“Do you ever have need for adult volunteers” the short message sent via our website asked!

Responding to the request, we listed a few areas where our ministry can make use of volunteer workers. We also asked about particular our responders areas of interest . During our email exchange we found out that Marc is a professional photographer and his wife Jill a nurse. This gave rise to a few more ideas how they could contribute and led to their first visit in Kamiah during the annual Looking Glass Pow-Wow. Marc began to take pictures, listened to suggestions and thought deeper about what could be done.

Several weeks later he contacted us again, to see if he could come with all his equipment and cameras to do a professional photo shoot for any Nez Perce Tribal members who might be interested. We began contacting the local tribal Community Center and they graciously entered into partnership with us to provide the place for shooting the pictures and helping promote the event. Emails were sent, calls where made, facebook announcements posted, and on Nov. 5 and 6, Marc and Jill took 374 different images of a a number of Nez Perce people, some dressed casually, some in regalia. One re-known Choctaw artist, Roger Amerman, had his beadwork photographed, which had just recently been returned to him from the Smithsonian

As part of Marc’s service, he offered a free print to each person or family and all his images will be made available to individual participants on a CD, making it possible for them to have them printed for Christmas cards, sent in emails or posted on facebook and webpages by their owners, without the expenses and restrictions of a regular commercial shoot.

All in all a great blessing to all participants, who expressed their gratefulness to Marc at the photo shoot.

Take a look at Marc’s great work and “like” his facebook page. (Check back soon for a link to some of the images taken here)

We hope Marc and Jill’s generous example encourages or reminds you of something you can contribute to make a real difference in the lives of people. What could you contribute? Consider your gifts, interests, talents, or simply the willingness to give some of your time or resources. Whether it is through our ministry or the many other possible avenues of involvement, you can make a difference with what you have been given for others!

If you have a question, how you can possibly assist our local work, feel free to contact us with your suggestions. There are things that can be done even without being physically present at our location.

(Photograph, Courtesy of Marc Walters Photography)

Also of interest ...

• Maverick Flying Car
• Teams making a difference for Jesus!
• A new aircraft for missions and mountains, built in IDAHO
• First Nations Messengers

October 13, 2010 – Steve Saint (Son of Nate Saint) of I-TEC drove his road-legal flying car from Florida to Oshkosh, probably the largest Air-show in the world to exhibit its capabilities. Since then the FAA has also issued the Maverick a S-LSA aircraft airworthiness certificate. I-TEC hopes to be in production by EAA Oshkosh 2011.

As Steve shares in the short video, the Maverick Flying Car was developed to primarily serve humanitarian and mission applications.

Also of interest ...

• 50 Years Later-YWAM is still innovating
• A new aircraft for missions and mountains, built in IDAHO
• Volunteer champions making a real difference
• Natives captivate German Hearts

Their intent is to offer an opportunity for cultural exchange and the sharing of the Good News of God’s kingdom through their beautiful dances, music, and art. From July 16 through August 2, 2010 we (Volkhard & Marianne) are privileged to accompany the team in our home country, with the great hope that our Native friends will be able to reach many Germans with their unique gifts and talents.

The team is made up of “Broken Walls,” a professional Native group, led by Jonathan Maracle (Mohawk) that is well known throughout Canada and the United States. They have performed at many different locations in North America and Europe, such as URBANA, published a number of CD’s, a DVD and won “Aboriginal Peoples Choice Awards for their recordings. Besides Broken Walls, a colorful team of Hoop, Fancy, Traditional, and Shawl Dancers from the Southwestern US, led by Robert Soto, (Lipan Apache) will be part of the team.

They will perform at three large open-air venues to which the organizers expect hundreds of people each, as well as several church services and other venues. You will be able to find updated information about the team at www.indianweek.de For those who might be in the area, we would like to extend our invitation to join us for colorful, exciting performances. If you you know others who might be interested, please forward this information to them.

Indianweek Program, German (PDF, 6.7 MB)

Also of interest ...

• Neues Gebäude für YWAM Native Ministries?
• Gatherings
• 50 Years Later-YWAM is still innovating
• Natives captivate German Hearts

Broken Walls, formed in 1995 by Jonathan Maracle, base their music on the ancient sounds of the First Nations People of North America. The Father’s Dance, which has been nominated in six categories for the 2008 Aboriginal Peoples Choice Music Awards, is a call to freedom and a message of restoration for the family. Broken Walls combines the musical sounds of rattles, the powwow drum and Mohawk wind flute with contemporary instruments. The CD opens with “Sing to the Mountains,” which was nominated for single of the year. This fast-paced track describes how creation displays our God. The title track declares freedom for all mankind and restoration of dignity, trust and hope. “Surrendered” is a graceful and peaceful instrumental track highlighting the flute. The chorus on “Everything to Me” is especially beautiful and poignant: “You are the hand extended / The calm at the heart of the storm / The voice that calls in the darkness / I know that I am not alone / I see Your face in the stars / I hear Your voice in the silence / I feel Your breath in the wind / You’re everything to me.” For those who like to experience new genres of music, The Father’s Dance is the perfect introduction into Native music. But all listeners can enjoy the spirit in which Broken Walls sings and worships the Lord. —LEIGH DEVORE, Charisma Magazine

Check out Jonathan’s live performance of this song:

Also of interest ...

• Natives captivate German Hearts
• YWAMers welcomed by Hereditary Chief Big Swan in Canada
• “I will fight no more—forever!”
• Youth With A Mission Documents

Get Involved!

Also of interest ...

• 50 Years Later-YWAM is still innovating
• Father, Faith & Family
• Stories of two Native American Men
• What is a Mini-Discipleship-Training-School (DTS)?

Rider with the cross

Foundational Values

Statement of Faith
Basic affirmation of beliefs

Christian Magna Charta
Affirms basic rights as implicit in the Gospel

Lausanne Covenant
(Not a YWAM Document but one that YWAM is a signatory to). It is a covenant that was formulated during an historic evangelistic congress in 1974. It was signed by Christian leaders from many nations.

Reconciliation & Conflict Resolution
Provides guidelines for working toward justice, reconciliation and restoration in the event of grievances within the YWAM family of ministries (Sept 2002)

Also of interest ...

• 50 Years Later-YWAM is still innovating
• Where Were You, God?
• Father, Faith & Family
• The Father’s Dance

Learning and growing together

A culturally sensitive presentation of YWAM values and Discipleship Training School (DTS) teachings, with lecture phase and outreach lasting no longer than 4 weeks for each Mini-DTS. Subjects focused on are:

• The Character & knowledge of God
• Hearing the voice of God
• Evangelism & Missions
• Prayer & Intercession
• Principles for healthy relationships
• Principles of cultural redemption
• Identity in Christ & Spiritual Warfare
• How to read, study & apply the Bible
• Biblical unity and vision

The Native Mini-DTS will:

• incorporate Instruction that is highly interactive and makes use of story-telling, one primary way of learning for Native people
• provide ministry opportunities that instill purpose and destiny to Native American people to counteract the pervasive hopelessness and despair on many Reservations, by providing them with an opportunity to contribute their unique gifts and talents to help fulfill the Great Commission.
• The Native Mini-DTS’s are structured in such a way, that all teachings of a regular DTS will be presented over the period of 6 Mini-DTS’s.
• It allows the participation of Native Americans in a DTS-type program, who find it difficult to leave home and family for an extended time.
• It makes it easier for a whole family to participate, as costs are kept to a minimum
• Throughout the Mini-DTS’s we desire to encourage authentic Native American cultural expressions of the Gospel and Worship
• Instructors and advisors of the Mini-DTS’s will if possible be of Native origin or otherwise familiar with Native American culture and background
• The work would be highly supportive of already established indigenous churches and ministries in a variety of Native communities, as it will likely occur at local churches
• Spiritual growth and preparation to become representatives of Christ in all of lives arenas for the participants
• The raised up leaders would provide positive role models for their Native communities to be emulated.

Cost

We are trying to keep the costs for each student as low as possible in order to encourage many to participate, however, there are expenses to provide accommodation, meals, lecture facilities, utilities and travel expenses for staff and guest lecturers. The student’s tuition includes books, meals and accommodation for the duration of the Mini-DTS. Generally, the cost is $ 300 per person. There also is a $ 20 per single or $ 30 per couple/family nonrefundable registration fee in addition.

It is our desire to not turn away any student for lack of finances. Perhaps your church, community, tribe or individuals would consider helping raise scholarship money for those wanting to attend but facing a challenge to meet the financial obligations.

How can we arrange for a Native Mini-DTS at our location?

Here are some general guidelines to follow when you consider establishing a Mini-DTS at your location. Each setting, whether on a reservation or in an urban setting will be unique, and we are flexible in negotiating the details for each situation. As we partner with you, we ask that the local church ministry consider providing the following facilities:

• Class-room/hall
• Kitchen/Dining area
• Accommodations
• If possible local transportation for students
• It is ideal if someone from the local community is in charge of the menu planning, food purchasing and meal preparation.

We will provide staff and speakers. Brochures or flyers that can be distributed in your area to advertise the upcoming Mini-DTS will also provided. You may distribute and receive applications and fees or elect to have students send them directly to us.

The greatest potential for discipleship is realized when there is a community setting. For example, students and staff spend much time together during the Mini-DTS, working and learning side by side. A typical daily schedule looks as follows:

Also of interest ...

• What is YWAM?
• Father, Faith & Family
• Stories of two Native American Men
• 50 Years Later-YWAM is still innovating

Quotes of Note

“The greatest moments of Native History lie ahead of us if a great spiritual renewal and wakening should take place. The Native American has been a sleeping giant. He is awakening. The original Americans could become the evangelists who will help win America for Christ! Remember these forgotten people!”
Dr. Billy Graham

“…we see God working in terms of Jewish culture to reach Jews, yet, refusing to impose Jewish customs on Gentiles. Instead non-Jews are to come to God and relate to Him in terms of their own cultural vehicles. We see the Bible endorsing, then, a doctrine we call biblical sociocultural adequacy in which each culture is taken seriously but none advocated exclusively as the only one acceptable to God.”
Dr. Charles Kraft, Anthropology for Christian Witness, Orbis 1996

The next 10 to 20 years will bring Native cultural expressions to the body of Christ that will be a tremendous blessing to many.
Richard Twiss

Biblical Christianity is never found apart from a culture. It is always part of a culture. The Christianity of the New Testament was a part of the Greco-Roman world of the 1st century. There is no such thing as plain Christianity. Christianity always expresses itself through a culture. It is unique in that it can be expressed equally well in any culture.
Grunlan, Stephen A. and Marvin K. Mayers, Cultural Anthropology: A Christian Perspective. Grand Rapids, MI: Zondervan, 1988, 244.

“The only way to drive out bad culture is to create good culture. We need to recognize that artistic talent is a gift from the Lord — and that developing those talents is the only way to create good culture.”
C.S. Lewis as quoted at: http://www.breakpoint.org/script4.html

“We know that this nation entered into solemn treaties [with Indian tribes] which have been continuously violated for more than 250 years. It’s a disgrace. It’s an outrage. We must do everything in our power to keep those treaties. Otherwise, the word of the United States government is no good.”
U.S. Senator John McCain, Presidential Candiate

“I have but one passion – it is He, it is He alone. The world is the field and the field is the world; and henceforth that country shall be my home where I can be most used in winning souls for Christ.”
Count Zinsendorf

“Without Christ, not one step; with Him, anywhere!”
David Livingstone

“Wherever you are, be all there. Live to the hilt every situation you believe to be the will of God.”
Jim Elliot, Missionary to the Auca (Waodani)

“Lord, make me a crisis man. Let me not be a mile-post on a single road, but make me a fork that men must turn one way or another in facing Christ in me.”
Jim Elliot

The development of strategies for world evangelization calls for imaginative pioneering methods. Under God, the result will be the rise of churches deeply rooted in Christ and closely related to their culture. Culture must always be tested and judged by Scripture. Because men and women are God’s creatures, some of their culture is rich in beauty and goodness. Because they are fallen, all of it is tainted with sin and some of it is demonic. The gospel does not presuppose the superiority of any culture to another, but evaluates all cultures according to its own criteria of truth and righteousness, and insists on moral absolutes in every culture. Missions have all too frequently exported with the gospel an alien culture and churches have sometimes been in bondage to culture rather than to Scripture. Christ’s evangelists must humbly seek to empty themselves of all but their personal authenticity in order to become the servants of others, and churches must seek to transform and enrich culture, all for the glory of God. (Mark 7:8,9,13; Gen. 4:21,22; I Cor. 9:19-23; Phil. 2:5-7; II Cor. 4:5)
Point 10 of the Lausanne Covenant on EVANGELISM AND CULTURE

“Suffering, if it is accepted together, borne together, is joy.”
Mother Teresa

Also of interest ...

• Can’t We All Just Get Along?
• Video: Indigenous Theologians Discuss Christianity and Culture
• YWAMers welcomed by Hereditary Chief Big Swan in Canada
• Let The Walls Fall Down

Two Rivers Movie Trailer

Also of interest ...

• Father, Faith & Family
• What is YWAM?
• What is a Mini-Discipleship-Training-School (DTS)?
• Video: Indigenous Theologians Discuss Christianity and Culture

Click to order from YWAM Publishing
(A portion of the proceeds support YWAM Native Ministries)

Also of interest ...

• YWAMers welcomed by Hereditary Chief Big Swan in Canada
• Can’t We All Just Get Along?
• Father, Faith & Family
• The Father’s Dance