Current Status: Alumni
Graduation Year: 1979
“I sensed that God was calling my family to begin a new work,” recalls Dale Lawrence (FS ’77, MA ’09). Through prayer and guidance, Arizona Reservation Ministries (ARM) was born.” Dale and Diana (BA ’79) Lawrence are the founders of ARM, an organization that partners with the community members of the San Carlos Apache Nation in Globe, AZ, which has been their mission field for the past 18 years.
ARM supports the community by providing leadership training, children’s programs (including mobile youth ministry), benevolence work, and emotional/physical support for Native pastors, Tribal leaders, and others. As part of their mission and values the Lawrence’s believe “all that we do must flow from God’s leading, restoring the dignity our Native brothers and sisters most certainly deserve.”
Dale serves as ARM’s Executive Director, overseeing the general operations, construction projects and financial accountability. “The Master’s Degree in Intercultural Studies I completed at HIU has given me tools to better understand the delicate balancing act between cultural sensitivity and excessive assimilation of cultural concepts into the Gospel message,” Dale says. “It gave me confidence and clarity on how best to converse with Native Christian leaders. I have a much better understanding of how to yield to their leadership while coming alongside them to provide support and advocacy.
“We are compelled to serve our Native brothers and sisters. To do less would simply result in the same centuries-old missionary egotism that has produced minimal results.”
Diana serves as ARM’s Development Director. She also leads a weekly Bible Study at the tribe’s assisted living facility and mentors the younger women on the ARM Team. “With my BA in Psychology from HIU, I’ve used much of that information as I encourage and counsel others,” Diana shares. “The Bible classes continue to be a big help, too, as I search for scriptures, teach lessons, and speak at Women’s Retreats.”
The Lawrence’s mission in Arizona has been blessed from the very start, when God provided a church building near the San Carlos Apache Reservation for just $1.00. Tools for building homes and bunk beds for the work groups were donated, as well as buses that were converted into mobile ministry centers for children and youth programs. They were given office space that wasn’t even on the market.
The most recent blessing ARM received was tens of thousands of pounds of food and hundreds of cases of water to distribute to families unable to provide for themselves because of COVID-19. Perhaps the most meaningful blessing has been the baptisms of more than 100 children, teens, and adults.
“God has provided in miraculous ways over the years, confirmations that we are where He wants us to be.”
Along with the general assistance ARM provides, they also build homes for families. Dale says that watching as families receive the keys to their new home has been one of the most rewarding parts of his work. “These homes provide shelter from the elements, of course, but they produce spiritual fruit. We’ve seen families transformed as Christians from all over the world come to work on and pray over their house,” says Dale. “Our house-building ministry allows us the opportunity to share God’s love with them, demonstrating His provision for their needs and His desire for them to have a personal relationship with Him. Several home recipients have committed themselves to full-time Kingdom service, and some have even joined our staff!”
The Lawrence’s community involvement and genuine care for those they serve has enabled them to maintain fellowship and live in a way that demonstrates Christ’s love. “Having been part of the community for eighteen years now, we are ‘Nana and Papa Dale’ to many Apache kiddos,” Diana shares. “We have been invited into the lives of many, many Apache families.”
“One day, a friend asked me if I was going to attend the (Apache) Seniors Luncheon. When I reminded her that I wasn’t Apache, she laughed and said, ‘Oh, right!’”
