The North American Mission Board (NAMB) sends the queries it receives about Native Americans to Gary Hawkins, pastor of Sapula, Native Stone.

That’s because Hawkins, born in Stidham, also serves as executive director of the Fellowship of Native American Christians (FoNAC,) as a non-salaried NAMB resource for those seeking advice, strategy and opportunities for mission service as they relate to Native Peoples of North America.

Despite the COVID pandemic, 2020 resourcing included online and telephone meetings with several groups interested in Native Americans, including Koreans, Nigerians, Cru (formerly Campus Crusade for Christ) and New Tribes Mission.

FoNAC also partnered with people in Texas to purchase and distribute 100 water containers that can hold up to 275 gallons each for Navajo people in Arizona. Hawkins also visited several Native communities across the nation, along with pastoring the congregation of about 30 urban Indians that was planted in 2013.

“I love my family, my wife, Paula of 47 years,” Hawkins said. “She has been by side through many facets of ministry including among our own people, living on reservations, convention work in Oklahoma and on the national level, and being my biggest supporter. I couldn’t have made it through this journey without the life partner God gave me.”

Three grown children, nine grandchildren and two great-grandchildren add to the Hawkins clan.

“COVID-19 forced the cancelation of so many things for Native Stone—VBS, revival, mission trips and more—and we have missed out on so much fellowship, which is so essential in relationship building,” Hawkins said of the church he pastors.

“This virus tremendously affected FoNAC’s ministry,” he added. “Yet in spite of all the cancellations and postponements we have seen some opportunities for ministry expansion. The new year brings hopes of being able to attend local, state and national meetings and a broadening of ministry opportunities in cities and reservations.”

Because of the generous giving of Oklahoma Baptists through the Cooperative Program, an amazing array of ministries are supported. This unified giving encourages fellowship with other believers all over the world. Collectively, Oklahoma Baptists are advancing the Gospel together. Learn more at www.oklahomabaptists.org/CP

Gary Hawkins was featured in the 2021 Missionary Prayer Guide for Oklahoma Baptists. To see Hawkin’s prayer requests, visit www.oklahomabaptists.org/cp