Ron Hutchcraft Ministries - March 2010 Prayer Update

Dear Friend,

In the middle of all the painful images of the Haiti earthquake, the face of a five-year old boy will be what I remember most. He was a face of hope in a sea of devastation. After days of being trapped under the ruins of his collapsed house, a team of rescuers pulled little Monley out alive. His face was one huge smile and his hands were raised victoriously above his head. And as he emerged, the joy of the crowd erupted in loud cheers.

I know a little of how that feels. Because of what it's like when you break through to a Native American young person, trapped in a seemingly hopeless situation. You've been part of rescues like that. And every rescue's a miracle. Because, over the years, too many have died in the rubble. So few have ever been rescued. Until now.

If you're young and Native, it's like all the painful past of Native people has come down around you. Chances are, your family has been ripped apart - by a tragic history, by addictions, by violence. You've buried many of your friends - who died violently. Trust died when a betrayer sexually abused you. You carry the never-healing wound of those you know who brutally ended their own life. And you feel trapped in the rubble of the hopelessness all around you. You just want the pain to stop. With a bottle. A drug. A rope.

Like those people in the rubble in Haiti, a Native young person's only hope is a rescuer. Tragically, many have tried to rescue them with the life-giving Message of Jesus, but the messengers can't seem to reach them. I know - I get their heartbroken letters, asking for help. History has convinced Native young people that Jesus is only for old people or white people. Like the messengers who've tried to reach them.

But suddenly - after so many years with so few rescues - literally thousands of Native young people are grabbing the hand of Jesus. Right in the middle of their reservation and their friends. I know. I've seen it with my own eyes.

These messengers of Christ's hope aren't old or white. They are Native young people - from the very generation that has been so hard and unreachable. I'm privileged to know them as sons and daughters in Christ - and as the young warriors of our On Eagles' Wings teams. The way they're breaking through is nothing short of an act of God. It's a miracle I hope you can be a part of.

These amazing young warriors were the almost-suicides. They were the drug users - and dealers. They've been the victims of abuse, anger, and abandonment. They've walked the trail of the generation they want to rescue. And when they speak, reservation young people across this continent listen.

And they need you. To pray so they can prevail against staggering odds and relentless enemy resistance. And to send them as rescuers to their people in the months to come. Rescuing desperate Native young people is something they can't do alone and you can't do alone. It's a holy, hope-giving partnership.

The upcoming Summer of Hope will take the On Eagles' Wings rescuers to eight reservations where few ever go with the Message of Jesus. Our Native youth discipleship conference, Warrior Leadership Summit, will draw them from the far corners of this continent to a gathering like no other. There young people from over 70 Indian nations meet Christ, lose their chains, and dedicate themselves to being warriors for their people. And after last summer's historic victories among Native young people in Peru, we're planning to enable some of their young leaders to come and learn how to plan a similar conference for their people.

There's something powerful - and unprecedented - happening in this generation of Native young people. After 500 years of little Gospel response, suddenly thousands of Native American and First Nations (Canada) young people are choosing Jesus. Finally, rescuers are coming who can break through - with your help. I ask you to stand by their side and say, "I'll give so you can go."

Would you consider helping with a Warrior Scholarship this month - to send a young Native rescuer for a day...for a week...or for the entire month? We've added all the costs of their training, their transportation, their lodging and food, the outreach events, and the Bibles and Christian literature they'll give away - and divided it by the number of team members. Your contribution to a Warrior Scholarship literally helps make possible another Native rescuer - and the chance at hope they represent for lost Native young people.

Here's the challenge. So much of the financial burden of their ministry hits this month. So many of the expenses of the conference, the transportation, the literature, and the reservation preparations have to be paid now. What happens in the Summer is because of what we pay for in the Spring. In this economy, we just don't have it unless God provides it through friends like you. Please pray about how God might use you to send a reservation rescuer to eight reservations. Plus, while on the reservations, rescue of adults and young people will continue, as always, through our Internet outreach, resources, outreach events, and equipping believers to be rescuers.

Together, we can go in for the rescue and bring out some young people who've been overlooked far too long. They are so desperate for some hope. Thank you for hearing their cries - and for opening your heart.

Deeply grateful for friends who care,

Ron Hutchcraft