wfn.org | Indian Ministries Changes Announced

["SCHRAMM, Richard" <Richard.Schramm@abc-usa.org>]

American Baptist News Service (6/25/02)--American Baptist National
Ministries has announced the resignation of the Rev. Dr. Ron Patnaude Jr. as
coordinator of Southwest Indian Ministries in Arizona, effective May 23.
Patnaude has been called to serve the Church of the Savior in Mesa, Ariz.,
as senior pastor.

During his tenure with Southwest Indian Ministries Patnaude worked with four
tribes-the Hopi, Navajo, Mojave, and Yavapai Apache-and strengthened the
organization's relationship with Cook College in Phoenix, Ariz., a Native
American college.  He also was instrumental in supporting a new Navajo
American Baptist church planted in Nageezi, New Mexico. 

An American Baptist commissioned home missionary, Patnaude joined Southwest
Indian Ministries as the half-time coordinator in August 1999, and also
served as pastor of Keams Canyon Community Church in Keams Canyon, Ariz.,
from 1999 to 2001. 

Also, two new pastors called to minister on the Hopi reservation have
already begun their work. The Rev. William Thompson is serving Keams Canyon
Community Church and First Mesa Baptist Church in Polacca, Ariz., as pastor.
Thompson is former pastor of All Tribes Church in Tulsa, Oklahoma.  Sunlight
Baptist Church at Second Mesa, Ariz., has called Pastor Terry Wildman.
Wildman worked on the Hopi reservation previously with Youth with a Mission,
an international mission organization.

02ABN101

American Baptist News Service: Office of Communication, American Baptist
Churches USA, P.O. Box 851, Valley Forge, PA 19482-0851; (610)768-2077; fax:
(610)768-2320; www.abc-usa.org; richard.schramm@abc-usa.org