Chief of the Apache Nation, Reynard Faber, is a unique individual who shares his Christian conversion with people all over the world. Apache Chieftain Visits Area, Shares Unique Life Story By Sherrie Norris Chief Reynard Faber from the Jicarilla Apache Tribe in Dulce, New Mexico, was in Boone last week as one of approximately forty international associates of Samaritan’s Purse who serve as coordinators of the Operation Christmas Child Shoebox distribution in their respective countries. The group had gathered for a weeklong training session at the Boone-based organizational headquarters. Chief Faber agreed to an interview with The Mountain Times after sharing with this reporter a collection of personal photographs – some of which included his famous ancestral leaders whose names and images are forever ingrained in American history. Our meeting the following day took a surprise turn, as his focus shifted from the history and culture of his people, to the new life he has found as a born-again Christian and renowned public speaker. The full-blooded Apache, whose honorary Chieftain title was bestowed upon him in 2000 by the Jicarilla Apache Tribal Council, retains much passion and admiration for his people, and is respected likewise by most in his tribe. While many support him, he has been publicly ridiculed, as have others who share the same belief. “With me being a Christian, it has been a real challenge coming from my background, though even some who are known to be critical and hard -hearted have been encouraging.” His beliefs as a modern day Christian are far removed from those with which he grew up. Reynard Faber has not had an easy life, and only for the last twenty years has the 40-year old Chief been at peace. He states emphatically, “I’m glad life hasn’t been easy for me, but rather it has been a hard teacher. It has made me a stronger person with purpose, faith, and vision.” As one who grew up in the shadows of the medicine man, Chief now says, “My relationship with God is the greatest event to ever happen in my life.” Born on Christmas Day, 1962, Reynard came into a long line of Chiefs and medicine people, though was raised in what he describes as “a very dysfunctional, broken family, where alcohol had taken over.” He was abused and “severely beaten,” as a child. “My life didn’t seem to serve a purpose, and even though my relatives would tell us not to drink, they would be drinking themselves . . . their message didn’t have a very strong impact.” At seventeen, Reynard graduated from high school and started drinking alcohol, which he says consumed his life for two years and “probably made me close to being the town drunk.” There was a woman praying for him, he shares, “a cousin to my mother, her name was Avis Julian, and she told me one day, ‘Don’t drink anymore . . . it is a fake happiness . . . and I am praying for you.’ Those were her exact words.” Reynard recalls, “On that same day, I happened to be inebriated, with a bad hangover, it was so bad the sun hurt my eyes. A few minutes after she spoke to me, as I was standing outside a shopping center, and because the sun was irritating my eyes and my head was throbbing, I covered my eyes for a few moments, and at the same time, I could hear her words in my head, and when I moved my hand from my eyes, I was no longer drunk, I had no hangover, my head and eyes didn’t hurt – I was completely sober and in my right mind. I said I’m not going to drink from that day on – and I knew a miracle had happened for me.” Not long afterward, he realized there was still something missing from his life, “I turned to studying the medicine man – that’s the religion I grew up with. Through my searching, I came across a ragged old book with no cover; many of its pages were torn out or stuck together. I didn’t know what kind it was and started to throw it into the woodstove to burn, but I glanced at it and saw the word ‘God’ and decided to keep it. I began reading it and noticed in some of those stories, one man was mentioned and his name was Jesus and he was healing people and forgiving people and giving people their lives back. I began to feel the presence of God and I remember reading John 3:16 for the first time in my life, and that really brought conviction to my life. I didn’t know the word “sin” at that time, but I knew wrongdoing, and I asked God, “Why are you calling me? Why do you want me? My life was filled with guilt and shame and filth! ‘Why me?’” After reading that verse and the ones following, he says he began confessing all the wrong things he could think of that he had done, and crying at the same time. “I finally asked God just to forgive me and give me a new life. I wanted this new life so bad I told him I would go anywhere he wanted me to go, I would do anything he wanted me to do and I would say anything he wanted me to say. . . . It’s been twenty years now, and I still believe in the power of God’s word to change lives.” Chief Faber has been all over the world sharing his conversion story, many times through Samaritan’s Purse, and through invitations from the Revs. Billy and Franklin Graham to participate in their crusades and festivals. “It is a real blessing that God has given me to know and be associated with Franklin and Billy Graham and their family.” He says the opportunity to be involved with Operation Christmas Child “has enriched my life as well as the lives of many Indian Children in New Mexico who live below the poverty line.” He stressed that New Mexico is the poorest state in the country. Each year, the Apache nation receives approximately 7,000 shoebox gifts, which are distributed by Chief Faber and his assistants “within six days before Christmas.” He has contact people in each community on the reservations to set up an auditorium or other large meeting place ahead of time, where the boxes are taken and stacked into towers on the stage . . .. “and when the kids see them, their eyes become so huge from the excitement! At times, we sing Christmas songs and carols, and then I have a presentation of the gospel. Most times though the ministry is for the children, it is the parents who respond.” He says when the children open their boxes, “The joy and excitement on their expression is indescribable!” Stuffed animals are always the favorite, but he recalls one gift that had a lingering effect on many people. “The parents of a little girl told me that when they went to town every two weeks, they only had enough money for supplies and never extra for toys, and that their little girl kept asking for a Native American Barbie Doll she saw on a shelf. They were not able to get it for her and always told her ‘Maybe next time.’ She began to pray with her mother that she would get a Barbie Doll for Christmas. When she opened her box that day, she let out a really high shriek, a scream. We thought she had gotten hurt, she was crying a lot, and we all ran over to her and asked ‘What is wrong?’ Her mom was crying, too, and said, ‘God has answered our prayers.’ That’s how specific God answers prayers . . . there have been many situations like that,” the Chief states. On behalf of his tribe and the Tribal Government, Chief says he knows everyone appreciates everything that Samaritan’s Purse has done for them – not only through Operation Christmas Child, but also through an upgraded Medical Clinic, provided by World Medical Missions, that greatly improved the health services on the reservation. Faber sees his role as a unique situation, “It is very unusual for a Christian to be a chief.” Viewed as a spiritual leader and an example for his people, he represents about 3400 members of Apache Jicarilla tribe, on a one million acre reservation in Northern New Mexico; only 5% of his people are professed Christians. The Indian beliefs remain very strong in ceremony, Chief shares, and he continues to participate with his tribe in at least two very special events each year; one being the Kesda, which celebrates children “coming of age,” and the Gojiiya, or Fall Feast, in which two clans in the tribe engage in foot races to determine leadership, among other things; it was more prevalent in the past, prior to Tribal government taking control, but still a celebrated custom. Chief’s uncle is a medicine man, and surprisingly enough, he describes their relationship as “one of the best I have . . . I go to visit him and we have dinner or coffee together.” An aunt, also, is a “medicine person.” His mother and step-dad are “believers” and he has brothers who have made professions of faith, but “are not practicing Christians.” The Chief is unmarried, but jokingly adds, “I’m taking applications.” Chief Reynard Faber, a Native American working for God’s kingdom, is indeed a unique individual, who brings hope to his tribe. . . whether through a shoebox, a medical clinic, or a steadfast faith that he shares with the world.