On Eagles' Wings® Update

On Eagles' Wings Team USA Prayer Update #6

Three strongholds - a flood of drugs ... a history of witchcraft ... the centuries-old entrenched religion that views Christianity as their #1 enemy. Those are the challenges that faced the U.S. On Eagles' Wings team as they arrived at their sixth reservation of this Summer of Hope 2007. On this largest reservation in the region, only two percent attend a church of any kind. If there was to be a victory on this ground, it would be hard-fought.

God's work on this "Manitou" reservation had already begun before the team even arrived. Five Manitou young people and two leaders attended Warrior Leadership Summit a few weeks ago. It rocked their world. As soon as they returned, they destroyed all their "sin props" - music CDs, books, etc. They committed to stay connected to hold each other accountable. They were given five minutes in their church service to share about the Summit - they took the whole service. One of five young people wanted to be baptized - it turned into a baptism for 15 people! Christian leaders summarized what had happened to their young people this way: "They came back completely different kids."

Leaders told us that a clear move of God had begun with this group attending Warrior Leadership Summit. That was encouraging considering that this was probably the most hard core reservation of the summer. The people here have been on the hearts of several team members since we were here last summer.

A year ago was when some of the local big guys told some of our big guys that they believe they own their town - like the facility where we were staying and having our outreaches. They also believe they own everything that comes on their reservation - including any girls who come there. We warned the women of our team to stay close to the program area and to avoid even the most casual contact with the local guys - a reinforcement of the care we take on every reservation.

At our first night debriefing, our warriors were excited to see how God had softened hearts since our first visit here a year ago. And the big guys who have so much influence and control were showing up for the events! People stayed. People listened. But some of the key guys - and girls, for that matter - did their best to avoid personal spiritual conversations with our team.

But the last night was the night so many had prayed for. Attention was riveted on the Hope Stories, then on the one presenting the Gospel. Then came the defining moment - the invitation to choose Jesus Christ in front of many of your peers. The dam broke - with what may have been the largest public response of this Summer of Hope. And those big guys led the way to Jesus!

But the most exciting part of the "Manitou" story may well be the story of what's unfolding for the future. as a result of On Eagles' Wings and Warrior Leadership Summit. Mark ("Manitou") and Donna ("Manitou") took the microphone and surprised us all with their announcement. They have been so moved by what God did here these past few nights that they are launching a youth ministry that will offer OEW-style events two Friday nights a month.

There''s nothing like that on this reservation! Then those five young people who attended WLS came to the microphone to tell how Christ had changed their lives at that conference - and challenging those who had come forward to join them there next year!

It was an exciting victory among the hard-core young people of the Manitou. But it didn't come without a price. The committed Christian son of the couple who announced their calling to begin a Manitou youth ministry suddenly doubled over with severe stomach pain, followed by waves of unexplainable depression.

People involved in witchcraft and other occult practices attempted to spiritually harm some team members. This created or surfaced some issues for a couple of our warriors, but nothing that was not "overcomeable" through the power of Jesus.

As the team bus left the reservation, a lady pursued the team, apparently attempting to put curses on them in various ways. God's warriors were unharmed. We're convinced that the prayers of God's people - prayers like yours - have shielded these warriors from being harmed by our enemy every step of the way. We dare not forget for a moment that this is war. And that prayer decides the outcome.

It's been a breakthrough week on this stronghold reservation. The local Christian leaders told us: "This is not the end; this is just the beginning. God is moving among our young people. We feel the God of Glory at work."

Only the God of Glory could be doing the amazing things we are seeing among people who have kept Him out for so long.

But it seems God has saved His most amazing miracles for the final days of this Summer of Hope. It's happening on the Andarka reservation - the only reservation in 16 years where OEW has not been able to have events or publicize on reservation land.

This is where missionaries and pastors aren't allowed to live ... where no Christian meeting can be held outside the three small churches on the reservation.

We were going to close out the month on the large Manitou reservation. But something stunning has happened. God has blown open a door that has been closed for more years than anyone knows. The door has suddenly been opened for On Eagles' Wings to do three nights of events on the Andarka reservation!

The believers from all the strong traditional religion reservations in this area are in shock. They have prayed for decades that somehow God would allow the Gospel to be proclaimed on Andarka land, at the center of the entrenched traditional religion.

And God has chosen to answer their fervent prayers through a little army of Native young people who will tell their Hope Story to anyone who will listen. Tomorrow night they will be telling about the hope of Jesus on Andarka land! We are headed into a miracle.

Ron Hutchcraft for OEW Team USA