Finding Christ in Ft. Defiance
The Navajo Nation Camp Meeting
FT. DEFIANCE, AZ: Hundreds of people quietly settle into a large tent as the darkness settles over the high desert on the Navajo reservation. The people have come to participate in the 23rd Annual Navajo Nation Camp Meeting. They’ve come to pray and worship, to surrender their lives to Christ.
The parking lot is filled with pickup trucks, children jump rope and play in a large field behind the tent and in another nearby tent teenagers gather to sing and praise God in their own way.
At the Navajo Nation Camp Meeting most of the preachers were Navajo and they preached in a rapid fire mix of Navajo and English, bringing laughs at times and shouts of “Amen!” or “Hallelujah!” at other times.
Sister Angie Bowman has been coordinating the camp meeting for 23 years - since the meetings started. She said the meeting, and other camp meetings on the reservation, is bringing Christianity to more people every year. The first year, fewer than 100 people attended the nightly services. This year, more than 200 people attend every night. She estimates that over 1000 souls would be saved this year. Bowman said Christianity is a growing force on the reservation.
Bowman credits her faith and the Lord for saving her life. In 2009, after undergoing a double amputation and losing both of her legs to complications from diabetes, she said she slid into a deep depression. She wouldn’t get out of bed. During prayer one day she told the Lord she was ready to resume her work on his behalf and her depression disappeared. “The Lord gives my life purpose,” she said as a choir took the stage in the main tent.
Bowman’s path to the camp meetings is a familiar one. She was raised in a traditional Navajo family. She discovered Christ when she met her husband, a Christian. Her family shunned her when they discovered she was converting to Christianity. They slowly came around to her new found faith and now, she proudly says, they’re all Christians.
Bowman said some Navajo try to live in both worlds. “On Sunday they come to church, but during the week they follow tradition beliefs,” she continued that they soon discover that doesn’t work. She said you’re either Christian or you’re not.
The camp meeting is set in a small valley, surrounded by high desert and piñon juniper trees. There are two worship tents - one for adults and one for teenagers - the beat of Christian rock music is coming out of the teenagers’ tent and gospel harmonies - some in English, some in Navajo - are coming out of the adults’ tent.
Outside it’s dark and cold, a steady rain is falling. In the tents, the people’s faith is keeping them warm and dry.
The parking lot is filled with pickup trucks, children jump rope and play in a large field behind the tent and in another nearby tent teenagers gather to sing and praise God in their own way.
At the Navajo Nation Camp Meeting most of the preachers were Navajo and they preached in a rapid fire mix of Navajo and English, bringing laughs at times and shouts of “Amen!” or “Hallelujah!” at other times.
Sister Angie Bowman has been coordinating the camp meeting for 23 years - since the meetings started. She said the meeting, and other camp meetings on the reservation, is bringing Christianity to more people every year. The first year, fewer than 100 people attended the nightly services. This year, more than 200 people attend every night. She estimates that over 1000 souls would be saved this year. Bowman said Christianity is a growing force on the reservation.
Bowman credits her faith and the Lord for saving her life. In 2009, after undergoing a double amputation and losing both of her legs to complications from diabetes, she said she slid into a deep depression. She wouldn’t get out of bed. During prayer one day she told the Lord she was ready to resume her work on his behalf and her depression disappeared. “The Lord gives my life purpose,” she said as a choir took the stage in the main tent.
Bowman’s path to the camp meetings is a familiar one. She was raised in a traditional Navajo family. She discovered Christ when she met her husband, a Christian. Her family shunned her when they discovered she was converting to Christianity. They slowly came around to her new found faith and now, she proudly says, they’re all Christians.
Bowman said some Navajo try to live in both worlds. “On Sunday they come to church, but during the week they follow tradition beliefs,” she continued that they soon discover that doesn’t work. She said you’re either Christian or you’re not.
The camp meeting is set in a small valley, surrounded by high desert and piñon juniper trees. There are two worship tents - one for adults and one for teenagers - the beat of Christian rock music is coming out of the teenagers’ tent and gospel harmonies - some in English, some in Navajo - are coming out of the adults’ tent.
Outside it’s dark and cold, a steady rain is falling. In the tents, the people’s faith is keeping them warm and dry.
