A deeply wounded people. An embattled team of God's warriors. A promise in the sky.
Those are "headlines" from On Eagles' Wings challenging rescue mission to the Tomasa people. A people who have been on our hearts for a long time - but where the door has opened only this year.
Roaring River is a reservation with some of the most tragic history in all of Native America. Their story of death and injustice is all too familiar. But it's the tragedy of today that is destroying a generation of this storied people.
Every person I've asked here about the young people has answered with the same ominous word. "Drugs."
June 1, all tribal members got a "per capita" check. By the end of June, 86 Roaring River young people had overdosed on heroin. Fifteen died.
Hundreds of warriors attended, representing 71 different tribes!
It was an amazing conference, with Native young people seeing that when it comes to following Jesus, they are not alone!
"I was just a face in the crowd."
That is how many Native young people feel when they first attend the Native youth discipleship conference, Warrior Leadership Summit.
And yet over and over again, God gets ahold of these lives. And these faces in the crowd begin to emerge as mighty warriors for Jesus!
William came to Warrior Leadership Summit seven years ago. Tonight, he shared his powerful story with the warriors.
"Before I came here to WLS years ago, I said 'If this doesn't help, I'm going home and taking my life.' But that all changed because Jesus came in. Now I'm standing in front of you guys 'cause this hope Jesus Christ brought to me."
God is on the move in Native America!
This is a very special year at the Native American discipleship conference called "Warrior Leadership Summit." We are celebrating 25 years of life-changing impact through this event you have helped make possible!
Twenty-four Years. Twenty-four "On Eagles' Wings" rescue summers.
But this was the summer like no other.
No team has ever had the challenge of reaching so many seemingly "unreachable" and unreached Native young people.
No team has been more consistent, more relentless in fighting for lives night after night after night - no matter the resistance, no matter the rejection.
Thank you for your prayer!
Hundreds of warriors, representing many Native tribes, took part in this life-changing conference.
You would have been moved by the baptism service. Many Native young people wanted to boldly proclaim their new life in Jesus Christ.
"Do you realize we're getting to see what most Christians never get to see? Just like in Acts - people being saved daily!"
That comment to the team from a fellow warrior captured much of the miracle this amazing Summer of Hope. Day after day, young people coming to Christ - on Indian reservations! Where commitments to Christ are rare.
Warrior Leadership Summit 2015 is now finished. What a week this has been!
This was our largest gathering of Native young people - representing 115 Tribes!
There were many commitments this week: warriors choosing to begin a relationship with Jesus, or asking Jesus to make them clean, or choosing to break the cycle of sin, or becoming available to serve Jesus however, wherever.