Native Americans

                     

Jeff & Vickie Swartz
All Nations Native Ministries

"Reaching the Nations within Our Nation with the Good News"

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Jeff is a licensed minister with the International Ministerial Association (IMA). His calling is in the area of worship and he has served as a worship leader in the Body of Christ for over 15 years. As far as Jeff knows, he has no Native heritage in his background, but God has given him a heart for this people group and a strong desire to see them set free to worship and serve the Lord in a culturally relevant way. His wife Vickie is Cherokee/Scotch-Irish/English and also shares in Jeff’s desire for the First Nations people.

In early 2004, God spoke to Jeff and Vickie telling them to “step down” from their responsibilities of leadership within the four walls of the local church. After much prayer, they formed All Nations Native Ministries, an organization designed to “go out into the highways and byways and compel them to come in”. Working as an outreach of their home church, Fellowship of Believers in Sarasota, Florida, they attend Native gatherings (Powwows) throughout the state and engage in one-on-one ministry and friendship evangelism. During these weekend events, they hold Sunday morning worship services for those who wish to attend.

In the middle of 2004, their paths crossed with a Cherokee man named Dock Green Silverhawk, who had a similar vision to reach the Native people in the area. They joined with Dock and others to form the American Indian Christian Circle of Thonotosassa, Florida. The circle (church) meets two Sunday nights a month for worship (in a native way), relevant Bible teaching, prayer and fellowship.

Jeff and Vickie also serve on the Committee on Native American Ministries (CONAM) for the United Methodist Churches of Florida. Each year they help plan and host a gathering in Leesburg, Florida, where Native people can come together and learn more about walking the Jesus Road in a native way. Once or twice a year they travel to the Eastern Band Cherokee Indian Reservation in Cherokee, North Carolina, where they are building relationships with the people. These relationships have become stronger with each visit and God has opened many doors for them to minister and serve the Cherokee people.

 

"with Your own blood You bought for God people from every tribe,

language, nation and race." Revelation 5:9