September 2003

".....some background info on our President"

by Staff Writer, Indian Crusader


Meet the Gaynor Family!!!

Basil & Connie Gaynor –

Evangelism, Discipleship, Church Planting with Native Americans The American Indian Liberation Crusade, Inc. and The American Indian All-Tribes Church

Background: Basil grew up in the South Bay and earned an AA in Business Administration from El Camino College and a B.A. in Biblical Studies from Angeles Bible College. Basil's interest in the American Indian Liberation Crusade (AILC) began through a school friend while attending Angeles Bible College. Connie earned an AA in Nursing from El Camino College and is a Registered Nurse. She also earned a BA in Liberal Arts from Pepperdine University and has a regular teaching credential in addition to her Masters Degree in Special Education. She teaches mild mentally retarded children in grades 3-5 for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

Connie and Basil met at our church and were married here in November 1979. They served as active members before moving to Orange County in 1998. Evangelical Free of Redondo Beach continues to be their home church and sending church. They are the parents of 4 sons, Joseph, David, Stephen and Adam. Billie Gaynor, also a member of our church, is Basil's mother.

Basil’s full time service with AILC began in 1980. For many years the American Indian Hour radio program was a key ministry of the AILC. In 1996 Basil became the "radio voice" of the American Indian Hour, which was broadcast on 10 stations in 6 states. In recent years the broadcasts were discontinued due to the rising cost of radio time. The evolving ministry program has been renamed Indian Crusader. Basil is now the President/Director of the AILC, replacing the founder, Dr. Henry Hedrick, (a graduate of Redondo Union H.S.) who passed away in October 2001.

The American Indian is the least recognized and most tragically neglected minority group in the U.S. There are 557 federally recognized tribes in the U.S. American Indians are the fastest growing population group in the U.S. with a 26% increase between 1900 and 2000. Nearly 50% are under the age of 24. American Indians have the highest school dropout rate and the lowest levels of college degree attainment of any group in the U.S. They are the Americans who are the most dependent on the federal government, by government design. The nearly 2 million Indians who have survived our government's continuing guardianship are the most impoverished of any American citizen group. The 1990 census showed the average poverty rate in the U.S. to be 13.1%, whereas the poverty rate among the American Indian was 31.7%. Almost half (960,000) of these Native Americans live on, or adjacent to an Indian Reservation. So far, the introduction of gambling casinos on some Indian reservations has helped only a few Native Americans.

Current Ministry: Basil travels several times each year to reservation areas in Arizona, New Mexico, Montana, South Dakota, and North Carolina. He carries out field relief programs, provides training, and assists Indian pastors on the reservations. This is made possible by the cooperation of several other ministries involved in Native American work as well as by contributions to the AILC. The mission is involved with Indian youth through the work of Broken Arrow Bible Ranch in New Mexico. In 1996 the AILC expanded its youth outreach to a national youth network under the direction of Christ for Native Youth. This is a year-round effort to establish Native American teens and young adults in the Body of Christ; to disciple them to be effective witnesses for Christ and to encourage them to minister to Indian children. Financial sponsors for Indian children to attend Broken Arrow Bible Ranch are needed for the winter and summer camp programs.

You can send contributions to:
Indian Crusader
P.O. Box 4187
Inglewood, CA 90309-4187
4009 Halldale Ave. (office)
Los Angeles, CA 90062
323-299-1810 (L. A. Office)
626-398-2346 (Pasadena Office)

Or write to them at: The Gaynor Family