On Eagles Wings - Ron Hutchcraft Ministries

There is one last item we want to share with you. It’s somewhat awkward because of the potential of misunderstandings it brings. It is in regards to other short-term, non-Native mission teams that may be in the area while the On Eagles’ Wings team is conducting our outreach events.

Every summer, many non-Native churches send out short-term missions teams to many of our reservations. These teams come and do a variety of ministries, including hosting VBS programs, helping build and renovate buildings, and serve the community with various projects, etc.

We are very supportive of these non-Native groups doing ministry in our communities. What we have found, though, is that the uniqueness of the On Eagles’ Wings strategy and our success in evangelism can be compromised by these well-intentioned teams. It happens when the groups come to the outreach event site and seek to participate, help, or join in the activities.

In our experience, the lost local Native youth are drawn to the On Eagles’ Wings team because it is an all-Native team. We have had experiences where a short-term group has come to participate in our outreach events, and upon their arrival, the group dynamics of the lost local Native youth changed drastically. Many began to back off, while the short-term team “took over” the basketball court. Others simply left the event, never to return.

In light of these realities, here are a few simple steps we would ask you consider as you plan for an On Eagles’ Wings visit.

• Inquire early of the local churches to see if any short-term teams will be hosted by their church during the days the OEW team is doing outreach.
• If teams are scheduled, we would ask that they be informed of the potential for negative results they may bring to this special outreach event if they attempted to get involved.
• We would suggest that you ask if they would be willing to do the following:
  • See their primary mission as off-site prayer warriors interceding for the outreach event, while they continue to do the ministry work they originally came to do.
  • Be willing to avoid the outreach venue during outreach events.

Most of the teams we have “intercepted” have graciously accepted our request and have backed off. We think if this is handled in advance, though, it will be even more helpful and will minimize misunderstandings.