…When the wind of the Spirit blows, Warrior, come on and ride the wind…”
Robert Soto, Lipan-Apache, protocols the Mayor of Altensteig
The words sung by Broken Walls and accompanied by a powerful drumbeat are thundering from the massive speakers in the horse arena serving as concert venue. Colorful Traditional, Fancy, and Feather dancer’s busts into the arena, as hundreds of German’s give rousing applause. This scene was repeated at several other major venues, often with hundreds of visitors each, coming from near and far to see the “Indianer” from North America. The team performed at churches in Herborn and Altensteig, at City Halls, at a well-known area restaurant, at a “House of Blues,” music pub, a water castle, and various other locations.
Visitors anticipated seeing Native people in their colorful regalia, hearing music that included pow-wow style drumming and the
A very interested crowd in Haiterbach
more contemporary sounds and music of “Broken Walls.” They were not disappointed. It was evident again that there is great interest in Native people from North America in Germany and all over Europe. But cultural exchange was not the only purpose of the team’s trip to Germany. They also came to share parts of their history, including the often horrendous results of abuse, mistreatment by the majority culture, neglect, alcoholism and drug abuse and the healing that they experienced by coming to know Jesus their Creator in a personal way, helping them overcome devastation and hardships.
Klaus-Peter with Broken Walls
Dancing for Creator from YWAM Native Ministries on Vimeo. A native person having experienced so many hardships but having found freedom in Christ is a powerful and believable witness to European people while sharing their beautiful and varied cultures. Is this possibly part of their destiny in the Lord? We believe that the words first spoken by the Prophet Isaiah to Israel also apply to Native people: “…their descendants shall be known among the nations.” Isaiah 61:9 Jonathan Maracle, widely traveled leader of Broken Walls stated that the country that printed the first Bible is especially on his heart. He said:
“We came here to remind Germans of the message of God’s love they helped bring to us in the first place
Interview by German ERF TV
and have largely forgotten themselves.”
“In the past, First Nations people were either completely assimilated into European culture, or they reacted against it and it’s religion,” said Maracle. “But God didn’t make a mistake when he created our native cultures. Jesus came to conquer sin, not culture. We were made ashamed of our culture.
But now, as native people we reach out for restoration, to all European peoples with the message of Jesus.”
“We love the responses we previously enjoyed in Europe and the enthusiastic reception the music of our native culture has received and we look forward to make new friends.”
Here are a few reactions the team received.
A young lady was moved by the music and dance of the team. Members of the German organizing team are working with her, introducing her to life in fellowship with Jesus and other Followers of Christ.
Native team members keep receiving encouraging news via email and facebook about how their lives were changed by the words they shared and the gospel of Jesus Christ.
A young couple has begun their journey to know and grow closer to Jesus
Several other concert participants are taking part in the basic discipleship courses of the church
One mother wrote that her son listens to the CD’s the teams brought,…”he listens to the songs up and down…and dances to the music, making the whole house shake.”
The Team
Broken Walls (Jonathan Maracle – Mohawk, Vocals, Guitar, Mohawk Wind flute, Bill Pagaran – Tlingit, Drums, Kris DeLorenzi – Bass, Vocals) For more information about Broken Walls, their music CD’s and DVD and other products hereCreated to Dance (Robert Soto – Lipan Apache, Fancy Dancer, Homer Hinojosa – Lipan Apache/Cherokee/Blackfoot, Fancy Dancer, Trey Adams – Lipan Apache, Southern Traditional Dancer, Orena Monahan – Quechan, Jingle/Fancy Shawl Dancer, Erika Monaham Quechan, Fancy Shawl Dancer, Chelsea Flores – Lipan Apache, Southern Traditional Dancer) More information about Created to Dance, their music CD’s etc. here This tour was made possible by a very dedicated, generous, and hardworking team of organizers in Germany. We are all very thankful for their vision and tireless work to make it possible for the team to share their culture and faith in Jesus.
Jingle, Fancy Shawl, Southern Traditional, Traditional, Feather Dancers (Created to Dance) enter the arena at Altensteig, Germany to Broken Walls singing “Warrior, Ride the Wind.”
Gathered from across Western Canada and Northwestern USA in the foothills of Alberta, 200 YWAMers were welcomed by hereditary Chief Big Swan of the Peigan Tribe of the Blackfoot Nation to his tribal lands. In the opening session of YWAM’s 50th anniversary celebration, Chief Big Swan and his wife, Delores, shared the story of their people, singing, drumming and blowing the shofar as an invitation to the Spirit of God to be with us during our gathering. We came together united under the greatest Chief of all, Jesus.
“Chiefs” Loren & Darlene Cunningham were honored with gifts and welcomed to the Blackfoot Nation. They responded with thanks and appreciation to the First Nations people of this land. Read more…
A small group of wonderful German friends have diligently and competently organized an outreach for a Native and First Nations Dance Team to Germany. Not only that, they have raised the funds for the airline tickets for the team of ten members and will also provide all housing, meals and transportation while in Germany.
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.
The piece of concrete in front of me, smudged with paint of different colors, is nothing valuable at all! One might wonder, why I keep it in a prominent place in my house. It is because it represents something very special to me.
I am talking about a piece of the Berlin Wall that I chiseled off that infamous structure of separation in my home country of Germany in the summer of 1990. Less than a year ago the 29-mile long wall of wire and concrete, which had been erected in 1961 by socialist East German authorities to halt the exodus of refugees to the West still seemed to stand strong. But by November 1989 the wall had been breached and millions of people watched on the news how flag-waving, joyful Easterners jumped the wall and entered into the western part of Berlin without being shot at by the ever watchful and merciless Volkspolizei. To this day watching these scenes makes me choke up with tears!
Not long ago even the most conservative politicians had wanted to strike a provision out of West Germany’s constitution that strongly called for a reunified Germany, because there didn’t seem to be any hope left for it ever to occur. What brought about a change like this? I realize there probably is no single right answer to this question. Certainly, growing disillusionment with the “blessings” of socialism, the breaking up of the stronghold of communism further east in the Soviet Union, Poland and Hungary and the overwhelming desire for true freedom played an important role. Yet, I believe one of the most important reasons why this radical change occurred without a bloodbath is a spiritual one!
Since 1983, Pastor Christian Führer had held the Friedensgebete or “Prayers for Peace” every Monday at the Nikolaikirche in Leipzig. First here, later throughout East Germany, groups met under the roof of the church as the one safe haven where they could voice criticism of the regime and seek a way to change it. Of course, soon the nervous regime infiltrated the meetings at the churches. October 9, 1989, Pastor Führer was warned, that if he continued to hold the Friedensgebete he would provoke civil war. Yet as history proves, an attitude of non-violence prevailed even while the demonstrators saw the light glinting off the weapons and looked at the shields, helmets and armored vehicles of a powerful police force. No shot was fired and the forces of peaceful change had won.
Over the following four weeks the streets would swell with more demonstrators. The socialist leaders would have to acknowledge that they had lost control and realized, that in a moral, political and spiritual earthquake, communism and the entire Eastern bloc was brought tumbling down.
Remarkably, in this un-Christian country the spirit of Jesus, the spirit of peace had descended on the masses and brought about peaceful, positive change.
Why am I telling you about this? I trust, that these events will both remind you that history is first and foremost HIS-story, God actively working in the affairs of mankind, and that it will instill you and me with new faith and fervor to pray and work toward the breakdown of walls of separation and racism which are so dominant in our society and sad to say often even inside the church’s walls. Last but not least, as this event shows, it is first and foremost the power of God, marshaled by unified prayer, not gun-power, that brings about lasting change!
Here’s a song that encourages us on our way:
Let the walls fall down, Let the walls fall down, By His love let the walls fall down! One by one we’re drawn together, One by one to Jesus’ side; One in Him we’ll live forever; Strangers He has reconciled. In His love no walls between us, In His love a common ground; Kneeling at the Cross of Jesus, All our pride comes tumbling down. Fall, all fall down!
“Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life.” Philippians 4:6-7 (The Message)
(Permission to reproduce this material is automatically granted on the condition it will be used for non-commercial purposes, will not be sold, and will be distributed for the sole purpose of expanding the Gospel.)
In this powerful video, Tom Bee performs “Sacred Warrior”, a song written by Terry Wildman of Rain Ministries on location at Pine Ridge and Wounded Knee, South Dakota.
It calls all warriors to stand firm, to stand strong, by putting on the armor of light to stand against the night! By following the most “Sacred Warrior” of all, the One who is called the “Word of God”, whose vest is dipped in blood and whose eyes are blazing fire and who will go before them in war, the warriors will take their stand and never be left on their own.
(Ephesians 6:10-17; Revelation 19:11-15; Words & Music: Terry M. Wildman, (c) 2002 Firedrum Music)
Für die vergangenen 16 Jahre unserer Präsenz hier im Land der Nez Perce haben wir unsere Arbeit als Jugend mit einer Mission (JmeM) gemacht, ohne eigene Dienstgebäude zur Verfügung zu haben.
Wir glauben, dass der Herr uns jetzt „grünes Licht“ gegeben hat, Ihm zu vertrauen, dass wir uns eine eigene „Domäne“ geben will, damit wir unseren Dienst erweitern können. Damit wir mehrmonatige Jüngerschaftsschulen (DTS), Beherbergungsmöglichkeiten für Einsatzteams, Schüler und einen wachsenden Mitarbeiterkries hier anbieten können, benötigen wir eine entsprechende Immobilie/Grundstück.
Wir hatten bereits ein Haus und Grundstück identifiziert, das unsere Ansprüche erfüllte. Leider wurde diese Immobilie im April 2009 verkauft, bevor wir die benötigten Finanzen zum Erwerb zur Verfügung hatten.
Obwohl es in unserer Umgebung nicht zu viele Angebote gibt, die unseren Kriterien entsprechen, ist in der Zwischenzeit ein anderes Gebäude zum Verkauf angeboten worden, das unseren Vorstellungen nahe kommt. (Webseite des Maklers)
Dieses Haus wäre sofort als Wohnraum für Mitarbeiter und Studenten nutzbar und kommt mit einem Grundstück, das für zukünftigen Wachstum viel Raum hat.
Es liegt strategisch gut, nur eine kleine Distanz von der Schule entfernt, aber gerade ausserhalb der Stadtgrenze, was bedeutet, dass es keinerlei Bebauungsvorschriften oder Beschränkungen gibt.
Das Grundstück ist ca. 4 hektar gross und liegt gegenüber von Land, das von mehreren Nez Perce Familien bewohnt wird.
Da das Gebäude und Grundstück schon für eine Weile zum Verkauf steht, dürfte der Preis verhandelbar sein. Wir haben bereits einige Spenden zum Erwerb erhalten, die auch Beiträge unserer eigenen Mitarbeiter beinhalten. Z.Zt. haben wir ca. Euro 17.500.00 zur Verfügung um eine Anzahlung zu machen.Weitere Informationen und Bilder des Grundstückes sind hier einzusehen.
Natürlich bewegen wir diese ganze Angelegenheit im Gebet vor dem Herrn und wir möchten Euch einladen uns besonders dabei zu unterstützen. Durch Eure Gebete und finanzielle Unterstützung könnt Ihr an der Erweiterung des Königreichs Gottes unter Indianern teilhaben. Möglicherweise könnt Ihr auch unter Freunden, Missionsgesellschaften und Gemeinden Fürsprecher für die Arbeit sein, damit Indianer ermutigt und ausgebildet werden können, um ihre Gott gegebenes Erbteil einzunehmen.
Steuerlich absetzbare Spenden können mit dem Vermerk „JmeM Dienstgebäude“ hier gemacht werden:
Der Dienst von YWAM Native Ministries, Kamiah, Idaho begann im Sommer 1993.
Wir sind in Deutschland aufgewachen, aber die Nez Perce Indian Reservation in Idaho ist seit 1993 unser Zuhause, wo wir bei Youth With A Mission, Native Ministries dienen. Wir möchten unter Indianern Nordamerikas Gottes Absichten in unserer Generation dienen und sie zur Nachfolge Jesus’ rufen.
Der Herr gab uns ein Wort aus 1. Mose 26, 12-22, besonders Vers 18, …”Dort hatten die Philister nach Abrahams Tod alle Brunnen zugeschüttet. Isaak ließ die Brunnen wieder ausgraben und gab ihnen dieselben Namen, die sein Vater ihnen damals gegeben hatte.” Wir sehen unsere geistliche Aufgabe darin, mitzuhelfen, die Brunnen, die ehemals frisches, lebendiges Lebenswasser hergaben, aber über Jahre hinweg verschüttet wurden, wieder aufzugraben.
Praktisch bedeutete das, daß wir die bereits bestehende Arbeit unter den Indianern unterstützen und ermutigen. Als Mitarbeiter besuchten wir regelmäßig die Gottesdienste der indianischen Gemeinden am Ort und daraus entwickelten sich gute Beziehungen zu den Nez Perce.
Gott segnete uns mit offenen Türen zum Dienst. Wir wurden eingeladen Jugendprogramme zu unterstützen, bei Bauprojekten zu helfen und kleinere Einsatzteams zu beherbergen, die zur Hilfe und Ermutigung der Gemeinden nach Kamiah gekommen waren
Eine Älteste der Gemeinde am Ort sagte uns später, dass wir die “Gesandten” seien, für die sie so lange gebetet hatten.
Auch zukünftig bleiben wir verbunden mit dem Dienst der Gemeinden am Ort, indem wir das Wort Gottes predigen, junge Leute ermutigen an Kurzzeit Missionseinsätzen teilzunehmen und bei Bauprojekten und anderen Aktivitäten helfend zur Seite stehen.
Wir bieten Einsatzteams von anderen Gemeinden und Jugendgruppen schlichte Unterkunft und veranstalten gemeinsame Jugendabende, und Open-Air-Treffen. In 2008 hatten waren wir Gastgeber für drei verschiedene Gruppen, die im Ort Dienste ausführt haben. Im Jahr 2001 begleiteten wir eine Gruppe meist junger Indianer zu einem Missionseinsatz nach Tijuana Mexico.
Unser Gebet ist, dass mehr Indianer Ihre Berufung in die Mission zu erkennen. Wir glauben, dass Gott sie in besonderer Weise begabt hat und ihnen offene Türen gegeben hat, um auf ihre Art das Evangelium von Jesus Christus überall auf der Welt zu verkündigen.
Obwohl Indianer sehr viel Misshandlung erlebt haben und Ihnen ihr Land gestohlen wurde, glauben wir, dass Ihr Schöpfer Ihnen eine hoffungsvolle Zukunft verspricht.
“Freude soll ihre Trauer erstetzen. Anstelle von Asche sollen sie den Kopfschmuck der Ehre tragen. Sie sollen Diener Gottes genannt werden. Obwohl sie eine doppelte Dosis von Schwierigkeiten und mehr als ihren Anteil von Verachtung erfahren haben, soll ihr Erbe in ihrem Land verdoppelt werden und ihre Freude soll für immer währen. Ihre Kinder werden unter den Nationen als Menschen, die der HERR gesegnet hat bekannt sein.” (aus Jesaja 61)
The doctor entered the room, preparing to give me the exam required by US Immigration authorities. Quickly his questions turned personal. Why was I here, what was my job?
I briefly stated that I was working with a Christian non-profit organization seeking to walk with and work among Native people in the area. His reply dumbfounded me. He said something like this: “I don’t know what Native Americans want, we, (obviously referring to his Caucasian ancestors) won fair and square.” I was taken aback by his rather calloused and simplistic reply. Unfortunately, not being too quick-witted, it was only later that I could think of what I wanted to reply. “Maybe you won—but there was nothing “fair” and “square” about it!
Chief Joseph’s surrender at Bear Paw
On Monday, October 5, 2009, our Nez Perce neighbors commemorated the 132nd anniversary of the Battle at Bear Paw, Montana. Here, their fighting retreat ended with Chief Joseph’s heartrending surrender to Generals Miles and Howard. It marked the culmination of their almost four month long flight, fraught with many “unfair” battles, hardships and losses of warriors, children and elders. It all had started at White Bird Canyon on June 17, 1877, when a hothead civilian volunteer engaged the US Army and the Nez Perce, who had approached under a white flag of truce, in battle, by firing the first shot.
Is it not high time that we shed ignorant and simplistic attitudes about historic events and begin to deal with the reality of what happened, not by re-writing history, or by trying to “explain away” what happened, but by squarely facing the hard and difficult truth, warts and all?
Unfortunately, what has happened cannot be undone; however we can learn from history and commit to not let injustices go on or happen again. We can begin to identify with the loss and pain that our Nez Perce neighbors are reminded of on days like this. We can choose to treat them with the dignity and honor Creator has endowed them with. They are the First Americans and they are the Gate-keepers of this nation.
Chief Joseph (Nez Perce)
From Creators Word to us we know that transforming change begins with the recognition of wrong, and honest repentance, (change of mind and then of action). While it is impossible for me to even imagine the agony and suffering Nez Perce families are reminded of on this day, I want to express my sorrow over the injustice they suffered and identify with the sins of my forefathers. I know, it will not bring their ancestors back, restore the lives and land lost, but I commit myself to walk beside you, to speak up against unrighteousness and injustice and to add my small contribution to a better present and future for you. Most of all, I trust and pray that the Judge of all the earth, will do what is just! (Genesis 18:25)
The horrific events of 9-11-2001 have no doubt caused many to ask questions like this one. “Where you asleep God, or on vacation or did you just not pay attention?”
Interestingly enough, these questions seem to be asked mostly by people who may not think or care about God when things run smoothly in their lives. Some who ask may not even believe there is a God or that he can be known.
Others may have a notion of what God is like and events like the terrorist attacks of 9/11/2001 seem to rattle what little trust they may have had in him.
Somehow we feel that God, who is all-powerful has the obligation to protect us from evil. Many may ask: “Can the all-powerful God, let evil happen to our lives and at the same time claim to be the God of Love?”
Here are some answers, that Lee Strobel, an investigative reporter was given by Peter John Kreeft, a first rate philosophical thinker with a PhD. from Fordham University, who has been a philosophy professor at Boston College since 1965.
This question was posed by Rodney King (African-American), who had been severely beaten and mistreated by his arresting Police Officers (White), as was widely broadcast on the News. The failure of the courts to bring about justice by convicting the perpetrating officers later sparked the infamous Los Angeles Riots.
In a time, when racial tension is flaring up like never before, this question is an important one to ask. It is Black against White, White against Native American, Hispanic against Black, Asian against Black and Hispanic etc. The year 1995 has been declared the International Year of Tolerance.
Isn’t it interesting that those who proclaim the value of tolerance most fervently stop short of abiding by it? They announce: Intolerance is unacceptable!To everyone’s dismay, intolerance seems to be more prevalent then ever. Is tolerance the answer? Is there really a simple answer at all to the racial question?In my opinion, the answer is No, we can’t just get along! Yet a positive answer to the question of peaceful co-existence of people of all races and backgrounds is possible if we look beyond ourselves.
We first have to realize that we are all of equal value to God who created and therefore wanted different people groups with their own cultural traits. It seems that each culture has certain strength’s (gifts) and weaknesses. From a biblical perspective, all people, all human beings are not only created in God’s image, (Genesis 1: 26-27; Genesis 9:6) their lives are also all stained by sin. (Psalm 53:2-3; Romans 3:23;) We all fall short of God’s standard.
Any person can be changed by sincerely repenting and receiving forgiveness, granted by God, because His Son Jesus carried our sins and the just penalty for them on the cruel cross. (John 3:16-17; Romans 6:23) The one receiving this new life should also be aware of the tremendous value that God placed on every single human being. It is expressed in the fact how much God paid for us. He did not pay with riches measurable in Dollars and Cents, but by giving His only Son, Jesus. That is how valuable we are to Him. One who has received forgiveness is commanded to forgive others also, realizing that the forgiveness he has received is by far greater than what he might have to forgive his neighbor for.
As we realize this we need to make an effort to extend grace to others, even if their actions are less than desirable.
We need to make an effort in trying to understand why the other person is reacting in this way. We need to feel and share in carrying their pain. This includes looking at historical events, that are all to often brushed off as happened a long time ago. Do we really understand what it means to be held as a piece of property, being bought and sold at will by an arbitrary owner. Do we really understand the pain that a Native American might feel about massacred beloved ancestors, land stolen from them, broken promises, and crude and untrue stereotypes being applied to all of them. Their wounds are real, no amount of tolerance alone can take care of those. “Time heals all wounds” is not only a false but cruel figure of speech. A festering wound left alone will not heal by itself, it will only get worse.
When will we tend to our neighbors wounds and seek healing for them, instead of having only quick answers? When will we look beyond behavior that is often only the outflow of things gone wrong and touch the hurting soul underneath instead of adding to their insult and isolation by placing blame on them? Jesus himself gave us a perfect example. He showed us how we should live, by being completely “other’s-centered.” This “Jesus-Brand-Christianity” is lived out by considering others more than ourselves. Jesus told us that the most important things for us to remember and do are to:
Love God, because He first loved us and showed His love by giving Jesus.
Love our neighbors as we love ourselves.
If we follow these simple yet profound commands we will get along with each other and much more, we will start to appreciate one another, differences and all, and begin seeing that we all need and complement each other with our giftings and abilities.
