Copyright © 2006 NLThomas
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News from the Cherokee Nation, OK
Copyright © 2006 CNO
JAY, OKLAHOMA – Through its Community Work Project program, the Cherokee Nation recently invested matching funds in the Clouds Creek Baptist Church, located in Delaware County, to build a new sanctuary.The payment is the first installment in a total investment of $43,000 from Cherokee Nation, which Clouds Creek officials will match with $43,000 of their own contributions, primarily in the form of community labor.
“These projects let communities prioritize what they need and work together to make it happen,” said Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation. “We’re proud of the work our citizens are doing for their own community and are happy the Cherokee Nation can contribute to the good things that are already going on.”
Initial monies will fund work for phases one and two. The first phase includes all concrete work for the building’s foundation, and the second phase includes framing the new sanctuary. The project should be completed by the end of this summer.
Clouds Creek Baptist Church has a primarily Native American congregation, with approximately 25 percent of the members attending the Cherokee language Sunday school class. Cherokee language classes are also taught at the facility, which helps preserve the traditional language of the Cherokee people.
In addition to Sunday and Wednesday services, the new sanctuary will be used for revivals, baptizing services, the Lord’s Supper quarterly meetings, crusades and MTI courses.
“I would like to thank Cherokee Nation for its help, because without it we could not have done this project as quickly as we have. This donation will allow our church to grow and will also allow us to turn our old sanctuary into much-needed classrooms,” said Chris King, a church deacon.
The purpose of Community Work Projects is to develop stronger Cherokee communities by providing small amounts of matching funding to assist communities and community-based organizations within the Cherokee Nation’s 14-county tribal jurisdiction to organize around issues and projects that have broad community support. Projects must have a self-help focus and must be aimed in a broad sense at improving the community’s ability to be self-reliant.
In 2005, Cherokee Nation invested more than $486,000 in 28 community organizations for improvement projects within the communities.
For more information about the Cherokee Nation Community Work Project program, contact Denise Honawa, Community Services administrative officer, phone: 918-453-5248 or by email.
Related paths:
| Related Cherokee Nation contact information: |
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Mike Miller, Cherokee Nation Director of Communications Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2210) Fax: 918-458-5580 E-mail: Communications@cherokee.org
Larry Daugherty, Advertising Manager |
Steven Swogger, Agriculture Liaison Natural Resources Department Phone: 918-456-0671 (ext.2546) FAX: 918-458-7673 E-mail: sswogger@cherokee.org
Bradley D. Peak, Cherokee Nation |