your community’s needs.
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Part of our mission is to train and equip those who have a heart and calling to serve, help and lead. Here are a few of our evolving training programs.
Suicide Prevention Training
This online or in-person training is available for community and church members.
Bible Trauma Healing Training
Native people who want to lead or co-lead these biblically-based healing sessions in their community are trained to do so.
WORD ministry
For Native Christians who have a heart to share the life-changing message of Christ’s Gospel with their brothers and sisters, this 2.5-day training program will help equip them.
Note: Our training programs and services are tailored to the needs of each community. And more are in the planning phase and will be offered in the future.
Partnerships
If any individual or church is interested in partnering with us to help with training and equipping in these or other areas of need, please use the “More Questions?” form to contact us.
Local Churches
A core part of our mission is to partner with, train, and equip local churches, pastors and missionaries who share our heart for God’s Native people. This partnership may include serving as a resource, providing technical assistance, and developing and deploying supportive services and programs that meet the needs identified by the local community or church.
Our Team
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Our Ministry Team
Tanya Dolchok
Anchorage, AlaskaMaggie Napoleon
Anchorage, AlaskaPola Farve
Lawrence, KansasMartha Craft
Litchfield Park, ArizonaAshleigh Jones
Lawrence, KansasAllison Kaulaity
Lawrence, KansasCheristine Mousseau
Lawrence, KansasRoberta Richardson
Anchorage, AlaskaTyteyonna Cecil
Lawrence, KansasWendy Cogley
Fairbanks, AlaskaDiana Gamez
Anchorage, AlaskaMikeya Sheppard
Lawrence, KansasDeon Teller
Lawrence, KansasJenna Curtis
Lawrence, Kansas -
Our Administrative Team
Robert Heffle
Executive DirectorPaul Flaa
Chief Financial OfficerJill Holthaus
Director of DevelopmentKimberly Key
Business Systems and Training AnalystAngie Pantazon
Assistant Financial OfficerCaitlyn Mayrand
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Our Board of Trustees
Joshua Arce
Lewisville, TexasEric August
Lakewood, WisconsinRichard Baranzini
Phoenix, ArizonaRev. Daniel Kempin
Midland, MichiganDaniel Novitch
Merrill, WisconsinJaylene Peterson-Nyren
Anchorage, Alaska
Audited Financial Statements
At Lutheran Indian Ministries, each dollar we receive is important. We strive to be wise stewards of the resources God has given us. Rest assured that we practice sound accounting and accountability and are committed to using your gifts to bring the Gospel message of Jesus Christ to every Native North American Nation.
Our Mission
Lutheran Indian Ministries shares the Gospel of Jesus Christ with Native American people, encouraging them to proclaim Christ’s Kingdom to their own and to others.
Major Components
Identify, recruit and help prepare native Christian leaders.
Nurture, witness and encourage healing within community.
Enrich and engage donors and volunteers.