Outreach

Volunteer champions making a real difference

January 24, 2013 by admin 1 Comment

Copyright: Marc Walters Photography | Used With Permission

“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 . While exchanging emails, 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)

Not to be served but to serve

August 6, 2012 by admin 1 Comment

A team of 74 young people and adults descended upon Kamiah during the last week of July to serve and share the love of Jesus with members of the Kamiah and Lapwai community. They were invited by YWAM Native Ministries, the Nez Perce Indian Churches and the Wa-A’Yas and Pinewaus Community Centers.

Lapwai-BBall-Camp-2012 — Lapwai Basketball Camp 2012

During their time here they conducted services at three of the Nez Perce Indian Congregations. Several of the young team members shared their hope stories, encouraging others to do the same. Pastor of Student Ministries and Coach Shon Tenkley and team members also led the ninth annual free Basketball and Kid’s Camp’s offered at the tribal Community Centers in Kamiah and Lapwai with over 130 participating young people. Over the years, team members have established many friendships with young community members. Thanks to Facebook, many stay in touch during the year, eagerly looking forward to the teams return every summer.

Kamiah-BBall — Kamiah Basketball Camp 2012

Adults and team members also worked hard serving in practical ways. They mowed and cleaned cemeteries, repaired leaky roofs, helped out at the Emergency Food Outreach and Loving Hands Thrift Store, cut down brush, split wood for Elders, washed windows, cleaned houses, helped bring in hay for an injured animal lover, etc.

While here, the team enjoys cooling off and swimming at the Rock. They spent time every day worshiping and praying together, sharing their struggles and joys, affirming and serving each other. Although tired at the end of the week, team members share with us how much fun it was to be here, which is also evident in the fact that many of the young people return year after year, proving that they are following their Master, who said that he did not come to be served but to serve.

Natives captivate German Hearts

December 14, 2010 by admin 2 Comments

…When the wind of the Spirit blows, Warrior, come on and ride the wind…”

Mayor-Altensteig — 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

Crowd-Haiterbach — 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.

SAM_0607 — 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.”

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 here Created 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.

Warrior, Ride the Wind from YWAM Native Ministries on Vimeo.

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.”

Dancing for Creator from YWAM Native Ministries on Vimeo.

Broken Walls and Created to Dance share their beautiful culture through song and dance with the German people in Haitersbach and Nagold

Beautiful Feet from YWAM Native Ministries on Vimeo.

Created to Dance members joining the Music of Broken Walls. “Beautiful are the feet of those who proclaim Good News.”

Indianweek 2010 Deutschland from YWAM Native Ministries on Vimeo.

Native Messengers for Jesus

June 7, 2010 by admin 1 Comment

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.

Indianweek Program, German (PDF, 6.7 MB)

Path to Peace

February 28, 2009 by VolkhardG Leave a Comment

Choosing the Creator’s Path

The Creator created the world – the mountains, trees, rivers, and seas. He created all the creatures on this fair land. The Creator also created man and woman from the land and put them in charge to take care of the Creator’s work.

Man and woman were placed on the path of life. They were given the choice of walking on the Creator’s Path or going another way.

The people did not listen to the voice of their Creator. They chose to go their own way and do what seemed right to them in their own spirits.

This caused the Creator much sadness. He loved His creation dearly and did not want them to go their own way. He decided that there was only one way to save man and woman from destroying themselves and all of His creation. He would send His Son to become like them and live on the land.

Creator sends His Son

The time came when the Creator’s Son came down to the earth and took on the form of a little baby. He came from a woman and grew as a child. Soon He became a man-a young warrior.

But this warrior was different. He did not choose to fight. He came to bring peace and to teach.
Not every one liked what the Creator’s Son was saying. They did not want to accept His message of forgiveness and salvation.
Some of the people who followed Him wanted to make Him their chief. Others wanted to kill Him.
One day, those who wanted to kill the Creator’s Son became more powerful. They were able to turn the hearts of their leaders against the Creator. They got permission to have him put to death.

This Man has done nothing wrong

They hung him on a tree and left him there to die. But the Creator’s Son was not the only one hanging there. They put two thieves on either side of him.

One of the men who was guilty of death hanging next to the Creator’s Son spoke harshly to Him. He said, “If You are the Chosen One of the Creator, save Yourself and us.” But the other man spoke sharp words to the other man. “Are you not afraid of God the Creator? You are also guilty and will be punished. We are suffering and we should, because of the wrong we have done. But this Man has done nothing wrong. He turned to the Creator’s Son and said, “Remember me when You come into Your holy nation.”

The Creator’s Son said to Him, “For sure, I tell you, today you will be with Me in Paradise.”

Those in charge placed guards around to make sure that followers of the Creator did not come to take His Son down from the tree.

Some believed, some didn’t

Many people stood around watching what was happening. The leaders were with them and some of them were making fun of the Creator’s Son. They said, “He saved others, let Him save Himself if He is the Chosen One of the Creator!”

There were women who cried and had sorrow for the Creator’s Son. He spoke to them and said, “Daughters, do not cry for Me. Cry for yourselves and your children. Listen! The days are coming when they will say to the mountains, ‘Fall on us.’ They will say to the hills, ‘Cover us.’

“If they do these things to a green tree, what will they do when it is dry?”

Then the Creator’s Son said “Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they are doing.”

It was dark over all the land from mid-day until the afternoon. The sun did not shine. The ground shook.

Then the Creator’s Son cried with a loud voice, “Father, into Your hands I give my spirit.” When He said this, He died.

Many realized who He was

When the guards noticed that He was dead, one of them took his spear and pierced His side. Blood came flowing out.

At that moment, many of them realized who He was and why He came. The people standing around began to worship the Creator’s Son. Many thought that was the end of the story. But in many ways, it was only the beginning.

The Creator’s Son’s body was taken down from the tree and buried. But just three days later, the grave was empty. He had come alive again.

He appeared to many of His followers. There was much joy and excitement. Some time later, the Creator’s Son returned to the sky to be with His Father. Before He left the land, He told His followers that there would come a day when He would return and that they all would join Him. This made them all very happy.

The Creator’s Book, the Bible, tells us that He created all things to worship Him-including man and woman. It is His greatest desire that we have a personal relationship with Him. Even though man chose to go his own way and run from the Creator, the Creator desires that man walk with Him on the Path of Truth.

Through all time, people have tried to reach the Creator through other spirits, vision quests, living a moral life, religion, and through creation itself. The Creator’s book gives us His plan for how to get on the Creator’s Path to abundant living. Would you like to find that path?

We welcome the Garrisons!

January 9, 2009 by admin Leave a Comment

After completing their Crossroads Discipleship Training School (CDTS), in 2008, the Mark and Michaela are now our newest staff members. They are veteran followers of Christ and have served him in Germany, Kenya and the United States.

Teams making a difference for Jesus!

December 31, 2008 by VolkhardG Leave a Comment

This year we hosted three different outreach teams, from Molalla, Sutherlin and Portland, Oregon. We feel so blessed by the wonderful, quality, hard-working, Jesus- and people loving and servant-hearted groups.
Although they were here one after another, the work they were involved in was true team-work. All three groups worked on repairing, scraping, caulking, priming and painting First Indian Presbyterian Church. The church had received a new foundation last year and now desperately needed the exterior work. The teams also did a great job in reaching out to our community and especially in relating to our young people. They did a worship concert in the Park, put on the annual Kamiah Hoop Camp and Vacation Bible School and a very well prepared Field Day with games, sweets and activities.
I think, we are most encouraged, every time, when we see how young people give their time, talents, money, yes, their whole life to the Lord., working hard in His Service. To see how their dedication and service for the Lord enriches them and blesses others is priceless!

Mission Adventures

September 1, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

Tijuana, Mexico

Slowly our vans make their way down a steep grade, along the dusty road to one of Tijuana’s many “colonias”. The sights and smells are quite “different”. It is hard to believe that we are just a few miles south of the US border. What people call their home here is made up of a few pieces of scrap lumber, tin and whatever material they can find to make a shelter. Raw sewage runs down an open concrete channel filled with all sorts of litter. Our vans stop at a fenced in basketball court. We unload our gear and soon are surrounded by a bunch of kids. They want to see what these “brown Americans” have come for. A saintly elderly Mexican lady welcomes us personally, expressing how happy she is to see us. Some of us get out balls, Frisbee’s, balloons and other items to play with the local kids. They enjoy the attention and they like to beat us at a friendly game of soccer. Other members of our team make their way to some of the homes to invite young and old to our open-air service at the course

As we try to begin our service a few minutes later we discover that not all of our tapes with the background music for the skits have been packed-so we have to improvise. It amazed us how calm everybody stayed. After all, they worked hard on learning their skits and songs and now they can’t use them-at least not at this time. We are thankful for this experience, because it reflects what can happen when we desire to serve the Lord. Despite of our best efforts we often encounter circumstances beyond our control. We have the choice to belly ache about it or to continue to trust the Lord that He’ll come through nevertheless. Two of our team get to share a testimony. After a while someone shares a message about how our heavenly Father has created everyone in His image and that He, just like the father in the story of the lost son is looking out for us everyday to come back into his family. When the call is given, a young woman with child comes forward to accept God’s gift of salvation. Some of our young people get to pray and rejoice with this new member of God’s family. In the background, Angele, prayed for a mother and her little child with a cleft palate and tumor on his mouth. An older gentlemen comes forward to receive prayer for a health problem with the gentle prodding of a friend.

All of us leave this place with a renewed sense of God’s love for all people and his compassionate heart to reach out to them through us. It is our prayer that everyone on our team comes away with the insight that the Lord can and will use them if they make themselves available to Him.

Training in Los Angeles

After a day and night of driving we arrived in Los Angeles in time to take a trip to the ocean and the Santa Monica pier. We were grateful to find a rental company to make their van available to drive into Mexico. A big “Thank You” to all those who through their generous gifts made it possible to rent a van. At the YWAM base in L.A. we were welcomed by enthusiastic staff workers. In the following four days our schedule would be tight beginning with breakfast at 7 a.m., ending at 11 p.m. In between the time was filled with personal quiet times with the Lord, corporate worship, engaging testimonies and challenging teachings based on the theme of ONE (Truth, Life, Love, Desire, Purpose, Way). In the afternoons everybody practiced their drama’s, clown skits, worship dances and made preparations for a vacation Bible school program. There was of course enough time for some fun games and the occasional challenge of shooting hoops. After four days of intense training we were ready to make our way to Tijuana, a 3 hour drive south.

One of the last services we had in Los Angeles was also one of the most powerful. The speaker brought home the fact that Jesus, the Truth, the Way, the Life should be our Love, purpose and desire. If there was sin or anything that would distract us from following him, we needed to leave it behind. Everyone was encouraged to write down those things on a little card. All those cards were collected in a burlap bag. To visualize the sacrifice that Jesus made for the forgiveness of our sins, the staff had prepared a passion play, which took place in the outside court yard. It showed how Jesus was wrongly accused, flogged and nailed to the cross. After he had been taken down from the cross by his disciples, all that remained was the bag in which we had placed the cards with our sins written on them. All of us were powerfully impacted by the truth and reality that only by the sacrifice that Jesus brought were we able to go free.

Later as we again gathered inside we celebrated communion together, listened to songs of dedication and commitment to Jesus. Those who wanted to totally commit their lives to the Lord were encouraged to go forward and bring a signed commitment card to the front. All those who did received a simple necklace with a small cross, as a reminder of their solemn step of faith. It was quite a sight to see the Spirit of God move on the hearts of about 160 young people, who were assembled together. We were especially grateful, as any parent would, to observe, that all members of our team made a commitment to the Lord that night! Praise the LORD!

Gatherings

September 1, 2008 by admin Leave a Comment

The first Gathering was a great experience and time of learning more about the freedom to praise the Creator and His Son Jesus with Native forms of worship. A new drum, created by Gerald Chapman of Longview, Washington, a wonderful Native brother, was introduced during the meeting and some of the young people had the opportunity to sing their praises, drumming with great joy and freedom.

Over 20 native and non-native people came to share a delicious meal, fellowship and the ministry of the Word. Pastor Ehud Garcia of the Nez Perce Presbyterian Churches spoke on the topic of worshiping in the Spirit and Truth– Staying true to God’s Word and our cultural heritage. His presentation was based on John chapter four, where Jesus opened the gates of worship to the nations and their different cultures when he told the Samaritan woman that the time had come when they would no longer worship the way they were accustomed to do. Instead, the true worshiper would worship in Spirit and in Truth.

This new approach to worship brought freedom to God’s people to express their faith in different ways, using different forms of instruments and worship. Pastor Garcia, who has a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Seminary, shared clearly that the use of different forms or instruments in worship is not a problem and not in contradiction to scriptural principles. The meaning behind any form is what is important. We are invited to give our forms of expression a new meaning, one that brings praise and glory to our Lord and Redeemer.

2007 Outreach Teams

July 16, 2007 by VolkhardG Leave a Comment

During July and August we were blessed by two outreach teams from Oregon.

The teams did a great job in reaching out to our community and especially in relating to our young people. They did a lot of practical work, such as laying of carpet, painting and assisting several tribal elders with needed work. We also had the fourth annual Kamiah Hoop Camp and Vacation Bible School and a very well prepared Field Day with games, sweets and activities.
Every time, we are so encouraged to see how young people give their time, their gifts, their whole life to the Lord., working hard in His Service. It would be so much easier to spend their vacation at the beach or doing other „fun“ things.

To see how their dedication and service for the Lord enriches them, is priceless—and contagious!