Arizona Reservation Ministries Staff

Bill & Jean Cook

 

Bill and Jean Cook arrived as participants with a Short-Term Ministry group from Central Christian Church East Valley in Mesa, Arizona, in the spring of 2005. It has been said that a Short-Term Ministry trip will change your life. So it was with Jean and Bill, because within a short time they made plans to join the small, and overworked, staff of Arizona Reservation Ministries. They saw the needs of the children (love and attention), and the adults (help and guidance). Being grandparents, they enjoy working with children. Bill retired from a career in industrial maintenance so that he and Jean could follow God’s calling. Bill’s maintenance background gives him the ability to keep the growing fleet of vehicles in repair. He also serves in the children’s bus ministry. Jean is retired from the railroad with over 20 years of office experience and is currently the ARM office manager. She also serves in the children’s bus ministry. They have become known to the children as “Grandma Jean” and “Grandpa Bill.”

Bill’s vision is to someday see the crippling hold of drugs and alcohol no longer affect the First Nations people of the San Carlos Apache Reservation. Bill plans to begin taking classes in counseling, because over the past year God has been sending men from the reservation to him. These men have all been asking for help to break the cycle of drugs, alcohol and abuse. It has become very evident that the Lord has begun to open an avenue to reach Apache fathers for Christ. It is also evident that God intends to use Bill in some way to do this.

Jean has grown to love the children that come to the bus each week. She presently is seeking new and creative ways to hold the attention of children six and younger while giving the Bible lesson. Her investment of time and love has made a positive impact on these children. Jean has come to believe that to reach these children for Christ will take consistency and time, a lot of time, maybe an entire lifetime.

 

How can you partner with them financially?
All of the ARM staff members are self-supported. Although retired, the Cook’s income is still below their budgeted needs.

All checks must be made payable to ARM, just add a note letting ARM know that you intend for the funds to help the Cooks. Checks should be sent to:

Arizona Reservation Ministries
P. O. Box 2393
Globe, AZ 85502-2393

A note from Jean and Bill
We are so thankful that the Lord has called us to this ministry!  We came here to tell others about Jesus and that He died so that we may live. In doing so we fully expected to see lives changed. What we didn’t expect was that the Lord would change us as well. The change is a peace that can’t be described.

Philippians 4:7
And the peace of God, which passeth ALL UNDERSTANDING, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

We realize that we won’t change the world while God uses us here, (not by the world’s standards anyway,) but if He uses us to reach just one person, it will have all been worth it. Prayerfully we plant seeds of faith and watch amazed as God makes them grow.

How can you pray for us?

  • For our marriage to continue to grow and remain strong.

  • For our financial support base to grow…for our physical needs to be met.

  • For wisdom as we work with children and how best to share about God with them.

  • For our safety, the spiritual battle is strong here.

Our special needs:

  • Christ-based teaching materials for drug and alcohol-dependent adults.

  • Wal-Mart, Target, Kohl's gift cards.

How to reach us:

Our email addresses:

jeannbill2@juno.com
jean@azrez.org
bill@azrez.org
 

Learn MoreHome