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'First of its Kind' Mission Conference In Neah Bay, Washington

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Pastor Don Johnson, Executive Director of the Lutheran Association of Missionaries and Pilots U.S. (L-US), was thrilled to welcome more than 70 people to Neah Bay, Washington for the First Nations Conference hosted by the Makah Lutheran Church, on Tuesday through Saturday, September 16-20, 2008.  Pastor Johnson, a member of the Makah Tribe, grew up in Neah Bay.  The Makah Indian Tribe is known for its hospitality and generosity, in fact, the name “Makah” means just that, warm hospitality and a generous nature, and the Makahs did not disappoint.

David and Rosemary Sternbeck hosted the event along with members of the Makah congregation where David ministers.  In attendance were native Christian leaders, pastors, lay people, Lutheran mission leaders, professors and mission executives from the United States, Canada and as far away as South Africa.  Attendees heard papers on Tuesday through Friday from 13 indigenous leaders and then participated in a round table discussion on Saturday morning. 

On Wednesday afternoon participants took a break from the rigors of academia and theology to tour the Makah Cultural and Research Center, recognized as the nations finest tribal museum.  It contains an amazing collection of historical artifacts from the archeological dig at nearby Ozette, begun in 1970, to the gift from the Japanese government to the Makah Tribe of a scaled replica ship that brought three Japanese sailors to the community in the 1830's. There was also time set aside on Thursday and Saturday to visit Cape Flattery, the most northwesterly point of the continental United States, and to walk Shi Shi Beach, featured on the Travel Channel’s Top 10 wild beaches in the United States.

True to their reputation, the Makah people hosted the group each evening at the Community Center where people of the community gathered for dinner with their guests and entertained with native songs and dances.  Not enough good things can be said about the welcoming atmosphere of the community and the appreciation for the Makah culture gained by all who attended.

The event was funded by a special grant made possible through the efforts of Dr. James Voelz of Concordia Lutheran Theological Seminary, St. Louis, Missouri, and arranged under the auspices of L-US.