Warrior Leadership Summit Impacts Native American Young People!

This month, several hundred Native American young people, representing dozens of Native tribes from all corners of North America, will convene for the annual Warrior Leadership Summit (WLS) Native Youth Discipleship Conference!

This year is the 14th annual WLS conference! WLS is all about motivating and equipping Native American young people to live for Jesus. As the On Eagles' Wings evangelism teams continued to develop in the 1990s, Ron Hutchcraft and his leadership team recognized the need for more in depth discipleship training. What began as a rather small event, has now mushroomed into a large, premiere Native youth discipleship conference.

Soon, Native young people will make their way to the WLS conference, ready for a unique combination of fun, relationship building, and spiritual development. The most common response from those who attend for the first time: "Wow! I had no idea there could be this many Christian Native young people in one place, from this many tribes!" For most of them, their Christian experience is lonely, often with few other Native youth to connect with on a regular basis.

One Nez Perce Warrior put it best: "WLS is an experience that I wish everyone could experience. It's life changing!" It is hard to describe the sense of God at work in and through all the elements that make up this unique conference. Native young people are stretched and challenged to become more like Jesus.

At WLS, Native youth spend five full days of intense spiritual training and development. The nine "Warrior Circle" main sessions come to life, with excitement, enthusiasm, and passion. A high-energy worship team, including several Native musicians, will provide meaningful and powerful spirit-led praise and worship. In addition, the youth enjoy fun teaching videos, creative dramatic presentations, and small group discussions. The speakers, including Ron and Doug Hutchcraft and other Native leaders, will challenge the youth to step up to deeper levels of impact as Warriors for Jesus through life-changing content.

Throughout the week, warriors are given opportunities to respond by making significant commitments. On the second night, Ron Hutchcraft clearly presents the Gospel, and warriors have a chance to nail down their personal relationship to Jesus. It is not unusual to see many Native young people flood to the foot of the cross, with a passionate surrender to Jesus. Ron will often say, "You can't hold Jesus in one hand, and the junk he died for in the other." Many warriors will choose to "drop the junk" in tearful repentance, allowing God to truly take over every part of their lives.

"Battle Councils" are topical workshops dealing with issues pertinent to spiritual growth for a Native young person. Popular Battle Councils include "How to stand Alone When no One Else is Standing," "Dealing with Life's Tragedies," "How to Bring Your Friends to Heaven with You," and more. The "Elders Council" provides a unique opportunity for Native youth to glean wisdom from those who have spent a life-time of following Jesus.

The afternoon free-time allows Native youth to deepen relationships with each other - through swimming, playing sports, or just hanging out!

At WLS, Native young people are ultimately able to deepen relationships with other Native believers, where they realize they are not alone as a follower of Christ. One warrior summed it up quite simply, "I realized I was not alone." It is hard to imagine how difficult an environment it can be for a Native American young person to live for Jesus, and how encouraging it can be to have the support of other Native believers - if only for just a few days!

God continues to move through hearts and lives, through serious repentance, commitments, and life-changing decisions. Many of the current On Eagles' Wings team members will point to a WLS experience as a significant turning point in their spiritual development.

"There is nothing like this in Indian Country!" Shawna (Nez Perce) "I was able to experience God's awesomeness...I can't explain it!" Bill (Sioux) "WLS has been the greatest experience of my life!" Mel (Standing Rock Sioux)

Would you be willing to make a donation, to help support the cost of the Warrior Leadership Summit conference? Unlike most conferences, only a very small percentage of the costs of this event are paid for by those who attend. To make a conference like this affordable for Native American young people, gifts from people like you are urgently needed. If you would like to contribute, please donate now.