We always thank God, the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, when we pray for you, because we have heard of your faith in Christ Jesus and of the love you have for all the saints-- the faith and love that spring from the hope that is stored up for you in heaven and that you have already heard about in the word of truth, the gospel that has come to you. All over the world this gospel is bearing fruit and growing, just as it has been doing among you since the day you heard it and understood God's grace in all its truth.
Colossians 1:3-6 (NIV)

In the autumn of 1832, four Indian chiefs representing the Flathead and Nez Perce tribes arrived in St. Louis, Missouri. They had come on a long journey of more than 3,000 miles from their home in the Oregon Country because a white man had witnessed to their tribes about a "Book from Heaven" that told of the one true God. The tribes had held a council fire and chose these four men to go East and find the Book.

The Indians came to see the Superintendent of Indian Affairs, famous explorer William Clark of the Lewis and Clark expedition. He told them what he knew about the Bible, and then he took them on a tour of St. Louis, thinking that this would impress them. But the Indians only wanted "the Book" and a preacher to explain it. Before long, two of the Indians died of an illness to which they had no natural immunity. When the time came for the two remaining Indians to return home, General Clark honored them with an elaborate banquet, where one of the Indians stood and said:

"My people sent me to get the white man's Book from Heaven. You took me where you allow your women to dance, as we do not ours, and the Book was not there. You took me where they worship the Great Spirit with Candles, and the Book was not there. You showed me the images of good spirits and pictures of the good land beyond, but the Book was not among them.

"I am going back the long, sad trail to my people of the dark land. You make my feet heavy with burdens of gifts, and my moccasins will grow old in carrying them, but the Book is not among them. When I tell my poor blind people, after one more snow, in the big council, that I do not bring the Book, no word will be spoken by our old men or our young braves. One by one they will rise up and go out in silence.

"My people will die in darkness, and they will go on the long path to the other hunting grounds. No white man will go with them and no white man's Book, to make the way plain. I have no more words."

Just as in other accounts around the world, the Lord had prepared the hearts of the American Indians to hear the "Good News" of Jesus. Unfortunately, the way the Lord was presented to them - the things that were done in the name of Christianity prevented so many from hearing the true Gospel of Jesus Christ.

• Willie Nelson to benefit Native Americans - The Woodlands will be the site for a unique fundraising event in March, featuring singer/songwriter Willie Nelson, to benefit Native Americans throughout the United States. The first Hope and Harmony for Humanity celebrity benefit concert at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion is the culmination of the three-day event organized by the Native American Chamber of Commerce in Houston, scheduled for March 22, 23 and 24.
• "Sacred Ground - A Tribute to Mother Earth" took home the Grammy for Best Native American Music Album at the 48th Annual Grammy Awards. This is the first win for executive-producer Lisa Thomas and Katahdin Productions, which released the CD on September 13, 2005. It was distributed through Silverwave Records.
• The proposed Bureau of Indians Affairs budget for the next fiscal year has been released. Bush Administration officials say the spending plan focuses on the BIA’s “core mission areas,” while opponents of the proposal charge there are too many cuts and a disproportionate chunk of the money is tied up in the trust fund issue.

Walking the New Path
(Lesson 3, Part 4)

B. WHAT CHRIST DOES FOR YOU

1. Christ is our Sacrifice

The greatest act, or gift, the Father gave us was to send His Son, Jesus, to be our sacrifice so that we could be saved. Jesus’ greatest act was to be obedient to our Father-Creator. He proved His great love towards us by going to the cross to be our sacrifice – our substitute – to take our punishment.

Has anyone ever made a great sacrifice for you? How did it make you feel towards that person?

Philippians 2:8
“And being found in appearance as a man, he humbled himself and became obedient to death even death on a cross!”

Galatians 3:13
“Christ redeemed us from the curse of the Law, having become a curse for us-- for it is written, 'Cursed is everyone who hangs on a tree.'"

1. Christ is our power over sin

We could not obey all the “Law”, all the do’s and don’ts that God required for a relationship with Him. But, Christ died and through Him we became “holy and blameless”. Because Jesus was tempted, yet did not sin, He understands the trials and struggles we have with sin. He gives us power to overcome our sin if we reach out to Him.

Ephesians 1:4
“For he chose us in him before the creation of the world to be holy and blameless in his sight...”

Philippians 1:6
“Being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."

Philippians 4:13
“I can do everything through him who gives me strength.”

• ”Please pray for my husband, that he will find work, it seems that every time he applies for job something always comes against us to where he didn't get the job, please pray that the Lord will bless him w/a job that he wants and what he is going to school for. We are getting very discourage because it seems that every time we think something will come up that door closes in our face and its getting very discouraging.
  God Bless You”. – Dee, Navajo
• “Pray for my son Jason and his POMO Indian Family and tribe for salvation”. – Randy, Pomo
• ”Please pray that the lord continues to work in the life of my family that our hearts are open to him and that we are accepting of his will”. – Jesse, Warm Springs
• ”Our 22 year old daughter was killed in a motor vehicle accident last week. She was a born again Christian and we know she is in Heaven but the loss still hurts and our family would like to be covered in prayer as we move into the next few weeks”. – Roger, Iroquois.

• We have the headquarters and our home up for sale. Please join us in praying that the Lord will bring the right buyer and that we will get the place He has prepared for us and Warriors for Christ headquarters.
• Please pray for volunteer help, for the web site ministry.
• Please pray for the financial backing that we need.

"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.