On Eagles Wings - Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

Update from Ron Hutchcraft with Team U.S.

For many of us, this reservation is a pretty emotional place to be.

“Swiftwater” is the home rez for five of the warriors on Team U. S. Three of our strongest Gospel presenters were once lost young people in this town. Very lost. But now very “found” through On Eagles’ Wings. They are now dedicated to rescuing many who are what they once were.

It’s also the home reservation of a young man who gave himself to Jesus through our team a decade ago and later went with an On Eagles’ Wings team. He was transformed, he declared his passion to reach his friends for Christ – and died five weeks later in a tragic accident. That event continues to impact his reservation to this day. The Swiftwater members of our team come here with a broken heart for this place. They know what it means to be lost here.

By our second night in Swiftwater, about one-fourth of the people in the main reservation town were at our outreach. Including Jason’s father. A man no one ever expected to see at a public gathering, let alone one where Christ is presented.

Christian folks knew Jason in his darkest days. He was often seen walking alone along the highway. They would pick him up and drop him off at his house – a house that was always dark. Later, they learned it was because they had no electricity. Jason’s mother was never in his life, and his father was hardly ever around. He sank into a drugged darkness and suicidal depression.

His father did manage to teach him the ways of the traditional tribal religion. And a strong dislike for Jesus, the “white man’s god.” Dad would intentionally schedule ceremonies on Sunday morning to compete directly with Christian church services. Later, after Jason had come to Christ and was serving on an On Eagles’ Wings team, his dad didn’t even realize he was gone for two weeks.

But to the amazement of anyone who knew him, Jason’s dad showed up that second night – he was on the edges, but he was there. It was the night Jason would give his Hope Story. And what a Hope Story it was. He told about a life with one funeral after another – bringing endless waves of grief. And drugs, alcohol and three suicide attempts. But “they never solved anything.”

Then with passion and boldness, Jason said, “I don’t need any of that anymore. I found everything I need in Jesus Christ.” With a large crowd and the “drive-in movie” feel of cars and trucks everywhere, the outreach had become a major community event. People everywhere were riveted to the Hope Stories and the Gospel wrap-up. Including Jason’s dad.

As the team convened for debriefing, the commitment cards told us that 71 Swiftwater people had given their hearts to Christ. I had the privilege of showing Jason his dad’s card – that recorded his commitment to Jesus that night! Jason’s a big, strong guy – but he melted into tears on my shoulder. This was an answer to prayer almost beyond belief.

As Jason emotionally thanked the team for helping to reach his father, he told us something both heartbreaking and joyful. “In high school, I played two years of basketball and two years of baseball. My father made it to two of my games. But he came tonight. Tonight he was smiling more than I’ve seen him smile over all these years.”

The miracle of Jason’s dad was one of many dramatic victories among the Swiftwater people. The Night Two breakthroughs led to some tenderhearted praise to the Lord of the harvest. Teresa (Navajo) prayed, “O Lord, because of what You’ve done through this team, there are 71 people who will not go into eternity without You. But we only have one more night here – and there are many for whom tomorrow may be their last chance.” At that point, she’d gone as far as she could with her second language – English. Tearfully, she poured out the depths of her heart in her heart language – Navajo. And many of us shed tears with her.

Honestly, I have never seen such a passion for the lost anywhere as I see in Native young people like these. They are teaching me. And making my heart ache for so many Christians and churches who never shed a tear for people who are headed for an unspeakable eternity.

We ended our debriefing, singing with everything we had, “Our God is mighty to save, He is mighty to save.” And He certainly displayed His saving mightiness on Night Three. First, there was the rain. It came all day. The team prayed. It suddenly cleared shortly before outreach time. Then there was the sound system. It suddenly went down at the moment our Gospel presenter was beginning the public invitation. We prayed. The crowd didn’t move even though many couldn’t hear. Then right at the point where “Brad” called them forward, the sound suddenly came back on.

Then there was the response. Before Brad could finish his invitation, they started flooding to center court from every direction. It was instantaneous and nearly overwhelming. All over the vast parking lot there were holy huddles with our green-shirted team members leading clusters of Swiftwater young people to Jesus.

So many victories being won. So many prayers being answered. Including yours.

We stand in awe of what our “mighty to save” God has done here. More than 10% of this entire Swiftwater town came to Christ in two days! Through broken lives made whole by the Master. And broken hearts that can’t stand to leave people lost. Thank you for all you’ve done – and are doing – in this miracle summer.