USA (MNN) — The On Eagles’ Wings hope team, made up of Native young people, aims to reach Native youth around the country with the gospel.
Brad Hutchcraft with Hutchcraft Ministries says, “These are young people who remember what it’s like to be lost, to remember what it’s like to not have Jesus part of their lives. And they want their peers, they want other Native people to find the hope of Jesus they have.”
The 2025 Summer of Hope will begin with the Warrior Leadership Summit for youth. The team expects 500 warriors to attend, representing dozens of tribes. The youth will spend five days learning from God’s word, hearing from great Native Bible teachers, participating in amazing worship, and learn how to live for God on a daily basis.
These conference leaders will then spend the month of July visiting tribes and proclaiming the gospel to their peers and Native American youth.
Hutchcraft says, “It’s important for these local young people to learn that there is hope, there are answers, and there is healing that can take place. For that message to come from someone that looks like them and who has walked a similar road as they have is just an amazing time where walls come down and people are set free.”
Many of the issues rural communities face are magnified in Native America. These messengers of hope, however, can touch hopelessness with their own stories and can say, “We were in the same place. We’ve been the abuse victims, we’ve been the suicide attempts. We’ve been the gang members, the drug dealers. We’ve been these things, but we found hope, and his name is Jesus.”
These Native leaders reach youth with the truth– that Jesus is for everyone. They can paint the picture of a Jesus who is more like these Native young people than they ever realized.
After 400 years of mission history with Native Americans, only 4% know Jesus. Hutchcraft believes this is changing and walls are coming down.
Please pray that God’s hand will be in the logistics and for provision for the team. Pray for ready churches and ministries who will continue to pour into youth after the team has left.
Pray also for the “three opens.” Open doors, so that there will be open doors to receive the team. Open hearts, so that people come to these events to be ready to hear about the hope of Jesus. Open mouths, so team members will boldly share how their life has changed and how to have a relationship with Jesus.
Photo courtesy of Hutchcraft Ministries
