Yanomamo
Who Are They?
On Friday, November 7, 1997, during the 10:00 am chapel service, the student body, faculty and staff of Bethel College “adopted” the Yanomamo Indians of southeastern Venezuela as their “people group”. In doing so, they made a covenant with the Lord Jesus Christ and with one another to fulfill a certain number of spiritual responsibilities in regard to this “adopted people group”. They committed themselves to: 1) to become informed about the Yanomamo, 2) to pray for the Yanomamo, and 3) to send workers and resources to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the Yanomamo. This covenant or commitment was to continue until a mature, healthy church had been established among their Adopt-A-People Group.
Suggested Reading
Bethel students, faculty and staff each year seek to be more informed about the Yanomamo through a number of means. First and foremost is that of reading the book Spirit of the Rain Forest. This book is not only available in the Bethel Library but is also sold at a reduced price in the Bethel Bookstore. It is occasionally available at the Yanomamo booth/display set up at least once a semester in the Dining Commons. Another means of becoming informed is through special chapel speakers. Both Gary and Mike Dawson, missionaries to the Yanomamo Indians, have spoken in such services. We have also had Chief Shoefoot, a former Yanomamo shaman, and Timotheo, a converted Yanomamo church leader, speak to the student body. At least once a year, Kingdom Mobilizers (Bethel’s Student Mission Fellowship) features special videos and/or speakers in its regular Thursday night meetings. Yanomamo Moments (power point displays) are part of the pre-chapel announcements. These power points focus on important facts which the Bethel body should be aware of regarding the Yanomamo. During the World Christian Action Conference, held on the Bethel campus in January, there are at least 2 seminars devoted to increasing campus awareness of our Adopt-A-People Group. There is also a display shelf in the Shiloh Prayer Chapel holding Yanomamo artifacts such as bows and arrows, baskets, and head dress, etc..
Prayer Requests
As a body, Bethel students and staff have covenanted to pray for the salvation of the Yanomamo and for the establishment of a mature and healthy church within their people group. This is accomplished in a number of ways. One Wednesday night Vespers service per semester is devoted to a Prayer Concert for the Yanomamo Indians. During several Kingdom Mobilizers’ meetings throughout the school year, time is set aside to pray for the adopted people. Also, on occasion, the student body will pray for the Yanomamo during a chapel service.
Missions Involvement
Throughout the years, Bethel students and staff have sent workers and resources to meet the physical and spiritual needs of its Adopt-A-People group. One way this has been accomplished is through the Loose Change Fellowship. Coin folders are made available to those interested in giving monetarily to our mission to the Yanomamo. Over the last 7 years, Bethel has sent over $10,000 in aid to both the mission and the Yanomamo people. Students have also sponsored clothing drives in order to meet this basic necessity of the Indians. Bethel has also sent 5 Task Force Teams to work alongside the missionaries in the construction of a church building in Honey Village and also other facilities which are used by the mission for the training of Yanomamo leaders. Two individual students have gone long-term to serve as a teacher for the missionary children and as an evangelist/trainer among the Yanomamo.
Bethel College students, faculty and staff have taken seriously their commitment to see a mature and healthy church established among the Yanomamo Indians.
