On Eagles Wings - Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

We've seen some of the poorest rez kids - Reservation #2, "Elk Valley," was in the second poorest county in America. Only a few years ago, the Burnt Hills Reservation was a poor reservation on a dirt road. Not anymore. Their casino changed all that. Now tribal members receive regular checks and the reservation is blessed with impressive programs and facilities.

If only money could heal broken lives. A tribal leader gave this sad report on their next generation...

"We've lost a lot of our young people."

But after what God did in just two days among their young people, he said in a public thank you to the On Eagles' Wings' team:

"You have given us hope."

It didn't come easily. We only had two days here rather than our usual three. The reservation's houses are widely scattered, making it very difficult for our team to canvass as they usually do. There are only a few hundred people on the Burnt Hills Reservation - so we knew our crowds would be proportionately smaller.

But the first night was a struggle because we started with only a handful of people. Eventually, the crowd grew to a respectable size, but many of them seemed to avoid the basketball court and stay in the shadows among the cars parked around the court. Later, team members reported that a number of them came drunk, and the smell of "weed" (marijuana) was in the air.

With only two nights, we need for that first night to be a great one. It was okay, but not great. My meeting with local Christians the next day confirmed that there had been much prayer for this rez and for this OEW rescue mission. We added to their prayer with a prayer walk that afternoon all over the area where Night Two would take place. Over and over, God has driven us to be desperately dependent on Him. That's a good place to be.

What a difference Night Two was! The locals were there early, there was energy in the air, and almost total attention for the Hope Stories and the wrap-up. David (Sioux) grew up with more earth-stuff than most of his teammates - so he shared his Hope Story of having everything, but having nothing. One of our young women from the East told how she had run from her pain into drugs and alcohol and shame-producing relationships with guys. It was a story that really resonated with the Burnt Hills girls. That's why Lynn's story of how Jesus' love has now filled and healed her heart so "I don't need a guy anymore" touched hearts.

Jarrod's (Sioux) Gospel presentation was commanding and powerful, explaining the brutal death Jesus suffered to pay for our sin. Then came the challenge to do "the boldest thing you've ever done in your life - step out on this basketball court and give yourself publicly to the Man who died publicly for you."

The response was instantaneous. They streamed from the court, the cars, the shadows to declare the beginning of their relationship with Jesus Christ. It was an amazing sight.

As our team led them behind the bus for personal conversations, one look at the area around the court told the story. There was no one there. While our team sought out a handful of holdouts in the corners, almost every person there was in one of the holy huddles where a warrior was re-explaining the Gospel and confirming commitments. The empty basketball court testified to a sweeping work of the Holy Spirit and what felt like total victory for Jesus.

Later, a missionary who has worked here for years, told us, "I know all these people you've prayed with tonight. We have buried their brothers and sisters. But tonight God used you to answer years of prayers for this people."

Your prayer has joined with those years of prayers - and the prayer of the warriors of On Eagles' Wings - to bring in a mighty harvest for Jesus. And a milestone moment for the work of Christ on the Burnt Hills Reservation.

No one described the victory better than one team member who had dealt with some who were drunk the night before. Standing amid the holy huddles by the bus, she said...

"The people who were drunk over there last night are over here accepting Christ tonight."

To God be the glory. Great things He has done. Again.

We are on our way to a reservation that will be radically different from Burnt Hills. It is poor, high-crime and gang intensive. We're adding some special security as we go into these higher-risk areas - areas that are in desperate need of the hope of Jesus. Your prayer will be our protection and our power source. Thank you!