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Indian Missions Director C. Don Burke and his wife Naomi
Mission Statement: Our purpose is to evangelize First Americans, the hidden natives of the USA, training and sending them to win others to the Lord Jesus Christ. A great challenge facing the Church is that of meeting the spiritual needs existing among the American Indian population. Here are some facts which will substantiate this statement: There are currently 4.1 million Native Americans; 515 tribes live on 300 reservations, rancheros and colonies. Two hundred of these tribes have not heard the Gospel. Unemployment on the average reservation ranges from 60 to 95%; no jobs are available. American Indian youth have a higher suicide rate than the youth of any other ethnic group in this country.
The Indian Missions Department is actively involved in construction of Church facilities in Native American communities. Each year several major construction projects are scheduled and the work is done with volunteer skilled builders. The work of these crews has been of inestimable value in getting established churches where God’s Word is taught and Natives are learning how to evangelize their own. There are currently some 200 facilities consisting of Church sanctuaries and Christian Education Departments existing today because of dedication and contributions of finances and labor of Christians with vision to win the First American to Christ. American Indians make up the greater percentage of the 120 trained Pentecostal Church of God Pastors currently serving departmental facilities.
C. Don Burke, Director of Indian Missions, (above) was born March 9,1929 in Sapulpa, Oklahoma and married Naomi Snowden on March 11, 1947.
He became an ordained Pentecostal Church of God minister in 1958 in New Mexico while employed by El Paso Natural Gas Company as San Juan Divisional inspector. The Burke family helped to pioneer and later were pastors of the first Indian Mission built among the Navajo Tribe. He resigned this pastorate with plans to relocate to El Paso, Texas for training to become an engineer for his employer. En route to Texas he was impressed by the Holy Spirit to quit his job, turn around and go to Milan, NM to pioneer a church. Without questioning, he did this; today this church is known as Temple of Peace. Brother Burke’s decision to obey God and return to New Mexico changed not only the direction of his life and ministry but that of his family as well, a course they are still traveling today.
From New Mexico, he accepted pastorates in Arizona and California. However, interest in Indian Missions activities kept them returning to reservation projects with a dear friend, Albert Neal, Director of Indian Missions. In 1964, he was asked to serve as Assistant Indian Missions Director and in 1965 became Director of Indian Missions where he continues to serve. He has served in this office and on the Executive Committee, General Board, and World Missions Board for a longer consecutive time than any other person.
Today a total of 100 preaching stations, consisting of near 200 facilities serve members of more than 100 tribes of American Indians. Construction costs and monthly allowances are provided by faithful servants of the Lord. Pentecostal believers build facilities; Pentecostal missionaries labor there; the Pentecostal message wins First Americans to Christ and to Him alone goes glory, honor and praise.
Indian Missions’ assets in 1964 totaled $60,000.00. Today, Indian Missions’ conservative worth is $4,000,000.00. God has provided laborers and finances, proving out Jesus’ statement, "I WILL BUILD MY CHURCH. . ."
The Burkes have three children: Donita, Nelda, and Mike and a number of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. Brother Burke also holds a DD degree from the School of Bible Theology (1985) and a DHL degree from the Minnesota Graduate School of Theology (1988).
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