Adoption has a mixed reaction because there have been Native Americans who were adopted into non-Native families that didn't have an appreciation of the culture.

Historically, it was not uncommon for a raiding party to go to a warring nation and take one of their children to replace a child that had been lost to sickness, a raid or war. The child would be taken back and would then be adopted into the new tribe. 

One account told of a Crow boy who had been taken by the Cheyenne. He was taken back and given over to a group of Cheyenne women. They took him down to the river, stripped him of his clothes and washed him. Then they repeatedly dunked him . He thought that they were trying to drown him. They instead were symbolically washing away his past life and cleansing him. 

When he came out of the river they dressed him in Cheyenne clothes. At that point the old life as a Crow had been washed away and he was adopted into the tribe, clan and family. The new life as a Cheyenne began. The tribe from that point forward looked on the boy as not being Crow, but Cheyenne.

Biblically, that's what the Lord does with us. We are cleansed of our sin when we accept Jesus as Savior and Lord. We then are accepted into Father-Creator's family. He never looks back at our past sins, but only sees us as one of His adopted sons.

Navajo Nation at the Winter Games
According to the Arizona Republic, the Navajo Cultural pavilion has been quite popular during the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. There have been long lines to view the traditional hogan and other aspects of Navajo culture such as tribal history, the Navajo Code Talkers of W.W.II and other exhibits. Their goal is to tell the story of the Navajo Nation to an international audience.

First Native American Astronaut
U. S. Navy Commander John Herrington will be aboard the space shuttle that will blast off on Sept 6th. A enrolled member of the Chickasaw Tribe, Herrington has also hunted Russian submarines and broken the sound barrier.

Pequot language revitalized
The 1638 Treaty of Hartford forbade tribal members to speak their own language. This is about to stop as a group of linguists will try and revitalize and bring the native language back into use among the tribe in the northeast U.S. "Language is a vital part of culture." The original meaning of language is often lost when languages are translated. 

Obituary: Henry Rodriguez - La Jolla Band of Mission Indians
Mr. Rodriguez was a prominent tribal elder, actively involved in preserving his Nation's culture and instructing others in his native heritage. Henry was killed in a broadside collision on the La Jolla reservation. He was known throughout the Southern California area and reservations as a kind, intelligent and giving man, who spent much of his time sharing his life and the culture of his people with others. Warriors for Christ staff worked with him on the La Jolla Reservation constitution.

For more Native News articles click HERE.

Native Conferences
16th annual Convocation Vision for the 21st Century.  Native American Fellowship of the Assemblies of God.  To register, click HERE.  Or contact them at Mia Boyd, NAF, P.O. Box 1619, Columbia Falls, MT 59912.  (406) 892-1228. www.firsnationsmonday.com/NAFinfo.htm.

God loves First Nations People.  June 27-30 at Agape Church.  For more information, call (636) 327-5632 or point your browser to www.agapechurch.addr.com.

Walking a New Path
(Part 5 from Lesson 1: Basic Discipleship Course)

Becoming a Christian

When we become a Christian, we are agreeing with Father-Creator that we cannot please Him by our good behavior or any sacrifice (including physical i.e. sweat lodge etc.) but ONLY by faith in what Christ has already done.

Ephesians 2:8,9: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith-- and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God--not by works, so that no one can boast."

Maybe God's Spirit has been working in your life. Maybe Christ has healed you of sickness or disease. Yet you still need to accept Jesus as Savior for your life!

For TRUE SALVATION - you need to agree with God that you need to be saved, not just from the separation from God and eternal punishment (in hell), but we need to be saved from our old sinful nature. (Sin came into the world with Adam and Eve). We need to repent. Repentance means to turn away from our sinful life.

Psalms 40:2,3: "He lifted me out of the slimy pit, out of the mud and mire; he set my feet on a rock and gave me a firm place to stand.

He put a new song in my mouth, a hymn of praise to our God. Many will see and fear and put their trust in the LORD."

God knows all our sin, even our thoughts - yet He still loves us and wants to save us!

"SALVATION FAITH" is TRUSTING JESUS - There may be habits - from alcohol to the casino, parties, etc. You may say "I can’t give that up!" Or pride can stop us from following Jesus because we think we know what is best for ourselves.

COME TO JESUS AS YOU ARE – TRUST HIM for He has the very best for you! Receiving Christ as our Savior may be or may not be an emotional experience - most important it needs to be a choice of the WILL – an act of faith. Having faith in Jesus is taking action in what you believe.

Our faith is based on who Father-Creator is - a loving God that promises us forgiveness and a new life in His circle of love. We know who God is because He tells us who He is in the Bible and unlike man’s religions – false gods – our Father-Creator keeps His word and so we can have faith in what He says.

• Please pray for a woman who owns a small business and is having financial problems including a company who owes her money.  Please lift her up to the Lord both in her finances and emotionally
• A man who was wrongfully put in jail needs our prayers.  Also pray for his two small children that their hearts will be protected.  The mother is ill and needs healing.
• A man who was brutally beaten 10 years ago and is suffering memory loss and was convicted of a crime that he didn't commit.  Please pray that the Lord will heal him, and comfort him.
• Pray that the Lord will raise up committed people to be a part of a Native American prayer team to uplift Native Pastors.
• Go to http://www.warriorsforchristonline.org/prayer.htm and join us in praying for those who leave requests on the prayer board.

• Please pray for a Native illustrator who can do drawings for WFC's "Walking the New Path" discipleship course.
• Pray that God would provide funds to attend the Convocation of Indian Leaders in June in Montana.
• Please also pray for the good health and financial support of the Warriors for Christ staff.
• You can leave your thoughts and insights for us through the web site at http://www.warriorsforchristonline.org/contact.htm or through mail or phone call. We would really appreciate your input!

"THE PRAYER CIRCLE" - Those that have committed at least once a week, to pray for spreading the Gospel,  to effectively reach American Indians, for discipled native leaders, and the Warriors for Christ staff, Board and regional Directors. We will send you emails of prayer requests as we receive them and will ask you to join WFC staff to pray for these needs, and the ones posted on the WFC prayer board.  To join send us an email at warriors@warriorsforchristonline.org

"WARRIOR COUNCIL" - Those that have made a monthly pledge of financial support to WFC.  Just go to http://www.warriorsforchristonline.org/donations.htm to reach our "help page" on the web site and let us know that you want to join with us to help reach our Host people with Christ's love.

Father-Creator's Word

After this I looked and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and in front of the Lamb.  They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands.  And they cried out in a loud voice: "Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb."  [NIV]

Revelation 7:9,10