Inashood
The Story of the Arizona Apache Lutheran Missions and Their Pastors
In 1893, two Germans, George Adascheck and John Plocher, came to stay with the Apache people and share the gospel with them in the first-ever WELS world mission effort. These men were the "Inashood" (literally translated, “ man in long black robe” ), the Apache word for “ pastor". Soon, other missionaries, including Dr. Francis Uplegger, Edgar Guenther, Henry Rosin, and others, would join them and their ministry with no houses to call their own, no promise of monetary gain, and the possibility of spending the rest of their lives out in the desert. Follow the engaging accounts of these people, which have been compiled from various newspaper articles, journals, and reports into a single account for the first time. As you read, you'll learn more about the joys and challenges of mission work, the Apache culture, and a love that reaches across cultural barriers and human error with a power that only the gospel provides.
In 1958, Eric Hartzell attended the mission school at East Fork Mission on the Fort Apache Reservation where he developed a passion for mission work. After completing his schooling and serving as a missionary in Zambia, Africa, for six years, Pastor Hartzell returned to America and followed in his father’ s footsteps as pastor of East Fork Mission and Canyon Day Lutheran Church for 14 years. Later, he accepted a call to one of several present-day Apache congregations, St. Peter’ s Lutheran Church in Globe. He continues to serve there as a retired pastor.
