On Eagles Wings - Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

As I sat watching almost one hundred cars pull into that small parking lot, I kept being reminded of the story of Gideon. It was our first time dividing our team between two locations in order to reach as many people on as many reservations as possible, and the challenge was clear. People came by car, by foot, and even many on horseback to the courts on the Eagle Crest Reservation. By the time our event was going full-speed, our team of 25 was facing several hundred people.

These may not quite be Gideon-type odds, but it was impressive to see this small band of warriors tackle the challenge ahead of them.

The number of people was not the only challenge, but the layout of this particular event. It was really a three-ring circus – almost 100 cars in the parking lot with people still in them, and then not one but two big basketball 'cages' with four hoops in each.

And then there was this unique mix of people. There was basically every group represented – parents, grandparents, little children, and a majority of the age we target – or the "big boys" as we sometimes refer to them. All of this made for an often loud and distracted group, making it tough to get their attention.

As one person described it, it seemed very "overwhelming" for our team.

However, in the face of all of this, our team was up to the challenge! They deployed to the cars, to the cages, and even to those on horseback. They had countless personal conversations about Jesus. They handed out hundreds of Bibles and other books. Despite overwhelming odds, they did not shrink back from the fight, but faced it head on.

Those giving their Hope Stories stood up and commanded attention, with many of their peers listening closely. The culmination of the three nights in Eagle Crest came on our final night with Noah's wrap-up. In the midst of the chaos, he grabbed the microphone and shared the story of what Jesus had done in his life. As he spoke, a wave of attention and silence moved across many around and on the court. He gave people a chance to come forward...and it was still. At first, no one moved – the pressure for them to keep their decision quiet was on.

Then, one man came forward...and then one of the main basketball players...and then others. A strong group was standing at center court, and they were joined by many others in the cars and all over who indicated their commitment to Christ to our team members.

We may not have been expecting how tough a challenge this community would be, but because our team is committed to relying on the Lord's strength and not their own, this seemingly small army won a great victory for the Lord!

*All names have been changed for privacy.