"At the invitation, they ran to come to Jesus!"
"Our nation is in crisis." The desperate words of the tribal Chairman on Eagle Rock (Nation) Reservation - OEW's first mission of this Summer of Hope.
"We've been under a state of emergency since March of 2020. And it's not enough."
The hope crisis among their young people screams from the numbers - opioid overdoses, 11 times the rest of the state. Opioid overdose deaths, four times the rest of the state.
Hope arrived this week - OEW team members in green shirts that declare, "We have this hope as an Anchor for the soul" (Hebrews 6:19). They're from 20 tribes / nations. Their stories tell of hope in the darkest of life's valleys.
On this first reservation, they are one day out from Boot Camp. One third of them have never done this before.
But these warriors are on mission!
They were off the bus and wherever you looked, they were spread out meeting the Eagle Rock young people.
After two powerful Hope Stories, Kerri (Navajo) wrapped up, addressing the question, "How is it that Native young people from 20 tribes and all across the continent - facing the same life-or-death battles - finally found hope at the same destination? The Cross of Jesus."
Afterwards, Kerri talked with a girl who seemed desperate for Kerri's hope. And remained glued to what Kerri was saying and refused to be distracted, even when her friends tried to get her away. She was giving her heart to Jesus, and she wasn't going to miss Him for anything!
In fact, she went straight over to her group of friends and announced "I just started a relationship with Jesus! You need to try this. Do this with me." They brushed her off with a quick "no." "It's OK," she said." "They'll be here two more days." She'd become a rescuer the very night she was rescued!
We came to Eagle Rock because of the strong local believers that invited us. We only go where we're invited and have strong follow-up.
What's unique about this follow-up team is the task force that is totally made up of Gen Z reservation leaders. Led by Stephanie - a 2025 Leadership Center graduate, deeply burdened for her people.
On our first public invitation night of this Summer of Hope, Craig (Navajo) shared powerfully about the Savior who "went to a cross for an insignificant rez guy like me." It was evident the Holy Spirit was all over him.
He invited those who had prayed with him to declare their decision by coming to center court. There was a moment of silence - then suddenly they started coming from all directions.
At the front of the surge, guys were literally running to Jesus. The responders came from every corner of the court, the park, the pavilion. The fruit of dozens of "Hope Story" conversations over three nights. A night to remember for everyone who was there.
Even as the warriors were boarding the bus, there in front of the bus, was a new team member, leading three young girls to Christ.
One of our veterans said about this whole team, "They know why they're here." Yes, they do!
The team has a resounding cry we often say as we go to these devastated reservation communities. It's Hebrew - "chazaq amats!" A shout heard multiple times in the Bible. "Be strong and courageous!" They will need to be. And they are!
* Names and locations changed for privacy.