Northport Indian United Methodist Church

 

Joining Hands in Support of Our Brothers and Sisters in Christ

 

By Zeke Fleet, CUMC Mission Committee

Central’s deep relationship with the Northport Indian UMC

Former Methodist pastor and Central UMC member, Bob Grigereit, passed away in 2024. His legacy lives on. Following retirement, Bob’s ministry continued through his service and support of the Northport Indian UMC.  Bob’s wife, Carolyn, offered her musical talents and Bob assisted as an interim pastor and helped with hands-on repair and maintenance projects at the church, campground, and cemetery. Bob and Carolyn embraced the Northport congregation. They loved their cultural diversity that reflected their tribal customs and spirituality. Bob realized these deep, personal connections merited the missional support of Central’s congregation. He encouraged Central to adopt and financially support the Northport Indian UMC as a permanent mission and participate in an annual work bee to maintain and improve the campground and cemetery. The annual work bee has complemented Central’s missional commitment since 2004.

The 22nd annual Northport Indian UMC Spring Cleanup (campground and cemetery) will take place on Sat., May 16. All are welcome to join this relationship-building project with a group of 25 to 30 people who gather for this day of sharing. The cleanup crew will meet at the church campground at 9 a.m.; carpooling options from Central are available, and a lunch will be provided at the campground. Directions to the camp and a sign-up sheet are available in Central’s gathering area. Mission committee member Staton Lorenz can provide more information and can be reached at (231) 492-2121.

Pastor Wava Hofmann, church leaders Valerie Maidens, Anna Miller and other pastoral and tribal leaders work closely with community members to help ease vulnerability, establish trust, and sustain ancestral culture and spirituality.  Many indigenous neighbors have lived and continue to live with historic trauma caused by the intergenerational legacy of pain for those who endured disease, loss of land, forced relocation, prohibited use of the native language, and the destruction of families because of the boarding school experience. Years of oppression, and lack of access to basic needs for the tribe have left deep scars that only time and trust will bring cultural recovery. 

Brief History of the Northport Indian UMC

Methodist missionary David Thomas led a group of indigenous Christian people by boat to the Northport area in Leelanau County in 1856. The group was joined by several people from the Three Fires Council: the Odawa, Ojibwa, and Potawatomi. This core group became the first members of the Northport Indian UMC.

Property was purchased for a permanent church in 1882, and more property was later acquired for a campground that now includes a tabernacle, cabin, and kitchen.  A place of deep spiritual history, the campground continues to be the summer meeting place for church services an annual August revival services, attracting local and regional tribal people and others who seek to find or renew their walk with God. 

In honor of an ancestral resting place, in 2006 the church assumed responsibilities for the restoration of the long-neglected Onominese cemetery, where more than 160 tribal members were laid to rest. Included are several veterans from World Wars I and II, and Civil War Company K Sharp Shooters. 

“These places and the rich religious and cultural traditions of Native Christians have been a source of wisdom and strength for leaders and members of the Northport Indian UMC. From ancient wells, God as Creator lifting prayers in faith and cheering them on.”   James Deaton, Michigan Conference UMC.

Current Needs of Northport Indian UMC

Several improvements to the church and grounds have been made and others are being planned:

• The weekly 11 a.m. Sunday church services are live streamed on YouTube. Click on “Northport Indian UMC” in the YouTube search. This service was made possible through a grant from UMC-Michigan.
• Church windows need repair or replacement along with the restroom floor.
• Campground kitchen renovations and restroom showers are needed.

Please Help Support Northport Indian UMC. Your financial contributions and prayers are needed! Here’s how you can help with a monetary gift to Central Missions:

• For one-time or recurring online donations, please select Central Missions on the dropdown and designate Northport Indian UMC.
• Designate Northport Indian UMC in the memo area on your offering checks.
• Donate your change, paper currency, or a check in the contribution bucket in the church gathering area.

 

A special thanks to Jim Huckle, Val Maidens, Cindy Armbruster, and James Deaton (UMC-Michigan Conference) for contributing to this article.