Summer of Hope 2026 - Reservations 3 and 4

New Wind Blowing
(Reservation # 3)

Local Native believers here have seen a strong move of the young people toward strengthening their centuries-old beliefs.

But it was Jesus time on Pinecrest. Michael (Sioux) told us he was directed by God to a particular young man. Michael cut to the chase and asked him if he was interested in Jesus. Yes! Michael took him through our printed Gospel booklet and invited him to pray - and “he gave his life to Christ."

There was a special joy in our final debriefing at Pinecrest. That's where we hand over the get acquainted and decision cards to our hosts - to launch their follow-up plan. But this night we handed them to Troy - OEW veteran, 2026 graduate of our Leadership Center, now youth pastor for his reservation church. Ready with a team to build a youth ministry from the young people rescued by his former teammates and fellow graduates!

In reality, strongholds came down as you prayed for this team. They just pick up the results! Results that last for all eternity.

Reigniting the Flame
(Reservation # 4)

The Gospel flame was lit long ago among the Iron Valley people. They were among the first in their region of the country to ever be reached for Christ. It's a powerful story.

Now, long years later, that flame has burned very low. Jesus-followers are few and under heavy pressure to return to long-held beliefs. For them, the arrival of some 40 Jesus-loving Native young people from 25 Indigenous nations is best described with the word "HOPE."

We were prepared for resistant hearts. We found surprisingly ready hearts. The prayers of friends like you had gone ahead of the team and prepared hearts. And the prayers of the Iron Valley believers for a breakthrough were, needless to say, especially fervent.

Each night, our attendance grew. The final night - invitation night - was the biggest. Nick's (Jicarilla Apache) Gospel wrap-up was concise and compelling. Those of us on the team fervently prayed for each heart there.

“If you prayed that prayer and you meant it, come now." And they did - beyond anything we have seen so far this summer.

David (Creek/Cherokee) said, “I was able to talk with a brother who got saved yesterday (night 2) and helped him have courage to walk to center court. I explained to him what a relationship with God needs to be like. He said he would start reading his Bible and ‘chase this relationship,' and not just check boxes."

Jesse (Sioux) told us “when Nick called everyone up, I saw this big tall dude looking around at everyone, but he stood there. We asked him if he wanted us to go with him." Then he explained and equipped that young man for a future with Christ.

Allie (Navajo) literally ran to the window of our vehicle and exploded with so much joy, she could barely talk. “Tonight was the best night of the summer. I was with four girls who kept migrating to different places. When Nick was talking, I asked them what they thought. They wanted Jesus but didn't want to go forward. I prayed with them - and it felt SO GOOD!"

Night after night, Denise has been pursuing and passionate in reaching girls on each reservation. Her report from breakthrough night at Iron Valley: “I felt very peopled out the past two days here. Tonight I was encouraged by the amount of people, but I felt like it was too much. I prayed for strength. Then two girls walked by - after Nick's prayer. They were so eager to go up - so we went with them. I was so happy, I jumped up and down!"

It was that kind of night. And that kind of victory. A massive shot of spiritual adrenaline for the often lonely Iron Valley believers. And for those new believers, hope that was now more than a word on our OEW team shirts. It was living hope in their hearts.

And who knows - maybe for just a moment, God pulled back the curtain in heaven and let those original Iron Valley believers get a glimpse of heaven coming down on a new generation.

As the fire they lit came to life again. Ignited by bold young believers from Native lands far away.

* Names and locations changed for privacy.