Zuni Mission Gets a New School

Students, staff, and the Zuni Pueblo community in New Mexico dedicated the new Zuni Christian Mission School on September 10.

The mission in Zuni was started by the Christian Reformed Church in 1897; the school opened in 1908. Governance of the mission, the church, and the school transitioned 20 years ago from the CRC to the Zuni community.

The new building replaces portable buildings that had been in use since a fire destroyed the school in 1971. The school currently houses 65 day students from kindergarten to grade eight. Most of the students are of Zuni Pueblo ethnicity.

Nina Chimoni, president of the school committee, said, “Our new school is a symbol, a gift of God’s love and faithfulness to the Zuni people. He wants his message of love to be expressed in Zuni through Christian education. He instilled compassion in our Christian friends, who gave generously in monetary resources. The unceasing prayers of our prayer partners are appreciated. It was a humbling experience as I walked through the hallways of the new school for the first time. All I can say is ‘Great is your faithfulness.’”

Although the village and people of Zuni have changed, the contemporary ministry remains: Christian mission education. “One of the strengths of our school is the integrated ministry of the school and Zuni Christian Reformed Mission Church,” said Kathy Bosscher, principal of the school. “There is an increasing level of ownership from the Zuni Pueblo community.”