San Juan, as in all of the Navajoland Area Mission, functions under the philosophy of the Hooghan Learning Circle -- a formation program for people of all ages that seeks to bring together the Episcopal Christian tradition with the tradition of the Diné (Navajo) people. This means including both English and Navajo languages, as well as traditional Navajo images, in worship services and discussing the sacred stories of both traditions in an effort to, as Bishop Mark MacDonald says, bring the gospel into the Sacred Circle of Navajo culture and tradition.

San Juan dates from 1917, when a mission was established in the area of Farmington, New Mexico, by what then was called the Missionary District of New Mexico and Southwest Texas. The mission began as a health clinic and grew into the first hospital for Navajo people in New Mexico. As needs changed, the ministry changed. It has functioned as a children's shelter and ministered to people with addictions.

St. Luke's in the Desert in Carson Post -- about 30 miles southeast of Farmington -- was built in 1930 of logs hauled from the La Plata Mountains of Colorado and stone quarried near Carson Post to serve as a mission outpost.

It serves the communities of Huerfano Chapter House and Dzilthna-oh-dithle. Since the 1970s, it has been led by Lay Pastoral Minister Inez Velarde. She ministers to a far-flung congregation of people living on the margins in remote areas.

In the 1950s, St. Michael's congregation in Upper Fruitland, seven miles west of Farmington, was added. Other mission congregations have come and gone in the region, based on the movement of people and needs for ministry.

Today, All Saints' Chapel, located outside the city limits of Farmington, is a mixed Navajo and Anglo congregation with an active Sunday attendance of 30 to 50 people. St. Luke's is a smaller congregation. St. Michael's discontinued services for a while but now holds a monthly service for elders who can't get to Sunday worship and who largely are Navajo-speaking.

Both All Saints' and St. Luke's are largely young congregations with lots of children, so ministry focuses on children and youth -- helping young people to learn about both cultural traditions and to learn how to develop into effective church leaders. The mission has been developing Sunday school programs and Vacation Bible School programs. The Hooghan Learning Circle, for example, has created a lectionary-based children's curriculum that includes Navajo traditions and stories, along with the gospel lesson for each Sunday.

In 1979, General Convention formed the Navajoland Area Mission -- akin to a missionary diocese -- which gave Navajoland voice and vote at convention.

The mission is fortunate to have good leaders, both lay and ordained, Navajo and Anglo, to work together to be the body of Christ in this place.

More information is available on the Navajoland Area Mission's website.