About

Occom Ministries is a three-fold ministry dedicated to building the church from the harvest among the indigenous peoples of North America. We recognize that Jesus has been at work for centuries among this diverse field. The Lord of the Harvest instructed us to pray for workers for the harvest. We could (and should) raise up more non-Native missionaries to go to the 1,200 tribes in North America, but we also recognize the Native workers who are already serving in their communities . We strive to equip them as they serve on their particular harvest field.

We want to equip Native pastors to better lead their flocks and fulfill the Great Commission. We want to identify potential Native pastors and train them for every good work. Additionally, we want to help those Native disciples who may not feel called to the pastorate to discern the Lord’s will for their lives, to discover the richness of God’s word, and to be more engaged and equipped to fulfill the Great Commission in their local church and community.

Our namesake of the ministry is the Rev. Samson Occom (Mohegan, 1723-1792). Rev. Occom was the first Native American ordained Presbyterian minister. His driving desire was to give the gospel to Native people and provide them with education that would enable them to live in and thrive in their rapidly changing world. He taught at the Moor’s Charity School for Native Americans in Lebonon, CT. Later the school was moved to New Hampshire and became Dartmouth College, which did — for a short time — provide higher education to Native people, only without Samson Occom. He was also the co-founder of the first Christian Native tribe, called the Brothertown Indians, which thrive today in Wisconsin. Although there are some very sad elements and disappointments in Occom’s story, we find great inspiration in his commitment to the kingdom and Native people.

Occom Ministries is an outreach of Mission to the World (MTW), which is the mission agency of the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). Our beliefs can be accessed here.

Our core biblical and theological curriculum is provided by Third Mill.

Patrick and Regina met at a Bible college in 1995. Together they have been in ministry for over 20 years. Patrick is a graduate of Reformed Theological Seminary (RTS Orlando, M.Div., 2014). From 1999 to 2014, they served together at a Reformed church in Sanford, Florida. Eight of those years, they led short-term teams to serve among the Eastern Band of the Cherokee Indians in Cherokee, North Carolina. From 2017 to 2019, they served at the Mokahum Ministry Center on the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota, working with fellow Native brothers and sisters.

Today they serve with Native leaders to help edify, encourage, and equip Native pastors that they may be strengthened in their calling to the Great Commission. To support Patrick and Regina, give here.