In Memoriam: Rev. Raymond Slim

Raymond Slim, Navajo theologian, wise counselor, powerful prayer warrior, and longtime Native American leader for the Christian Reformed Church, died on August 25 after being hit by a truck in a Best Buy parking lot in Farmington, N.M. He was 70 years old.

Slim was a child when he first heard the gospel from a CRC missionary in Red Mesa. Years later, accepting the power and grace of Jesus working in his life, Slim went on to study and graduate from Reformed Bible College and Calvin Theological Seminary. He began his ministry in 1982 and was ordained in 1994.

Slim served the following CRC congregations in New Mexico: Bethany, Gallup, Fort Wingate,  Crownpoint, and Sanostee, where he ministered for 20 years. Since retiring in 2010, Slim had been preaching at churches throughout Classis Red Mesa. Besides preaching, Slim was involved in leadership development and sat on many committees and boards, including that of Christian Reformed Home Missions. He attended synod (the CRC’s annual leadership meeting) several times. He was active in community affairs in Crownpoint, especially in the area of housing. Many people in Red Mesa considered Slim their spiritual mentor. 

“Our father was a very simple man,” said one of Slim’s sons. “Our dad really enjoyed his grandchildren. He kept all the artwork, cards, and pictures his grandchildren made. He had special names for each of his grandchildren and would talk about them and pray for each and every one of them. He enjoyed watching NFL games and was a fan of  the Denver Broncos. He also enjoyed watching boxing. He loved to travel. He would prefer to drive to meetings instead of flying.”

Left to mourn the loss of Raymond Slim are his wife, Carole; his children Willis, Marcus, Ronoldson, Cena, Shelley, Kimberly, and Heather, and their spouses; and ten grandchildren.