Summer of Hope 2025 Frontline Report #6

August 5, 2025

Topics: Native American Ministry Tags: OEW News

Scripture: 2 Timothy 1:7 Revelation 12:11

The average annual income - $10,000 a year. Half the population is 18 or under. It seems as if there's always been a recent funeral.

David, our Native host, has lived the street life before Jesus dramatically transformed his life. Now he's raising his family there because of God's call - and he's pouring out his life for the people of Southtown. He told the On Eagles' Wings team:

"There's a blanket of darkness over this community. Life here is traumatizing. I look at the pictures on the youth center wall of young men and women I've worked with here." His voice trailed off as he said, "So many are in prison. Or they've died."

The wall of one building displays a mural with names and dates scrawled all around it - remembering the missing and murdered Native women from this community.

Kerri (Navajo), a seasoned young OEW leader, was telling about the young mother she'd talked with that night. The woman shared the horrors of her life of alcoholism and abuse. But Kerri couldn't finish - her tears took over.

"My heart just broke for the young ladies who grow up here. This place is so hard. I just need a moment with the Lord. I go around encouraging everybody else. Right now, I need encouragement!"

The events were in a park in the heart of this urban community. And people came! It was a restless crowd. The smell of "weed" (marijuana) was in the air. And we were monitoring security.

One team member was just finishing giving the first Hope Story - which really had the crowd's attention - when more challenges hit. A sudden loud bang frightened and scattered some of those around the court. Then an unexpected severe thunderstorm broke loose with dangerous lightning closing in fast, which meant everyone hurried for cover, with our first night having to be cut short.

These last few nights of the summer also brought something else. All month, we had been experiencing what felt like subversive attacks from the enemy. However, that changed in this final location as the spiritual warfare was both intense and overt. Our team members shared some specific things with us, and as a team that first night, we faced the attacks with dedicated prayer and with the Word of God.

"God has not given us a spirit of fear" (2 Timothy 1:7). Revelation 12:11 tells us that "they overcame (the enemy) by the blood of the Lamb and the word of their testimony." These young warriors claimed promises like that as we prayed and mobilized others to pray. The darkness in the park did not deter the team - it made these dear Native young people more determined than ever to share the hope and freedom Jesus offers!

On Night 2 and Night 3, we experienced the answers to the passionate prayers of the team and of God's people around the world - peace in the park. Hope in the park. Answers to your prayers for this team unfolding before us, kicking out the darkness and bringing hope and victory to a park in Southtown!

OEW warriors wearing matching green shirts were in spiritual conversations all over the park. Some locals walked away. Some were seriously considering Christ. And some were choosing Christ as Savior!

David had told us that there were young men he's poured into for years who have shown interest in following Jesus, but who have stopped short of committing to Him.

When Craig (Navajo) invited people to make their choosing Christ public, everyone who took that bold step was a guy! Basketball players. Influencers.

It was a visible Jesus-breakthrough in a community where standing for Christ is really hard and really rare.

Later our host David told the team:

"The young people here don't see people who are young, Native and Christian. But now - seeing a bunch of Native young people who are boldly Christian - reshapes their worldview. They came to that park and saw something they don't get to see - just love. You made them smile."

And then, words that powerfully summed up these amazing young messengers of the Hope...

"You are the hands and feet of Jesus."

Yes, they are.

* Names and locations changed for privacy.