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News
Archive - Article 33
Operation Compassion Sponsors Celebration Of The Nations
2/13/02
Beginning April 30 through May 8, 2002, Operation Compassion will
be dedicating the First American Dream Center in Gallup, New Mexico
with a program entitled “Celebration of the Nations.”
During this weeklong event, thousands of American Indians from across
the United States are expected to attend. The celebration will include
a representative from each of the twenty-two American Indian Nations
living in the region.
A weeklong revival, entitled “A Gathering of the Nations”
featuring International Evangelist Floyd Lawhon, will kickoff this
momentous celebration. Simultaneous with the revival, will be a
Kid’s Krusade, featuring Jimmy Jones and his company of puppets,
life-size characters and inflatables. Every man and woman and child
will be exposed to the gospel through this historic gathering.
On the weekend, the First American Dream Center will be dedicated
and the official beginning of specialized ministry will commence
to the more than twenty-two nations that live from New Mexico to
North Dakota. Regular food distribution, supplies for building repair,
clothes and products for special events are but a few of the scheduled
activities that have been targeted.
John D. Nichols, President of Operation Compassion, has had a long-term
vision for this project among the American Indians. A vital part
of the First American Dream Center will be the “Lift and Redemption
Center.” According to Nichols, the goal of ‘Lift and
Redemption’ is to lift the individual from his/her present
circumstance or situation of poverty and redeem them back to their
Creator, God.
For the past year, David Lorency, International Field Director
of Operation Compassion and James Rodgers, Coordinator of the First
American Dream Center, has worked tirelessly in the acquisition
of land and the construction of the building. The building will
house the Dream Center and warehouse and serve as the hub for activities
directly relating the Indian Nations. Also under construction to
be completed in the near future is modern house for the Coordinator’s
family.
The location of the First American Indian Dream Center was decided
to be in Gallup, New Mexico because of the proximity of the greatest
number of Indian Nations located in this region of the U.S. The
Navajo Nation population is over 300,000 and encompasses land in
four adjoining states – New Mexico, Colorado, Arizona and
Utah. The Hualapai Nation stretches across the remainder of Arizona
and into Nevada. Other nations living in this region also include
Hopi, Zuni, Apache, Ute, Comanche, Arapaho, Crow, Cheyenne, Shoshoni,
Kiowa, Paiute, Atsina, Kutenai, Kalispel, Nez Perce, Pueblo, Yavapai,
Tohono O’odham (Papago), Havasupai and Pima.
The Indian Nations living in the northern plains will also benefit
from the First American Dream Center. Operation Compassion has two
regional warehouses in South Dakota and Montana that will receive
products from the Dream Center for distribution. Every American
Indian Nation will receive hope and help, lift and redemption as
a direct result of this dream become reality – First American
Dream Center.
This is the second Dream Center that has been sponsored by Operation
Compassion within the past fourteen months. In March 2001, Appalachian
Dream Center was dedicated near Logan, West Virginia.
Tim Burdashaw
Communications Coordinator
Anyone interested in donating finances or products or providing
a corporate lead may contact:
Operation Compassion
David Lorency, President
114 Stuart Road, NE
Suite 370
Cleveland, TN 37312
423.728.3932 - Office
423.596.4200 - Fax
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