Western Indian Ministries:
Serving the Lord Faithfully Since 1938
WESTERN INDIAN MINISTRIES
Brief Historical Timeline of WIM
1937 -- It all began with the efforts of Rev. Howard A. Clark, Sr., and a group of dedicated Christians who saw the need for training Navajo believers and raising a native church. Purchased land in Tse Bonito, NM, and organized as Navajo Bible School and Mission, Inc.
1938 -- Began construction of facilities. Dedication service on October 1.
1939 -- Church planting ministry developed. Navajo Bible School Church (now called Community Bible Church) founded on February 5. Jail visitation ministry began. Evangelistic teams traveling throughout the reservation.
1944 -- Navajo Bible School and Mission worker Faye Edgerton is granted the request to transfer to Wycliffe Translators to help in the work of creating a Bible in the Navajo language.
1945 -- The Mission began producing a radio program in Navajo on a local radio station in Gallup, New Mexico, which expanded to stations in Flagstaff, Holbrook, and Winslow, Arizona.
1954 -- Navajo Bible Church built in Ft. Defiance, Arizona.
1962 -- Application was made to the Federal Communications Commission for a radio station license.
1963 -- Howard A. Clark went to be with the Lord.
1964 -- Hilltop Christian School opened on September 2, with thirteen children from first through sixth grade.
1967 -- Under the leadership of Rev. Larry Harper, son-in-law of the founder, KHAC-AM went on the air with 1,000 watts of power.
1976 -- Dr. David Clark, son of the founder, returned to the field from pastoring in California and became the General Director/President. He continued to lead the mission until his death in 1985.
1979 -- Hilltop Christian Preschool opened its doors.
1980 -- KTBA-AM in Tuba City, Arizona went on the air so the Gospel message could be heard in the western part of Navajoland and the Hopi reservation.
Mission name officially changed to Western Indian Ministries, Inc.
1990 -- Rev. Laurence Harper named General Director.
1995 -- KWIM-FM went on the air in Window Rock to give a predominantly music-oriented programming to complement the teaching ministries of KHAC.
Hilltop Christian School became the first cross-cultural mission school in the world to receive accreditation through the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI).
2001 – Field Committee in place and responsible for day-to-day operation of the mission.
2002 – Broadcasting Department and Church Development Department are led by Navajo Christians.
BOOK: Alma B. Clark, wife of the founder, has written a very nice history of the Mission, published in 1993, entitled A Tribute to God's Faithfulness: A Historical Account of the Navajo Bible School & Mission.
It is available, upon request, for a donation to WIM of $20, shipping and handling charges may apply.
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