Prayers for Wisdom Keeper Patty Charley Following the Death of Her Husband, Wayne

Wisdom Keeper Patty Charley’s husband, Wayne, died earlier this week. Wayne died on Monday, December 8, in Albuquerque, NM, where he and Patty have a home. We invite the Grand Canyon Synod to hold Patty and her family in prayer. Patty serves as Primary Wisdom Keeper at the Navajo Lutheran Mission’s House of Prayer, where her leadership and ministry continue to bless the Navajo Nation. Please join us in surrounding Patty with love, support, and prayer during this time of grief.

A traditional Navajo burial service for Wayne will take place on Saturday, December 13 at 10:00 am in Rock Point, Arizona, followed by a family-hosted meal. No RSVP is necessary.

Flowers will be difficult to deliver to Rock Point, but gifts to the House of Prayer in Wayne’s memory would be deeply appreciated. Cards and condolences may be sent to House of Prayer, PO Box 354, Rock Point, AZ 86545.

Grand Canyon SynodBrian FlatgardDecember 11, 2025Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment

Rooted in Community: NELM’s 70-Year Legacy in the Navajo Nation

Since 1953, the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) has served Rock Point, Arizona, offering food, education, worship, and clean water to residents of the Navajo Nation. Now under its first all-Navajo leadership, NELM continues to deepen its mission of community-rooted service through its food bank, school, House of Prayer, and café. As the recipient of this year’s Grand Canyon Synod Lenten Challenge, NELM’s work reflects Christ’s call to serve with compassion and humility. Click here to read the full article on the LAMA site, and support NELM through this year’s Lenten Challenge.

Join the Region 2 Lenten Challenge: Strengthen Faith, Support Clean Water

Join the 2025 Lenten Challenge and support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ, where many households lack access to clean water. This friendly competition among ELCA Region 2 synods challenges participants to commit to three Lenten practices while raising awareness and funds for Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and its water projects at NELM. The synod with the most sign-ups wins—so let’s make Grand Canyon Synod proud! Sign up today:lentenchallenge.org.

Join the 2025 Lenten Challenge: Be a Watered Garden This Lent

Ash Wednesday is March 5! Join the Region 2 synods for the 2025 Lenten Challenge, focusing on hunger and water justice through daily devotions, water conservation, community engagement, and donations to support the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM). Sign up your family and congregation today at lentenchallenge.org!

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardFebruary 26, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten Challenge, Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment

Join Us for a Lenten Challenge Deep Dive: The Story Behind NELM and LDR

Join us on March 5 at 12:00 p.m. MT for a special LDR Partner Spotlight featuring Solveig Muus as she shares how the 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge supports the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. Learn how Lutheran Disaster Response and ELCA World Hunger intersect to provide safe drinking water and vital resourcesfor our siblings in Christ. Register now to be part of the conversation! Sign up here.

Bringing Safe Water to Rock Point: How You Can Make a Difference This Lent

This year’s 40-40-40 Lenten Challenge invites us to engage in daily spiritual practices while supporting the Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission (NELM) in Rock Point, AZ. More than half of Rock Point’s households lack access to safe drinking water, and NELM is working to install a potable water system. Join the challenge by committing to three Lenten practices—daily devotion, diligence, dedication, or donation—to help meet this urgent need. Let’s come together as a synod to deepen our faith and serve our neighbors. Sign up today! www.lentenchallenge.org

Grand Canyon Synod, News, Region 2Brian FlatgardFebruary 19, 20252025 Lent, 2025 Lenten Challenge, Navajo Evangelical Lutheran MissionComment

Celebrating Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Lifting Up Native American Ministries in Our Synod

In celebration of Indigenous Peoples’ Day, the Grand Canyon Synod lifts up Native American Urban Ministry in Phoenix and the Navajo Lutheran Mission in Rock Point, AZ. Both ministries serve as powerful examples of faith and service, providing spiritual and material support to Native American communities. We honor their efforts and the Indigenous people whose land we now inhabit.

House of Prayer's 70th: Embracing Tradition with Navajo Leaders at the Forefront

The Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission's House of Prayer celebrates 70 years with the historic installation of its first Navajo-speaking leaders, Patricia Charley and Patterson Yazzie, marking a significant milestone in their ministry.

A holy Christmas at Navajo Lutheran Mission

Warm hearts and wide smiles perfectly balanced the chilly Rock Point, Arizona winter air on December 15th, 2022, at the Mission 2022 Christmas Program.

39 Mission students in traditional Navajo finery and costumes sang Christmas carols and told the story of Jesus' birth so many years ago. Read more of the newsletter in this post.

Navajo Lutheran Mission News: Special Giving Thanks Edition

In this update from the Navajo Lutheran Mission, we hear from Executive Director Patterson Yazzie, Curriculum and Special Services Coordinator Molly Gary, and Development Director Deacon Kate Adelman.

The Hozho Café has served over 66,000 meals since the beginning of Covid-19, and their food bank in partnership with St. Mary’s distributed over 300,000 pounds of food to almost 2,000 families.

NELM newsletter: September 2022

Kate Adelman, Development Director and Pastor at Navajo Lutheran Mission (NELM), shares the latest stories from the 70-year-old Mission, including news and photos from the start of a new school year at the mission school.

Grand Canyon Synod, NewsBrian FlatgardAugust 30, 2022Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission, High Country ConferenceComment

Patterson Yazzie Named Executive Director of Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission

The Board of Directors of Navajo Evangelical Lutheran Mission Inc. announce the appointment of Patterson Yazzie as Executive Director. The Board’s unanimous affirmation celebrates Yazzie as the first Navajo executive leader in the Mission’s nearly 70-year history.

House of Prayer new altar dedication on Sunday, June 19, 2022

House of Prayer in Rock Point shares the good news of a new altar made of live-edge cypress inlaid with turquoise.

God's love for the Navajo people

In their most recent newsletter, Navajo Lutheran Mission 2022 Mission Board Chair Patty Charley shares remembrances of the Mission’s founding in 1953.

“God’s love has blessed the Diné with so much. My name is Patty. My community is Rock Point, Arizona, near the Four Corners in the Navajo Nation. This is who I am as a Navajo woman to the world.”

Navajo Lutheran Mission food bank distributes to 1,969 families

2021 was a very meaningful year for Rock Point area households. In total, the Navajo Lutheran Mission received and distributed over a quarter-million pounds of food to almost 2,000 Navajo homes.

New digital technology thrills Navajo Lutheran Mission Prep School students

First and second grade students at Navajo Lutheran Mission Preparatory School are enjoying their hybrid classrooms where they receive a balance of direct and asynchronous instruction. Chromebook laptop computers for each child have made it possible to have our students in school full-time, learning and exploring the world.

The mission that love built: observations on the reason we exist

In their most recent newsletter, Navajo Lutheran Mission Executive Director and Pastor Kate Adelman shares how sustainable solutions are created when love reframes the conversation.

2021 Christmas at Navajo Lutheran Mission

Navajo Lutheran Mission (NELM) Executive Director and Pastor Kate Adelman shares hope and observations of Navajo winter, Christmas highlights, and a giveaway of over 1,000 quilts.

Navajo Lutheran Mission School update

On Friday, October 8th, 2021, the Navajo Mission Preparatory School completed its first quarter. While this has been a challenging quarter with Covid-19 still looming large, the school has moved forward in some very positive ways.

We are very proud of so many of our families who have embraced our read-at-home program. One of the single biggest predictors of success in school is whether or not a child is read to in the home.

Kate Adelman: A Future with Hózhó

In the August newsletter of the Navajo Lutheran Mission (NELM), Kate Adelson writes, “Blessed with resources and generous donors, the Mission’s potential is enormous…and we have the equally enormous challenge to listen for the true need, consider consequences before we act, serve without dominating, love unconditionally.”

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