Gap-year program brings discipleship to young Native American Christians

By February 28, 2024

USA (MNN) — On Eagles’ Wings, a ministry of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries (RHM), is in year two of a new gap-year program to equip young Native American Christians in evangelism and discipleship to reach their own people with the hope of Jesus. 

Brad Hutchcraft with RHM says, “These young leaders are sharing in some of the hardest hit places, most devastated places, by whether it is abuse or alcoholism, or violent crime, or missing and murdered indigenous women, all of these awful statistics that are out there. These are young, native Christians who are saying, ‘Hey, we want to be about bringing hope to our people.’”

on eagles' wings

(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

Instead of one short month in the summer, students in the expanded program have nine months of discipleship, field experience and more. Hutchcraft says this new On Eagles’ Wings Leadership Center has exponentially grown the ministry’s capacity to invest in young adults.

“It’s all about equipping them and trying to shore up some of those spots in life, some of those gaps that maybe they’re not getting covered at home, or maybe they’re not getting covered in school,” he says. 

“It’s beautiful to see how these students grow in just a few months time. The things that they are talking about, the ways that they’re diving into God’s Word. It’s just beautiful to see how God is working in their hearts, drawing them even closer to Himself.”

RHM is following God’s lead one step at a time to help these young people take their next steps, whether that be to college, the workforce, local ministry or one-day international ministry.

(Photo courtesy of Ron Hutchcraft Ministries)

“(Jesus) wants to use these Native young people to do what only they can, which is share about the shared challenges that they’ve had. Their ‘hope stories’ are filled with saying, ‘We have been who you are, but we have found hope and His name is Jesus,’” says Hutchcraft.

“We really do see a future where On Eagles’ Wings will be able to go more international. The reason for that is worldwide, it is very real fact that indigenous people reaching other indigenous people with the hope of Jesus. That’s the best model.”

You can come alongside young adults with On Eagles’ Wings through prayer support.

“We just love when people say, ‘Hey, I’m going to pray for these young warriors. I’m going to pray for their protection. I’m going to pray for the peace of Christ to rule in their hearts. I’m going to pray for them to stand firm, and I’m going to pray for them to make a difference,’” Hutchcraft says.

Visit hopefornativeamerica.com to learn more ways to support this ministry.

 

Header photo courtesy of On Eagles’ Wings/Ron Hutchcraft Ministries. 


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