Ben and Tillie Yazzie

Ministry Focus

Ben was appointed by Missions Door in 1987 to minister among the Navajos. His goal is to equip and empower Native churches and their leaders to effectively minister to their own people and fulfill the Great Commision. His work involves leadership training to strengthen both new and existing churches. “The key to building strong churches," says Ben, "is effective leadership training. Many of our men have no biblical training. They are hungry for the Word and they want to know how churches operate. My goals are to provide high quality leadership training and to encourage more leadership and discipleship classes on the reservation.” Ben wants his ministry to: • equip Native churches for ministry • empower Native churches to effectively minister to their congregations and communities • equip Native Christian leaders to become mature fellow believers in the image of Christ

Faith Story

Ben, who was raised on the Navajo reservation near Indian Wells, AZ, cherishes the culture and tradition of his people. He surrendered his life to Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior at the age of 12, while out on the range tending sheep. In the summer of 1978, while attending a series of evangelistic meetings, Ben realized the importance of reaching his own people with the Gospel and committed his life to Christian service. Tillie was born in Rehoboth, New Mexico, and raised in the Four Corners. She was an elementary teacher who grew up in a Christian home and received Christ as a teenager. Ben and Tillie moved to New Mexico in 2004 to expand their ministry to Pueblo, as well as Navajo Native Americans.

Education

B.A. from Southwestern College in Phoenix, Arizona M.Div. in General Ministries from Western Seminary, Portland, Oregon.