There are many challenges in ministering to Native America. The statistics show numbers that, in many minds, might look hopeless. These are not just numbers to us. They are faces, they are hearts, they are real teens facing real life; a life on U.S. soil so far removed from an “American Dream” that it is often unrecognizable to be within the borders of the United States. The needs of this generation of Apache youth are similar to the needs of the average post-Christian/post-Modern, in that, Christianity cannot be just a belief system but it must be a way of life. The American Christian in Native America must see that the Native community does not need another band-aid to cover the wound, but needs those who will engage in authentic Christ-centered relationships with them that will heal the actual infection of hopelessness. One can’t be merely reactionary in dealing with these problems. There must be a devotion to see God move powerfully, and transform the core problems.
We can’t just feed the addicts, we must we must educate and equip them to overcome their addictions.
We can’t just say “gangs are bad”, we must educate and equip to deter gangs.
We can’t just say “Jesus wants you to live a good life filled with joy”, we must educate & empower them to actually realize it.
We can’t just say “don’t get pregnant while still in high school”, we must educate & empower them to stay pure.
We can’t just say social justice is good, we must educate & empower them to realize social justice.
We can’t just say “pray that the demons will go away”, we must educate and empower them to make it happen.
We can’t just say “don’t kill yourself”, we must educate and empower them to fight hopelessness.
We can’t just say “we will pray against the violence in your home”, we must educate and empower them to cope with and stop the violence.
God can do it. We believe that God has called US to be a part of the transformation process in the lives of these teens. There is a God-ordained organization that God put on the earth to take care of the poor. It’s called the Body of Christ. Where are the poor in your life? Do not pass them over, they are in your life for a reason. “Not having stuff” isn’t what makes them the poor. Poverty is a way of life, and as a way of life, it takes someone “doing life” with them that will minister to the core of that poverty.