Southeast Eagles Project
by Ann Saunkeah
The Southeast Eagles Project’s children’s choir sings praise songs and traditional Choctaw songs at the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Annual Conference, June 2002.
Image by: Courtesy the Native American Comprehensive Plan
Source: New World Outlook |
Many churches in the southeast region of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference are located in very rural areas. Church membership is small on the average, smaller than the definition of "small church" in the Book of Discipline. Church members primarily are members of the Choctaw Nation. The few elders present in the congregations may speak entirely in the Choctaw language. The services include tribal hymns that date back more than 170 years to the Trail of Tears.**
Culture plays an important role among these nine churches: Bokchito UMC, Cane Hill UMC, Old Cedar UMC, Pine Grove UMC, Kullichito UMC, Kullituklo UMC, Bethel Hill UMC, St. Paul UMC, and Boiling Springs UMC. Each of the churches wants to maintain the predominant Choctaw culture of the congregation. One of the key things that these churches have in common is a great number of children. Three years ago, adult leaders recognized the common elements they shared with their neighbor churches, including the need to educate adults who worked with children. They wanted to review United Methodist curriculums for Sunday school, Vacation Bible School, and weekend retreats. They wanted to learn how to incorporate their culture into the curriculum. The leaders also felt the need to develop a support group in the southeast region. Because of the rural setting, distance was often an obstacle.
With the urging of the Southern District Superintendent, the Rev. Anita Phillips, the leaders applied for a three-year Rural/Reservation/ Urban Initiative Grant from the Native American Comprehensive Plan. The grant, in addition to each church’s contribution, enabled the leaders to begin the Eagles Project and to meet on a quarterly basis. Weekend workshops were designed around curriculums, resources, arts and crafts, and the sharing of ideas.
The Rev. Anita Phillips said: "Weekend retreats were planned for children that emphasized leadership, fellowship, and nurturing....Youth were incorporated into the program as volunteers as well as role models."
Vivian Williams, Chairperson of the Eagles Project, said, "We feel the Eagles Project has been a success."
During an idea-sharing time, the churches decided to develop a children’s choir that would participate in some of the local events in the communities. The choir members learned praise songs and traditional Choctaw songs and participated in the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference’s Annual Conference in June 2002.
The leaders of these ministries within each local church have received resources and strength from the Eagles Project, and a support network among churches has been established. The Rev. Phillips says that the adult leaders served as models of discipleship.
** The Indian Removal Act of 1830 enacted during President Andrew Jackson’s Administration forcibly removed eastern tribes from Georgia and North Carolina and relocated them to Oklahoma. They made the trip on foot without adequate provisions. Many died on the way.
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