(Photo courtesy Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)
USA (MNN) ― As fall transitions to winter, Ron Hutchcraft Ministries looks to spread their wings in 2010. A winter training retreat and an international On Eagles Wings strategy are on the horizon. The successful "Summer of Hope" report provides an updraft.
"The only thing we can say is: the Lord our God is mighty to save," says RHM President Ron Hutchcraft. "Much that happened this past summer is simply a report on the answers to the prayers of people like those who listen to [MNN]...I get to live the answers to prayers of people I've never met."
On Eagles Wings teams traveled to eight reservations across America's southwestern states. Nearly 600 Native youth gave their hearts to Christ, and each reservation holds believers committed to following up with new believers.
Hutchcraft says Native American and First Nations youth in North America are the hardest demographic to reach with the message of salvation. A myriad of moral obstacles litter their paths.
"All of the years of loss have fallen on them, giving them the highest rates of alcohol abuse, drug abuse, sexual abuse, and violent crime--and worst of all, suicide," says Hutchcraft.
On one reservation, teams walked into a realm of hopelessness.
"Even among our young team members from many reservations, their hearts were broken as they went there. They're used to seeing poverty, they live with it," Hutchcraft stated. "But this seemed like something beyond anything they've ever seen."
The reservation held an 85-percent unemployment rate and was rampant with drugs and gang activity. OEW faced many challenges related to weather and gang activity; teams experienced a "close shave" when gang members were frightened away before they could detonate a homemade bomb.
And yet the Gospel continued to flourish. Many reservations reported an "unprecedented response" to the Gospel when OEW teams came to minister. Hutchcraft says OEW is one of the ministry's prayer focuses as this year draws to a close.
"They come under enormous satanic attacks," says Hutchcraft, "and because of their broken and dysfunctional backgrounds, Satan pushes every button he can to try and neutralize or detour these young warriors who are making history."
Pray that OEW team members continue to walk strong in their faith and become spiritual leaders. Pray also for resources to enable local believers with a heart for Native youth to start youth ministries.
"If the local people put that to work as we equip them to do, the potential is there for a great moment to become a great movement for Christ among the next generation."
Keep the young people who sought Christ for salvation this summer in your prayers.
"They are surrounded by traditional religion, by almost-epidemic drug and alcohol levels, and families that are too broken to be supportive. It is a toxic spiritual environment in which to try to grow up in Christ. Really pray that God will grow them into leaders for Christ who can turn the tide in their generation."
For more details about OEW's 2009 Summer of Hope or to support Ron Hutchcraft Ministries financially, click here.
