Native American

Our Native American Ministries focus on developing indigenous leadership, creating contagious communities of faith, and affecting revitalization in plateaued and declining churches.

Native American Couples Retreat

Dear Pastor,

Things have changed since Covid. Many pastors and their wives are stressed due to political and social divisions, feelings of isolation, declining attendance, and congregational apathy. Being a pastor is not an easy job.

Being a pastor of a Native American church presents unique challenges also. I want you to know that I appreciate all that you do for the Lord. To show our appreciation for your faithfulness in ministry, Oklahoma Baptists would like to offer you and your wife a time of relaxation, fellowship, and encouragement.

A Native American Pastors and Wives Retreat will be held October 4-5, 2024 (Friday and Saturday). The retreat will be held at the Hyatt Place Oklahoma City Bricktown, 20 Russell M. Perry Avenue, Oklahoma City, OK 73104. Meals will be provided. The retreat will begin at 6 PM on Friday and end at 1:00 PM on Saturday.

If you would like to attend, we ask you to do the following:

  1. Register online.
  2. Spots are limited. A $25 deposit is required to reserve your place. This fee will be refunded at the event.
  3. The deadline for reservations is September 15, 2024.

If you have any questions, please call Grace Obregon at (405)942-3800. You can also contact me at (405) 88-5380. I look forward to seeing you at the retreat. Thank you for all you do for our Lord.

Sincerely in Christ,

Emerson E. Falls

Native American Ministry Partner

Meet our group

Dr. Emerson Falls

Dr. Emerson Falls

Grace Obregon

Grace Obregon

Leadership Development

Our goal is to develop indigenous leaders who can be effective in making Native disciples. We want to help local churches identify and mentor those who feel called to ministry. We will also equip and certify mentors to provide face-to-face guidance to trainees.

Our goal is to facilitate a church planting movement among Native people.

It is our goal to identify and mentor individuals and churches that have a heart and aptitude for planting new works, and equip them to plant churches that will reproduce other churches. We will connect those called to planting new works to locations where works are needed, and be a catalyst to plant new churches that understand that their mission is to plant other churches as well.
There are several areas in our state where we have a significant population of Native Americans, but we do not have a church to reach them. In the New Testament, evangelism and church planting went hand in hand. In Acts 2, three thousand people turned to Christ. In that same chapter, they began to meet in homes to learn from the teaching of the apostles. We need to emulate that New Testament model.

Please pray about the need to reach the unchurched and under-churched communities in our state. God may be calling you to be the next church planter. He may call your church to be a partner church. You will not be alone in this endeavor. Oklahoma Baptists, as well as other churches and associations, will partner with you. Oklahoma Baptists will provide training and start-up resources.

Church Revitalization

Our goal is to help plateaued and declining churches to experience revitalization.

“One of our central tasks in the present generation is to be bold in our vision of replanting churches – helping existing churches to find new vision, new strategic focus, new passion for the gospel, new hunger for the preaching of the Word, new love for their communities, and new excitement about seeing people come to faith in Jesus.” A Guide to Church Revitalization R. Albert Mohler, Jr., Southern Seminary President

Courageous steps are required in effective church revitalization.

  • The church must face reality and see things as they are, not as they wish they were or how they used to be.
  • The church must adopt a “whatever it takes” attitude and be willing to radically pursue God’s plan for the church.
  • The church must accept new leadership, new ministry paradigms and practices over their personal preferences.