USA (MNN) – In the US, May brings a flurry of graduations and excitement for the future. Ron Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries says their students in the On Eagles’ Wings Leadership Center program share those high hopes.
“There’s excitement here. There is anticipation and there is a little apprehension, because they have been here at the Leadership Center since September. 245 hours of classroom that has covered everything from systematic theology to how to cook.”
Next Steps
In addition to comprehensive classroom instruction, students had the opportunity to live out their learning on a weekly basis with their student life directors. Then, in early spring, each student completed an internship with a trusted partner on a reservation. This field work gave students a taste of full-time Native ministry, from family life to planning and executing events. Hutchcraft says the internships serve as a launchpad for the next steps of these young leaders.
(Representative photo courtesy of McElspeth via Pixabay)
“Almost all of them – and very maybe all – either are have something set up. In one case, one of our young men has been accepted to go to Moody Bible Institute this fall. I don’t think that would have happened, but for his year at the Leadership Center – that he would have even applied there.”
Hope for the Young
Students are encouraged to do additional education if they want to go into a ministry setting. However, some students already have jobs lined up from their internships. These young, God-loving students are a valuable resource for Native ministry. Many young people on reservations have never met a Native person their age who loves Jesus.
“There are three words that very seldom go together: young, Native, Jesus-loving. There are young Natives, but they don’t love Jesus. There are Natives who love Jesus, but they tend to be grandmas. To find a young, Native, Jesus-lover is very rare, and therefore very valuable. What’s rare is valuable. There are a number of reservations – and we have contacts with a lot of them – that are desperate for somebody to come in and be a model of hope, who is the age of the most important people to reach the young people.”
Join the Work
Many of the graduating students are joining a summer ministry team that will visit six of the most unreached reservations in the country. Hutchcraft asks for prayer for this team. Please pray that God would provide enough sponsorships for the team to do their work.
(Representative photo courtesy of pedroivo via Pixabay)
Hutchcraft also asks for prayer for the students’ faith. The momentum they have right now is high and they are passionate about their work. “Pray for their courage to resist the tentacles of home and family that maybe are not sympathetic to their faith. There are a lot of things pulling at them, to other people who have a different kind of plan for their life. So pray for them to be able to continue with courage in their calling.”
If you would like to support these students or ministry financially, visit Hopefornativeamerica.com.
Representative header photo courtesy of M4tthew via Pixabay.
