ENDOWMENT GROWS

Photo by Holly McCray

At the Endowment Gala on Oct. 27, Gov. Bill Anoatubby, center, of the Chickasaw Nation is joined by Bishop Robert Hayes Jr., left, and Superintendent David Wilson of the Oklahoma Indian Missionary Conference (OIMC). Held at the Jim Thorpe Event Center in Oklahoma City, the evening festivities raised about $101,000 to support OIMC pastors. More than 370 people attended, from Oklahoma, Kansas, and Texas. Other special guests included acclaimed artist Kelly Haney, former chief of the Seminole Nation; Chad Smith, former chief of the Cherokee Nation; and Jeri McKie of New York City, representing the UM General Board of Global Ministries. An additional large endowment has been established by the Chickasaw Nation. Both funds are held at the Oklahoma United Methodist Foundation.