These are my notes from Ron Hutchcraft’s opening remarks at The Gathering of The Nations 2009, on Saturday, May 16, 2009 in Crystal Lake, IL. Ron has been active in Native ministry through his On Eagles Wings outreach for many years.  I was encouraged by Ron’s belief that revival will happen in this generation, and that he affirmed WNAM’s renewed focus on Native leadership development as being a key component of the coming revival. – Rich Avery

The North American church has more spiritual resources and blessings than any other people in history. But the original people of this continent have very little.

Ron Hutchcraft

How can we do a better job of distributing the resources of the body of Christ where they are so desperately needed – in Native communities?

Native youth are the most devastated people in North America, illustrated by an extremely high rate of suicide, which is four to five times the national average in both the U.S. and Canada.

2000 years ago Jesus said the gospel must be preached to all nations.  The original Greek word for nations is “ethnoi”, which means people groups.  There are over 600 Native nations, or people groups in the US and Canada…and yet so few disciples.

The first mission field on this continent remains the greatest missions frontier on this continent.

The first light of a breakthrough is beginning to dawn among this generation.  This generation has the potential of being the first Jesus generation among Native peoples…with indigenous leaders leading their own people to Christ.

God’s plan for the breakthrough is us – as we help to resource and equip those Native leaders.

Rich Avery, director of Wesleyan Native American Ministries

Last Saturday, I attended a Native ministry conference called The Gathering of Nations 2009, in Crystal Lake, IL.

Several prominent Native Christian leaders spoke, including Gordon Thayer, Craig Smith, and Raymond Dunton.  Non-Native speakers who are active in Native ministry included Ron Hutchcraft and Don DeHart.

While the speakers acknowledged the challenges in Native ministry – illustrated by the fact that as little as three to five percent of Natives follow Christ – they were also greatly encouraged by what God is doing right now in Native communities across North America.

They believe we’re on the cusp of a breakthrough, and that we’ll see a great revival among Native North Americans in this generation – one that will ripple throughout the world.

Over the next few weeks I’ll share some of the key insights I learned from the speakers at this conference…and why they’re so hopeful that breakthrough is near.

I am energized by their vision, and grateful that we can share in that revival thanks to your continued support.

- by Rich Avery

Native ministry leaders from Hayward Wesleyan Church

Hayward Wesleyan Church, located in the Wisconsin northwoods town of Hayward, is impacting the 4,000 members of the nearby Lac Courte Oreilles (Ojibwe) Reservation.

Over 20 people from the church work in various positions of service on the rez: in the health department, pharmacy, funeral home, schools, after-school recreation centers, and more.

In addition, the church runs a van ministry which brings people from the rez to church on Sundays (they’re praying for funds so they can add a bus) and a teen mothers program on Tuesday nights.

Please join Hayward Wesleyan in prayer as they consider additional youth and family outreaches, and maybe even a church service, on the rez.

They’re also praying about the possibility of buying a 168-acre farm adjacent to the rez, which would be called Hope Haven.  Pictured above are Hope Haven visionaries Jathan and Becky Brubaker (center), along with Pastor Mark Wilson (far right) and other church leaders.

This working farm would offer transitional housing, life skills classes, Bible studies, family reconciliation programs, and work opportunities for those who have recently come out of jail/prison or drug/alcohol treatment programs.

Hope Haven would also provide a safe coffee-house type of community center where people of all ages could come to connect with people who care, play games, study the Bible, and more.

Community leaders tell Becky and Jathan there is a growing need for these types of programs on the rez.  Please pray for wisdom as these plans develop, and funding in order to purchase the property.

Please pray for the family of Larry Crow, the caretaker of the Lakota Sioux Chapel in Eagle Butte, SD. Larry lost his battle with cancer on Easter weekend.

Summer is a great time to serve with WNAM and our ministry partners.  Right now, projects are being planned for Arizona and South Dakota.

Work teams are needed to help with facility repairs and improvements at multiple locations in both states, including roofing, flooring, painting and general handyman work.  In addition, a team is needed to run a sports camp for Native children in Rapid City, SD.

Teams will learn about the local Native culture and how the Native Wesleyan churches are impacting their communities.  They’ll also enjoy side trips to places like the Grand Canyon, Painted Desert or ancient ruins in Arizona, or Mt. Rushmore, the Badlands or Black Hills of South Dakota.

To learn how you can get involved, please contact WNAM at 616.456.0097 or info@wnam.org.

In April, a group of 30 teens and adults from Kentwood Community Church (Grand Rapids, MI) went to Arizona to the Navajo Nation. They worked with Pastors Ben Yazzie and Darwin Tsosie, making needed repairs and improvements to their Native Wesleyan churches near Keams Canyon, and hosting community outreach events.

When the team returned home, they gave a report to the church during the weekend worship services, sharing what God did in and through them during that week.

Pastor Ben & Betty Yazzie

Later, the church received a note from a Native person who was visiting from out of state:

Why do white people seem to think that the only Indians in the U.S. are the Sioux & Navajo? Don’t they understand there are over 200 different nations in the US? Why don’t white churches try to help these within their own state boundaries?

In Michigan there is still poverty, a lot of racism and mortality, a lot of racism, substance abuse problems, a LOT of racism, inadequate healthcare, a LOT of racism, large number of school drop outs, and a LOT of racism by whites.

Pastor Darwin & Ann Tsosie

I still believe there is a role for churches to send teams to help on reservations or other locales with a high percentage of Native population. In fact, there are several opportunities for teams to serve this summer with Native Wesleyan churches.

But this note does affirm WNAM’s renewed strategy to be a catalyst that helps individuals, churches and districts to foster racial reconciliation and reach out to Natives living in their own communities, in culturally-sensitive ways, in every U.S. state and Canadian province.

We can’t do it without your help. Thank you for your continued support, which helps us create the resources and raise up the leaders that are needed to make this vision a reality!

- by Rich Avery