One very important cultural tradition of Native Americans was the COURAGE of the Warrior. Clans, Tribes, and even nations were known for their courage when facing an enemy.

Today there is a great need for a Warrior for Christ to have this same courage in facing an enemy—in our case a "Spiritual Enemy". The Bible has many examples of courage:

• Abraham was willing to obey God and leave his homeland.

Acts 27:25 - "Therefore, keep up your courage, men, for I believe God, that it will turn out exactly as I have been told." (NAS)

• Paul was willing to risk all for the sake of the Gospel.

Philippians 1:20 - "According to my earnest expectation and hope, that I shall not be put to shame in anything, but {that} with all boldness, Christ shall even now, as always, be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death." (NAS)

Today be a warrior with Courage for we face many enemies that would discourage us (just look at some of the new TV shows-it will take courage to stand for holiness and turn off the TV).

1 Corinthians 16:13 - "Be on the alert, stand firm in the faith, act like men, be strong". (NAS)

• President Bush reaffirms tribal sovereignty: Early on morning of Sept. 22 President Bush welcomed tribal leaders, members of the House and Senate and other members of the government involved in American Indian affairs to the White House. He used the occasion of the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian to celebrate American Indian cultures and to confirm his administration's recognition of tribal sovereignty. Much like his father the 41st president of the United States (who signed into law legislation establishing the National Museum of the American Indian) President Bush pledged his allegiance to working with tribal governments as governments of their own standing.
• Veterans gather to honor forgotten warriors: American Indian Vietnam veterans from the Cheyenne River Sioux Tribe, Oglala Sioux Tribe and Standing Rock Sioux Tribe led the grand entry at the Cheyenne River Sioux Fair, Pow Wow and Rodeo. American Indian Vietnam veterans recently gathered to honor the forgotten warriors of the Korean War.
• Celilo Falls: Gone but not forgotten: Celilo Falls may be gone, but Celilo Village is still hanging on. The long-neglected place on the Columbia River won’t be forgotten any longer if the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers $12.5 million redevelopment project comes off as anticipated. Celilo Village, the site where thousands of people gathered on the Columbia to fish and trade since time immemorial is still occupied.
• Grant for YouthBuild project will create jobs: The Department of Labor awarded a more than $3 million grant to the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate YouthBuild project, the first such Labor Department grant in Indian country.

Walking the New Path
(Part 4 from Lesson 2: Who Is Father - Creator?)

5. God can meet our needs - Father-Creator meets our needs in many ways:

• Through providing our home and our food. As Christians, He promises to look after us and our needs.

• He gives us a new spiritual life. He helps us grow through His Holy Spirit.

• He meets our emotional needs. He knows all the hurts we have from the past and through His Son, Jesus, He has washed all the hurts away.

Philippians 4:19 - "And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus."

Matthew 6:26 - "Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they"?

6. He gives us peace and harmony - Even though we may be going through hard times (problems with money, family, job) we can have inner peace through our Father-Creator. When we enjoy the beauty and stillness of the forest or the mighty waves of the ocean, in that moment, Father-Creator draws us to him and gives us a sense of peace and harmony. Christ asked Father-Creator to send His Holy Spirit to us to be our Comforter and give us peace and harmony, even in troubled times.

John 14:27 - "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid."

Romans 15:13 - "May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit".

• I am asking for prayer, that God will heal our family and take the anger and hurt out of our hearts toward one another. Most of all that we all will have Jesus Christ in our lives as Lord and Savior. Thank you for praying." – Mada, Kiowa/Cheyenne
• "To live holy before lord JESUS and stand firmly for him till my death, to receive holy sprit and spiritual gifts, to overcome fear, to get good sleep at night, to bear all things forsake of LORD JESUS." – Victor, Navajo
• "I’m asking for your prayers that will help my wife and I save our marriage. We’ve only been married for 10 months and we already been through a lot. I miss her so much and I pray that she'll come home soon. She left a week ago, but we were getting along fine when she left. I am in great need of your prayers so that my wife and I can work things out. Thank you very much and God Bless!" – James, Paiute/Lakota
• "My prayer request is that I would find employment with a good company. I was also planning to go to college and major in business. Now for my wife, no matter what decision I make, I want her to be strong in this time of temporary discouragement, I also request prayer for my mother for strength and health, one of my brother who is in prison to not lose hope, but to continue praying, and also for salvation for each and every single relative of mine as well as all the Native American Nations. Thank you for all your prayers." – Defranco, Dine’

• As we take a step of faith and Jan goes into full-time ministry, please pray the Lord will supply the needs for WFC and for our family.
• Please pray that the Lord will provide a buyer for our headquarters/home and supply property that will be what we need for ministry.
• Please pray as we get "Walking the New Path" ready for publication that we will have sufficient funds and wisdom. Praise the Lord, He has provided an illustrator.

"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.