www.RandyBarnetson.com

To the First Nations - From the First Nations
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Cheryl Bear and Randy Barnetson
Evangelism
Po Box 78029
Vancouver, BC  Canada  V5N 5W1

May  2013  Newsletter
The month of May we were in Ontario, New York, Alberta, and Northern BC.  Special highlights were singing at a school assembly for 650 students and another school with 400 students, and traveling into the very remote First Nations community of Fort Babine.

April 2013
We love to partner with churches and groups who serve among the First Nations and share the Good Nerws about Creator's Son, Jesus.
In the past few weeks we have worked with 14 different groups.
Our concerts complement the hard work done all year long by those ministries.

March 2013
March is Winter time in Canada.  So we turned the heater up, put the snow tires on, and plowed out into the Interior of BC and Washington State to visit several of the Okanagan Tribes.
We also attended the Richard Twiss Memorial Weekend in the Portland area.  What a blessing to see hundreds of mutual friends of the Twiss family and ourselves. Everyone was encouraged by Richard's legacy and example of faithful service.


February 2013  -  Heaven
After fighting cancer for more than 2 years, our daughter in law, Melissa, went to be with Jesus this past month.
Thank you to everyone for all your love and prayers.
Our family is just starting to move on now from this "long good-bye".  It is hard to see someone you love slip away.
But we have that glad and certain hope that we will see our loved ones again, who die in the Lord, all because of Jesus who died for us on the cross and rose again in newness of life.
He gives eternal life to all who believe and trust in Him.

January 2013
During December we traveled in the north of British Columbia close to the Alaska border.  One village in particular, Gitladamix, we had a great meeting in which many responded to our message and we prayed with lots of people. 
After Christmas we have stayed in Vancouver spending every day visiting at the hospital with our daughter in law, Melissa who is married to Aaron, Randy's oldest son.  Melissa is in pallative care in the final stages of cancer.

December 2012
Cheryl was the guest music for the Gitxsan  Nation at their National Assembly of Chiefs.  What an honor to speak to Native leaders on such a scale!  Cheryl shared the Great Story of Jesus, Creator's Son, the hope for all nations and peoples who believe on Him.  Jesus said, "You will speak before governors and kings... this will be your opportunity to tell them about me."  Mark 13:9 NLT
There were also television appearances and the receiving of a Covenant Award in Toronto for Aboriginal Song of the Year for the song "A'BA" (Carrier word for "Father") the title song of Cheryl's new album. 
These "big" events are not the main thing we do.  Mostly what we continue to do is travel to small First Nations communities, have concerts in the local school or hall, give out flyers and invitations, and then sing and share with the 25 - 50 people who come out to the meeting.  We love doing this and thank God for the opportunity to travel across Indian country telling the Good News about Jesus.

Can we share a word about finances?  The nature of our work is such that we do not receive remuneration most of the time.  This is understandable because most of our presentations are outside of the church.  We are dependant upon interested and generous supporters to help us in this work.  At the present time we have about 20 people who help us regularly with small donations and we have 2 or 3 more larger donors.  If we could increase our regular donors to 50 people we could do so much more and get to more places.  Please prayerfully consider for 2013 to be one of our monthly donors?  May our Creator Father bless you and your family. It is our goal to visit every single one of the 1000 First Nations communities in Canada and the USA sharing the Good News about Jesus through concerts.  So far, over the last 10 years we have visited over 500 Reservations.
 
If you feel that you would like to help us, donations can be sent to us at:
Cheryl Bear and Randy Barnetson, PO Box 78029, Vancouver, BC, V5N 5W1
 
If you need a tax receipt please mail your donation to:
USA    -  Free at Last Foursquare Church, 13850 - SE 142 St, Renton, WA 98059
CANADA - Kingsway Foursquare Church, 4061 Kingsway, Burnaby, BC  V5H 1Z1
Please write on your check "For Randy & Cheryl Barnetson" and they will pass on your gift to us.

September 2012
OUTDOOR CONCERTS

We love summer time because we can do outdoor events.  In the past month we have held eight outdoor concerts as well as many indoor meetings too.
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Summer 2012 
Islanders of Hawaii, Choctaw in Mississippi, the Cree and Metis of Alberta are just some of the tribal groups that we have visited this summer.  We appreciate your partnership in this work of sharing the Good News about Jesus with every First Nation in North America!
Cheryl's new album "A' BA" has been nominated for best gospel album at the Aboriginal People's Choice Music Awards.  It is being well received out in Indian country.

April 2012  BELLA COOLA
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About 16 hours north and west of Vancouver by road is the First Nation of Bella Coola, one of the most isolated communities in North America.  Anyone who saw the movie "The Hulk" will remember the last scene where actor Edward Norton is running through a field in Bella Coola surrounded by 360 degree majestic mountains.  Our friends, Chuck & Julie Lucas are planting a church there called "The House of Comfort".  We have partnered with them many times, over the years, to share the Creator's love through Jesus Christ with the 1000 tribal members.  Once again, this past month, Cheryl had a busy schedule of concerts, teachings and workshops and community events, dinners etc. in Bella Coola.  Pray for Chuck and Julie who live there full time and are doing a wonderful work.

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March 2012

Truth and Reconciliation Commission Hearings

As part of the largest class action suit settlement in Canadian history there are Public Hearings going on in First Nations communities across Canada to hear the stories of Indian Residential School Survivors - stories of abuse and rape.

As part of the healing process Cheryl has been singing and sharing at each of the hearings.  We traveled to Port Hardy, Campbell River and will continue on to Port Alberni, Cowichan and Victoria, BC.  We gift Cheryl's music cds to each person who shares their story and we have a lot of opportunities to pray with people and share the Good News about Jesus, the Healer of broken hearts. We are so thankful to God who has been giving us very creative ways to do the work of evangelism.  All of this work is volunteer, and so we appreciate so much those of you who help support our ministry with regular donations.  You are our partners in this very valuable work and ministry to the First Nations. Musi Cho (Thank you)

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February 2012

Hobbema is an area comprised of 4 large Indian reserves in central Alberta among the Cree First Nation.

We had the joy of traveling to Alberta and having meetings there this past month.  Although the weather was harsh (-30 degrees below zero) we still had crowds of 75 or more.  A few people made decisions to follow Jesus and are in contact with a good local church in Wetaskiwin and Louis Bull.  We were able to gift a copy of Cheryl's CD "The Good Road" to many people.

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Hawaii Outreach - We are taking applications for our upcoming overseas team outreach to Hawaii. Deadline to apply is March 12th. Send an email with your name , address and phone number to info@randybarnetson.com and we will contact you with details and costs.

We would like to take a team of First Nations people as a culture team of drummers and dancers. We are also open to a few non-Indigenous christians to come along in a support capacity to the team.


January 2012

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Our Creator Father has gifted us all with a New Year in which to share His love and Story with the Nations.

Our goal for 2012 is to visit the last remaining state in the USA that we have never been to - Hawaii.  Northern Canada, with its many remote First Nations communities is also a priority for us. 

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Last month, December, we made our annual visit to the South-west of the USA with ministry in California and Oregon, as well as some new communities on Vancouver Island.

Cheryl's newest cd album of original songs "A' BA" has been released! If you want a copy contact her at cheryl@cherylbear.com

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Summer 2011  -  The Arctic

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Summer is a good time to travel to the First Nations in the high Arctic. 

We ministered in the Yukon and the North West Territories. We finish up this month with concerts in Iqaluit, Nunavut.

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MEXICO and Southern California - January 2011

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January is cold in Northern Canada, especially living in an RV as we do.  So we made like the Canada goose and went south.  Our goal is to visit every one of the 1000 First Nations communities and so January was perfect for a trip to the southwest and to Mexico.

We visited 12 communities among the Siletz, Cahuilla, Tongva and Kumyaay in the U.S. and the PaiPai in Mexico. 

Our sons, Paul, Randall and Justice have developed quite a good musical presentation for youth, which they give for 15 minutes or so during our meetings (usually after Cheryl sings and before Randy preaches) and so we have noticed more young people attending our outhreaches.

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Merry CHRISTmas & prayers for peace & joy in 2011

We attended our denomination's annual gathering and were encouraged and refreshed.  The Church (universal) is made up of many families, much like any community has its Smiths or Johnsons etc.  The church family that we are members of is the "Foursquare" family.  It's where we belong and who we are accountable to.  For better or worse, it is our family and we love it!   

But our area of specialty is First Nations evangelism and we are happy to serve along side of any "family" (denomination) that is serving a First Nations community.

This past year we had the privilege of strengthening the work of the Anglican, Pentecostal Assemblies, Baptist, Salvation Army, Christian Reformed, Mennonite, C & M Alliance, Methodist, Vineyard, Evangelical Free, Roman Catholic, United, Lutheran, Presbyterian, Nazarene, PAO Newfoundland, and Independant churches across the USA and Canada.

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May our Creator Father bless each and every Church group that proclaims the wonderful Good News of Jesus to the First Nations!

Jesus said that the world will know we are His disciples by our love for one another..

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October 2010.  Africa.

Half the month was spent in Alberta visiting several First Nations communities and having concerts, singing and telling the Good News about Jesus.  One highlight was Siksika First Nation where many people were blessed by the ministry.

The last half of October was spent in South Africa at the Lausanne Congress on World Evangelization.  It was a privilege to meet together with 5000 leaders from all over the world and strategize on ways to reach the nations of the world- including the Indigenous peoples!

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September  2010.  Pacific North West.

This month we ministered on several Reservations in Washington including Lummi and Muckleshoot. Then we went on an exteded tour of the Kwakiutl villages on the North west coast of BC.  A week of heavy rains flooded one village and destroyed many homes.  We were able to have timely concerts for people who were hurting from terrible losses. Christ is the comfort giver.

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.Summer 2010 Newsletter. Alaska to Oklahoma

.Our Summer was spent traveling from Alaska to Oklahoma and back up north again through 12 states, 3 provinces and 2 Territories visiting many First Nations communities and reservations.  Our goal is to visit (eventually) every one of the 1000 places in Canada and the USA where the Indigenous peoples live. 

We were able to visit the most isolated community of all- Old Crow, Yukon Territory, which is inaccessible by land or water.  It was isolated from the outside world until the invention of the airplane. 

Everywhere we go our message is the same- The Creator sent His Son, Jesus to show us the way to Creator, die as our cleansing sacrifice and to rise again from the dead to give new life to all who believe and trust in Him.  It is the Good News.   

This next month will see us go to many more communities on Vancouver Island, Washington, and in Alberta.  .

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Spring Newsletter 2010

Winter Olympics Outreach

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The 4 First Nations Chiefs of the Vancouver area and the nation of Canada hosted the world for what many are saying was the best Winter Olympics ever. 

We were kept quite busy with all of the outreach concert events organized by the inter-church program called "More Than Gold".  In addition we also had the privilege of singing at the main First Nations Pavilion in the heart of all the Olympic activity!  The Olympic Committee did not anticipate how much interest the First Nations would generate in the minds of the visitors from around the world as they built the seating area way too small- people were lined up for a couple of blocks trying to get in.  This confirms what we have been saying for years- First Nations people who use their cultural songs and dances, regalia and drums have an unique ability to share Jesus through this medium to the people of the world!  We have shared Christ, so far, with people in 34 countries around the world.  Native American Indian missions teams are a great place to invest missions dollars...