Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - March 2009 Prayer Update

Dear Friend,

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.

I was confronted with hard facts that screamed, "Something has to be done" - staggering suicide rates, alcohol and drug abuse off-the-charts, so many dying young, dying violently. For us, the heartbreaking statistics about Native young people are deeply personal. Last month, it was Christina who, after an argument about her mother's endless drinking, hanged herself from a telephone pole.

It's as if all the pain of all their people have lost has fallen on this generation. And because Jesus is "the white man's God" and so much has been taken from them in His name, they have no Savior.

I learned that in a country glutted with youth ministry, they were the forgotten ones. There has largely been no such thing as youth ministry among Native young people. They are probably the most invisible young people on the continent. They live and die out of our sight.

But God has not forgotten them. He's fighting for them! And He's inviting you and me to join Him. As God broke my heart, He revealed a simple but untried strategy for a breakthrough. This generation, who listen to no one, would listen to Native young people like themselves. And On Eagles' Wings was born.

Since then, I've seen what hope looks like. A small band of transformed Native young people, going to the heart of North America's reservations and proclaiming their Jesus. And doing what has not been done in 500 years of mission work among their people - bringing thousands to Christ. I've also watched hope break out at a gathering of Native young people we call Warrior Leadership Summit - where lives from some 60 Indian nations are dramatically changed - and saved.

And it's all made possible by some caring people who may never be on a reservation in their life - but who share God's heart. People like you who have opened their hearts to the great need and the great potential of Native young people.

Now, as we prepare for a Summer of Hope that will take us to some of America's most dangerous and most desperate reservations, there's a vital part for you. Through these courageous young spiritual warriors, you can directly impact Native lives that would otherwise be beyond your reach.

You have the heart. They have the "how." Put the two together, and countless reservation young people on the edge of quitting life will find life. It is your prayers that protect and empower these warriors. It's your sacrificial giving that gets them to the young people who need them.

The rescues will come this summer. Much of the cost of those rescues is now - facilities, transportation, rescue resources, outreach preparations and equipment, local leader training, team recruitment. What we do now decides what will happen then. What's given now decides how much we can do then.

So I want to ask you to consider a simple but powerful gift. Would you help make possible a week, a day or even an entire month of the rescue ministry of a young Native warrior? Each one represents a chance at Jesus for lost Native young people on at least ten reservations.

Your gift toward an On Eagles' Wings Warrior Scholarship will send them as a reservation rescuer and invest in them as a future leader for their people. We've added up all the expenses of training, transportation, food and lodging, some 20 rescue events, books and Bibles and follow-up, then divided it by the number of warriors. From that, here's how you can make the difference:

• Your gift of $80.00 will make possible one day of an OEW warrior's ministry.
• Your gift of $575.00 will enable a week of rescue work to their people.
• Your gift of $2,300.00 will make will make possible an entire month of an On Eagles' Wings warrior fighting for their people.

Financially, it's a tough year to tackle reservation rescue, even with our plans that conserve funds without cutting impact. But we believe God will not honor a retreat in this battle to which He's so clearly called us - and which He's blessed so amazingly. And when many we'll fight for may not live much longer without Jesus.

So thank you for joining this battle for young lives that have waited so long for hope. They are not invisible to you. Your praying and your giving will reach from your world to their world to give them the Hope you've found in Jesus. And some you helped rescue will one day join the "great multitude...from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing...before the Lamb" (Revelation 7:9 ).

Believing Him for what only He can do,

Ron Hutchcraft

P.S. - I can't tell you how many times during our reservation outreaches I say, "Lord, I hope those folks are praying!" The fight for Native young people involves intense spiritual battles that can only be won in the Throne Room of Almighty God. I'm enclosing this prayer calendar, praying that it will equip you to be a prayer warrior supporting the front lines warriors of On Eagles' Wings.