Crownpoint church of Christ

1. CROWNPOINT CHURCH OF CHRIST
CROWNPOINT CHURCH of CHRIST

2. Crownpoint is a very rural community
Other smaller nearby areas include: Smith Lake, Standing Rock, Coyote Canyon, Borrego Pass,

3. Crownpoint and
the surrounding
area.
 About half of the 469
people are under 30. The
majority of those under
30 are under 18.
 The predominant
religions in the area are
Traditionalism,
Mormonism and
Variations of
Pentecostalism.
 90% of the residents are
Native American
predominately Navajo
9% are Anglo. All other
groups less than 1%.

4. Minister: Edison Gruber
 Fully Bi-lingual and switches easily from
Navajo to English and back again.
 From the Crownpoint area.
 Was raised in the traditions of the Navajo
people and was in training to become a
medicine man. He fully understands the
struggles of leaving behind traditions.
 Overcame alcoholism with God’s help more
than 30 years ago. This makes him uniquely
qualified to minister to the people who are
struggling with alcoholism.

5. Minster’s Training
 The first American Indian graduate of Bear
Valley Preaching School.
 Very adept at Greek and able to instruct the
Navajo people in using the original language
of the Gospel in study.
 Acutely aware of the struggles and issues
that people in the community face and how
to overcome them with God’s help.
 Edison is shown here taking a confession
before baptism. He knows God’s word and
preaches the full word of God.

6. Michael takes the pulpit
when Brother Gruber is
gone. He is VERY camera
shy, however, he just hides
behind the cross when he
preaches and the shyness
goes away. He does an
excellent job.
He studies a
great deal and
Brother Gruber
works with him
on the sermon
outlines.

7. People come from near and far
Some members are near enough
to walk to the building. Others face a 160 mile roundtrip

8. Crownpoint is a congregation of “babes in Christ”. The majority
of members were baptized in the last three years. 7 baptisms
in three years.
A young man is
baptized. Full immersion. A faithful woman.

9. House to House
Heart to Heart
The entire zip code area
receives “House to
House-Heart to Heart”.
The ladies of the
congregation are
currently working with 11
students by
correspondence. We
hope for more soon.
Tracts are also placed all
around the community.

10. Monthly classes that focus on high interest topics have pulled in
people from outside the church.
Several teachers have attended as well as relatives from extended families of the members.
The congregation always follows the classes with a potluck.

11. We frequently go places together and
have devos, singing in Navajo and
English.

12. The Women want
to help our
congregation
become self-
supporting.
The women of the
congregation try to help with
funding by sewing and
crafting and giving the
proceeds to the church.
We have had some flea
market sales and sold
handmade tote bags through
a booth out of state with
space donated by a member
of the church.

13. The Children: Bible classes Sunday and
Wednesday, fishing trips, egg hunts etc.
Playing outside at the
wood hauling
Learning how to cook
frybread.
Dying Easter eggs to
hunt.

14. The Church “Van” The congregation bought a Tahoe inexpensively because it
had a bent frame. Brother Gruber worked tirelessly on it lifting it off the frame and changing it. All the wiring
and fuel system had to be taken apart and put back together. It runs like a 4-wheel dream.

15. Desert Gardening
We planted several things. We got squash and some tiny corn. The produce-and the work was
shared among the congregation.

16. Crownpoint is dry and cold. Annual woodhauling, stump pulling,
and chopping means all hands on deck.
Everyone helps
Each family favors different types of
wood for heating.
Little Ones & Big
Ones
Several days are spent each fall
gathering wood for the
congregation.
Wood for the Church
We work practically every weekend
till everyone has enough.

17. Working on the Building Complex
Our teens working to
repair old floor.
Work group and members
put in new floor Painting the Building

18. Building a much needed storage shed.
Local members laying the
foundation.
Helping the visiting work
group. Storage Building

19. What we DON’T need.
Songbooks
We have full sets of at least
7 different songbooks.
Bulletins and Tracts
Members drive around with boxes in
their vehicles dropping these off at
laundromats, hospitals, detention
centers etc. In a desperate attempt to
empty our shelves.
Clothes
The postage, gas or shipping cost of
getting these items to us makes them
a poor stewardship choice. There are
enough old clothes coming onto the
reservation to clothe the whole nation.

20. What we Do need.
Craft and Sewing
Outlets.
Ladies here are willing to craft and
sew items to sell but we need outlets
to sell through. We have one Sister
who sells through her flea market
booth.
Tractor
If our minister had a dirt moving
machine such as a backhoe/dozer
he could be more self-supporting.
Postage stamps
The members are absorbing the cost
of mailing out the courses and often
have to wait until they have money on
hand to send replies.

21. More ways to help.
Donations/ one time
or continuing
Donations of any size are
appreciated and may be sent to
P.O. Box 483, Crownpoint, New
Mexico, 87313
Invitations to speak
Brother Gruber is willing to come out
and speak to interested
congregations.
Travel Expense is appreciated.
Prayers
Your prayers to the Lord on our
behalf mean so much.

22. “…the Lord be with you all.” II Thess. 3:16
Thank You