Staff
 

Gerald and Deanna Wright
Gerald and Deanna Wright, natives of Illinois, moved to Arizona in 1985 to begin ministry to Native Americans as dorm parents at a Christian boarding school. During the next eleven years, they also served as teachers and administrators.

Since the beginning of NAYM in 1997, Gerald has served as director of NAYM and building projects facilitator. Both are involved in the Calvary Native Fellowship and host mission guests. Deanna also teaches fifth grade at Northwest Christian School. They are the parents of five children, and have six grandchildren. They currently reside in the Phoenix area. “I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me faithful, appointing me to His service.” I Timothy 1:12 (NIV)

  
 
Mark and Nancy Smith
Mark and Nancy Smith, both Pennsylvania natives, are two of the original NAYM missionaries. Prior to NAYM, they served at Southwest Indian School for 14 years. They have been involved in ministry to American Indians since 1983. Mark and Nancy have two sons. Ben, age 20, is a sophomore in college, and Travis is in the 9th grade at Northwest Christian School in Phoenix. Mark is the director of the work team ministry and spends much of his time doing construction work on Native churches, missions and homes. He travels on the Hopi, Navajo, Apache and Tohono O’odham Reservations. Nancy holds down the fort at their home near Phoenix, and does bookkeeping and other office work for the mission. Nancy is also a Registered Nurse, and enjoys being involved with health care. Mark and Nancy feel blessed to be a part of the NAYM/ROCK family.
  email: smith@naym.org

Judith Kanouse
Judy, originally from Michigan, came to Arizona to serve as a dorm parent at Southwest Indian School in 1990. After seven years, she felt led to resign and join NAYM. She is one of the original missionaries. The first five years with NAYM, Judy was the director of Hope House. Primarily a Native American maternity home, it was also a guest house and a home for girls in the Student Education Program. Judy now serves as a volunteer chaplain at Phoenix Indian Medical Center, teaches the Native children’s Bible study, teaches a children’s cooking class at an inner city mission, and helps with the monthly Native fellowship. She has recently been asked to serve as NAYM’s director of urban ministry. Judy loves being full-time grandma/mom to 6½ year old Zachary. She also works part time at a Christian pre-school to supplement her income.

 
 
Teresa Collett
Teresa, an Indiana “Hoosier,” originally came to Arizona in 1982 to be a missionary teacher at Southwest Indian School. She also served as a dorm parent and coach. The Lord led Teresa to join the NAYM staff in 2000 to be the director of publications. Her responsibilities include editing and printing newsletters, and working on brochures and the NAYM web-site. Teresa is also involved in urban outreach. She co-leads our Native ladies’ Bible study, and helps with the monthly Native fellowship at Calvary Community Church. She has continued to be involved in education by working part time at Northwest Christian School as a kindergarten extended care teacher. Teresa currently lives in the Phoenix area with her two cats.
  email: teresa@naym.org

Robin and Faith Jelle
Robin and Faith Jelle, along with children Jasmine, Jessica and Jeremy, moved to Hardrock AZ on the Navajo Reservation in 1990 in response to God’s call on their hearts. They are also part of the original ROCK Ministries team.

They are currently involved in vacation Bible schools, family, youth and children’s camps, talking circle support group in a local school and home visitation. Robin also works as a carpenter to help provide for their personal and ministry expenses.

They are in the process of obtaining a church site from the Navajo Tribe in order to establish a family ministry center. This indigenous ministry center will be overseen by the Jelles and local Navajo Christians.

  
 
Larry and Zella Correll
The Corrells are the parents of Faith Jelle. As a result, when Larry and Zella were ready to retire from other responsibilities back in Ohio, they found that God was leading them to be “re-treaded” into a new ministry here. In June of 2005, the Corrells joined the NAYM/ROCK team. Larry pastored churches for over sixteen years, ministered in various positions in Christian radio for 28 years, and for over two years served as chaplain in a chronic pain clinic in Springfield, Ohio. The Macedonian Call is a call they feel very keenly. "Come over to the Navajo Reservation and help us." They are helping Faith and Robin in their outreach, and are engaged in a variety of ministries: preaching, Bible teaching, visitation, counseling, and more. They currently reside in Winslow, AZ
   

Scott and Melinda Wight
Scott and Melinda Wight have recently joined ROCK/NAYM as missionaries on the Hopi Reservation. Melinda is originally from Massachusetts and Scott is from New York State. They are currently serving at the Hopi Mission School in Kykotsmovi, AZ. Melinda is the kindergarten teacher, and Scott teaches physical education.

Scott and Melinda’s real passion is to disciple teens living on the reservation. Through the use of adventure programs such as backpacking, rappelling and rock climbing, they hope to draw Hopi and Navajo youth into discipleship groups within the local churches. They have already started a youth group in a church in Polacca, and plan to begin the adventure programs this summer.

  
 
Jim and Myrtis McCormack
 Jim and Myrtis, part of the original ROCK Ministries team, have been serving the Native people of the Southwest since 1988. With their daughter Anna, they presently live on the Hopi Reservation where they are working with NAYM/ROCK Ministries among the Hopi and Navajo people. Jim is the director of reservation ministries where he oversees, facilitates, and encourages the missionaries and their ministries. He also produces audio and video projects for local Christian leaders as well as trains tribal staff to record and edit language and oral history projects. Myrtis volunteers at the Hopi Women’s Health Clinics. She also does visitation - listening to and praying for their concerns, and giving thanks for His answers. They have many opportunities to assist in community events and provide crisis intervention.
   

Russell and Cynthia Toews Family
Russell and Cynthia Toews are from the original ROCK Ministries team as well. Along with their three sons, they have lived and ministered on the Hopi Reservation (AZ) since 1997, serving the Bacavi Church.

Their ministry at the church is multi-faceted. It consists of Sunday services, one-on-one discipleship, raising up local Native leaders, children’s and youth ministry, men’s and women’s groups, and discipleship group/Bible study, as well as many other opportunities to serve the people. The most important part of their ministry however is prayer: GOD moves when the human will is surrendered to HIM.

Their oldest son, Lucas, is in Ghana, West Africa teaching school and ministering to the church leaders in the local villages. He is with Charity African Missions. Their middle son, Jeremy, is continuing to progress through Moody Bible Institute's mission aviation program to become a missionary pilot/mechanic. Their youngest son, Nathaniel, is serving at Bacavi church helping with ministry. He has various opportunities ahead of him, which he is seeking the LORD for direction on where GOD would have him.