Disappearing 401(k)s...government bailouts of financial institutions...auto manufacturers and other business entities...record job losses...the government calls it a recession with no predictable end in sight. Perhaps you are like some of our prayer partners and supporters who have felt the financial crunch through job loss, retirement funds cut in half or business dropping off drastically. It is hard to find a positive in all the negative news around us and affecting us.
It was a restless crowd of teenagers I was speaking to - not exactly a first. The sports arena we were in last fall was jammed. It was the kind of venue where teenagers are used to being rowdy and mobile. My privilege - and my challenge - was bringing a chatty, cell-phone texting audience to a point where they would consider giving their life to Jesus.
Many were listening as I started, but there was still a low buzz around the edges. Then, suddenly, a holy hush fell across that crowd. Minutes later, hundreds flooded the aisles coming to Christ. What happened?
Eighteen years ago this month, something happened to my heart. My heart broke - and I've never been the same.
I went to a speaking engagement on an Indian reservation, and I met the most broken young people on the continent. For many years, I'd worked with hurting young people from all kinds of races and backgrounds. But for the first time in my life, I met young people who have no dreams. No hope. No reason to stick around for tomorrow.
We are in the middle of making all the preparations for a great summer of On Eagles' Wings® (OEW) outreach to Native American young people. You can read about the OEW strategy in the article Native Strategy Demonstrated Through One Changed Life. There are two things we need to make this year the greatest outreach ever - your prayers and your financial support. You can learn how to effectively pray for the Native outreach through the 2009 Native America Prayer Calendar.
