Mt. Powell Bible Baptist Church

Frank and Nancy Booher were born and lived in northeast Ohio. They attended Canton Baptist Temple, where they met a woman whose brother, Nelson McBride, worked at Crossland's Mission near Thoreau, New Mexico. During the summer of 1966, the Booher family decided to visit and meet the McBride family to learn more about their mission work. In the following fall, Frank and Nancy felt called by the Lord to work with the Navajo people. While listening to a radio broadcast from Back to the Bible, the speaker quoted Isaiah 6:8, “…Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me.” Both Frank and Nancy were deeply moved to follow this calling and relocated to New Mexico in January 1967.

They initially collaborated with the McBride family for one year before feeling guided by the Lord to establish their own ministry. God directed them to adopt eight Navajo children, whose family owned land on Mt. Powell. The Boohers moved onto the land in the summer of 1968 and founded Mt. Powell Navajo Mission. A church and Christian school were established, and Frank engaged in boarding school, jail, and curbside evangelistic outreaches. Nancy passed away in 2008, and Frank continued his service until his demise in 2017. The ministry, begun over fifty years ago, has continued to thrive under God's guidance and blessings.

Pastor Sheridan Saunders experienced a significant spiritual transformation at the age of 12 when he was saved at Mt. Powell Bible Baptist Church. He felt a divine calling to serve as a young man, initially under the guidance of Pastor Frank “Grandpa” Booher, until he was called to preach at the age of 17. He devoted nine years to preaching. In 2018, at the age of 26, he was appointed as the Pastor of his home church. He has diligently led the congregation for seven years, with the support of his wife Tatiana, his three sons, Seth, Titus, and Lyle, as well as their daughter, Sarai. Additionally, Pastor Sheridan's commitment to the church is evident not only in his role as a Pastor but also in the manner in which he balances his duties as the Principal of the Christian school and his full-time position with the New Mexico Department of Transportation, with Tatiana fulfilling the role of head teacher. Together, they are raising their four children in the faith, instilling in them the values of hard work, dedication, and service to the community.

The church acknowledges the Lord's blessings and continuous work within this congregation on the Navajo Reservation. The narrative of Mt. Powell Bible Baptist Church and its devoted members is a testament to the power of faith and perseverance. Their journey, marked by both challenges and triumphs, serves as an inspiration to all, demonstrating what can be accomplished when a community unites with a shared purpose and an unwavering belief in God's plan.

We ask for continued prayers for Mt. Powell Bible Baptist Church as we strive to serve the Lord and touch more lives.