Navajo Nation
Transformation through restoration. Meeting needs in Jesus' Name
House of Joy is Kensington’s newest Global Partner located in Black Mesa, Arizona near Kayenta on the Navajo Nation Reservation. Pastor JR founded the House of Joy and serves the Diné people (pronounced Di-Nay in the Navajo language and means “the people”) both locally on Black Mesa and throughout the reservation. Pastor JR is leading a movement and seeing lives transformed through his church, the food bank, and service projects completed in partnership with visiting mission teams.
Pastor JR and his son, Al, live out their mission to reach the Diné people for Jesus by investing in the training of new pastors through a seminary program. In addition, they have built a food bank that provides much needed, and hard-to-access food and household goods to the community through his church and a network of churches across the reservation.
SEMINARY
Pastor JR lives out the mission to reach the Diné people for Jesus by investing in the training of new pastors through a seminary program. They believe developing future leaders to share the gospel is vital for transforming their community long term. Using their own story of redemption, and understanding the present-day struggles, they desire to help future leaders gain a strong foundation in the gospel and to reach others with the hope of Jesus.
FOOD BANK
House of Joy runs a large food bank to distribute food to families in need. Poverty and scarcity are both obstacles – families may be unable to pay for groceries or unable to travel the significant distance to the nearest store. Each box is packed with individual care and heartfelt prayer for the recipient; JR and Al's love for Jesus makes this practical task take on spiritual significance. Supply boxes are shared throughout the reservation in partnership with 11 other churches who support their respective communities.
COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
Pastor JR and Al know the day-to-day struggles of living on the reservation themselves and they desire to come alongside their neighbors in hardship and to provide the support they need. Because he understands the severity of needs in the community, Pastor JR has established a work-order system allowing community members to request assistance on everything from small home repairs to new home build projects. Work orders are completed by volunteer community members and short-term mission teams. These projects create opportunity for deeper connections and the love of Jesus to be revealed.
REVIVALS
Pastor JR mobilizes his congregation several times a year to reach the far corners of the reservation. When Pastor JR learns about community gatherings of any kind, he loads his truck and trailor and sets up to sing, read scripture, and share hope with passers-by. From coat drives to festivals, the House of Joy is continually on the move, showing up to build relationships and share the gospel.
SHORT TERM TRIPS
Kensington partners with Experience Mission to provide opportunities for our community to serve House of Joy and the Diné people. This unique, cross-cultural experience in the Navajo Nation provides an opportunity to learn important history from the Diné people who continue to live on the land of their ancestors, proudly maintaining their native language and traditions. On these trips, we serve families in remote desert communities through home repair projects or church outreach programs.
Find an upcoming Short-Term Trip
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