It's that time of year again - apples are getting picked, the days are getting cooler, the leaves will start changing color soon...and the fall TV season is ramping up. Yes, it's that time of year when people get their TiVos ready to see what is happening with their favorite characters. Almost every show will air something that recaps what had previously happened before diving into what's new.
So, before I get into some of the exciting "On Eagles' Wings" news that's on the horizon, here's a brief recap.
Over the past few months, On Eagles' Wings teams traveled thousands of miles, bringing the Hope of Jesus to both reservations in the Southwest U.S. as well as internationally to Peru.
Here are some highlights:
- Over 40 team members, representing 25 different tribes volunteered from across the U.S. and Canada.
- Over the course of the month, almost 600 Native American young people asked Jesus Christ into their hearts!
- On each reservation, local believers are committed to following up on those who chose to follow Jesus.
- On Eagles' Wings went international as a smaller team traveled to the jungles and mountains of Peru to reach out to many indigenous Peruvians.
- During the team's time in Peru, they were a part of 900 people beginning a relationship with Jesus Christ!
All of that is wonderful, but it is only a fleeting glance at all God did during the last few months. I urge you to take some time and check out the Summer of Hope reports and the On Eagles' Wings 2009 Photo Report. If you will take the time to read even one of these a day for the next few days, you will be amazed at how the Lord has worked these past weeks.
As we say goodbye to summer, we welcome in so many exciting events through the Native Department of Hutchcraft Ministries, Inc.
Scholarship Update:
We are thrilled this fall to be helping seven Native young people receive further Bible training through the On Eagles' Wings scholarship program, with more applications on the way. These leaders are receiving quality training through Bible schools and training programs that will help prepare them to make an even greater, longer-lasting impact wherever they choose to serve.
Winter Retreat:
Our goal is to continue this mid-year training time with the On Eagles' Wings team during Christmas break. We bring the team together once again to remember what the Lord did, but also to look to what He is going to do in the future. Our ministry team has found this to be a memorable time of fellowship, but also a strengthening time for these leaders who live in such hard places.
2010 Challenges:
- As we sit around tables together, shoot emails back and forth, and keep the phone companies going strong, there is great excitement about what the Lord has planned for 2010! Our desire is to have:
- A Spring Break On Eagles' Wings team return to some of the Southwest reservations we visited in July.
- The largest and most effective Warrior Leadership Summit to date, with a goal of 700 Warriors in attendance.
- Two On Eagles' Wings teams covering much ground between the U.S. and Canada next July.
- The implementation of an international On Eagles' Wings strategy that will build on the miracle time that we saw in Peru.
- The continued growth of The Path - our "youth ministry lab" - on a reservation.
One thing is for sure - boredom will not be a problem as we move forward with Native ministry. We stand amazed at what the Lord has done, but our hearts are brimming over with expectation as we see on the horizon so much more that He has in store!
Brad Hutchcraft
Director, On Eagles' Wings