A Navajo Code Talker’s Most Important Message

A Navajo Code Talker’s Most Important Message

By Roy Hawthorne

“My name is Roy Hawthorne. I am a proud member of Navajo Nation. I am honored to have served my country through my military service in both World War II and the Korean War. I volunteered to serve in an elite group known as the Navajo Code Talkers. We used our Navajo language to relay vital communications on the front lines of combat in the South Pacific to help America win the war.

Since retiring from serving my country in military ser­vice, I have been blessed to serve God as a pastor in my community. It has been my joy to speak to the younger generation about my experiences. I have no regrets for having invested my life in communicating the most vital message ever needed—the message of the Word of God. This is the message that I want to share with you!”

God wants us to know that He loves us!

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only be­gotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him should not perish, but have everlasting life. For God sent not His Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through Him might be saved. -John 3:16-17

God wants us to know that we need Him!

Sin has separated us from God.
For all have sinned, and come short of the glory of God. –Romans 3:23

We are all guilty.
There is none righteous, no, not one. There is none that understandeth, there is none that seeketh after God. –Romans 3:10-11

The penalty for sin is serious.
For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eter­nal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. –Romans 6:23

God has given us hope!

We find His promises in the Bible.
And these things write we unto you, that your joy may be full. –I John 1:4

These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. –I John 5:13

This then is the message which we have heard of Him, and declare unto you, that God is light, and in Him is no darkness at all. If we say that we have fellowship with Him, and walk in darkness, we lie, and do not the truth: But if we walk in the light, as He is in the light, we have fellowship one with another, and the blood of Jesus Christ His Son cleanseth us from all sin. –I John 1:5-7

We can believe the fact that Jesus died for our sins and rose again.
But God commendeth his love toward us, in that, while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us. –Romans 5:8

For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eter­nal life through Jesus Christ our Lord. –Romans 6:23

…Christ died for our sins according to the scriptures; And that He was buried, and that He rose again the third day according to the scriptures. –I Corinthians 15:3-4

We can trust in Christ as our Savior.
…for the same Lord over all is rich unto all that call upon Him. For whosoever shall call upon the name of the Lord shall be saved. –Romans 10:12-13

We can experience a life of victory.
Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall tribu­lation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it is written, For Thy sake we are killed all the day long; we are accounted as sheep for the slaughter. Nay, in all these things we are more than con­querors through Him that loved us. –Romans 8:35-37

There hath no temptation taken you but such as is com­mon to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. –I Corinthians 10:13

God gives our lives purpose!

We enjoy fellowship with Him.
Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy lad­en, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you, and learn of Me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light. –Matthew 11:28-30

Thou wilt shew me the path of life: in Thy presence is fulness of joy; at Thy right hand there are plea­sures for evermore. –Psalm 16:11

We serve His cause.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. –II Timothy 2:3-4

We glorify Him
Thou art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and hon­our and power: for Thou hast created all things, and for Thy pleasure they are and were created. –Revelation 4:11

Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. –I Corinthians 10:31

We can share this wonderful message with those who have not yet heard!
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that heareth My word, and believeth on Him that sent me, hath ev­erlasting life, and shall not come into condemna­tion; but is passed from death unto life. –John 5:24

Roy Hawthorne was born February 13, 1926, in Ganado, AZ. He enlisted in the Marine Corps at seventeen years of age. Upon completing his training at Camp Pendleton, he shipped out to Guadalcanal and later fought in the Battle of Okinawa. He served with the 1st Marine Division in the Pacific Theatre of World War II. He served our nation again in the Korean War.

Roy Hawthorne was highly respected for his character, his Christian faith, and his service to our country. In addition to his ministry in his community, he worked tirelessly to highlight and honor the extraordinary contributions of his fellow Navajo Code Talkers. He served as vice-president of the Navajo Code Talkers Association. On April 21, 2018, Roy Hawthorne completed his mission here on earth at the age of 92. He will be remembered as a warrior, a hero, and a man of God. His life’s message continues to speak to us.

For many years the voice of Pastor Roy Hawthorne, Navajo Code Talker, could be heard on the airwaves across the Navajo Nation on the “Semper Fidelis Gospel Time” radio broadcast. If you would like to listen to Pastor Hawthorne preach in his own Navajo tongue, click here to explore the archive!