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I tell you Native Americans have a powerful anointing on their lives. I have many points of comparison growing up in Miami Florida and being part of numerous churches there. I have a theory, which is personal. I think the devil tried his hardest to wipe out the American Indians because he knew their spirituality, their giftings, their honesty, and genuineness; all these qualities vital towards producing mighty men and women of God. Fear produces anger! The devil was so scared at what God could do through them that he lashed out with such anger. Oh if the Native body could just get a hold of all that God has for them and all that He has deposited within them!! Jose

Jose,

>

>I really appreciate your insights into the E Mail that I wrote about

>a "white man replies to the Lakota Nation".

>I have been a stutterer since the age of four. God has healed me

>tremendously and the problem is no longer a hindrance. More so when

>I minister many times my speech flows out totally perfect,

>demonstrating that it is the power of God and not I. Because of this

>hindrance, I was always last all of my life. Even as a believer

>especially amongst my own Anglo brethren I was always left at the end

>of ministry opportunities. Many times I became angry and frustrated

>at this seeming injustice. I realize that God used that to prepare

>me to serve the precious American Indian people. It allowed me to

>understand what it is to be last and to be rejected. It gave me a

>heart to lift and raise up my Indian brethren in deep bondage, he who

>is the underdog, he who is the forgotten one, and he who is last.

>Many times my church experience has been one of "what not to do"! I

>was so left behind all of my life, that I said, what happened to me,

>I will not do to my brethren. Out of that came our calling to serve

>Native Americans.

>I understand somethings about the deep bondage and hurts that the

>American Indian is coming out from. I would like to offer one

>additional suggestion that we as leaders can minister to the Native

>body. One time when we ministered in Tuba City, AZ in the heart of

>the Dine people, God told me to teach on the importance of the body.

>Every member of the body has giftings and callings, and has a

>responsibility to develop and walk in these callings. Only when

>every member of Christ's body is performing in their giftings and

>callings will the glory of Christ be fully revealed. We have to

>endeavor to teach the Native body this, disciple then to this end, and

>give them continuous opportunity and encouragement to develop and step

>out in their giftings. Our teaching must go from one that is simply

>preaching and teaching, to allowing people to discover their

>ministries and raising them up in them by allowing them ample

>opportunity to exercise them in a safe environment.

>For about seven months we had a miraculous Bible study going that was

>being attended by people of the totally unevangelied Pueblo Nations

>of New Mexico. God immediately told me to call this Bible study "

>Raising up ministers Bible study” In it we gave all participants an

>85 question survey that allowed people to find their spiritual gifts,

>taught on them and consistently encouraged them to step out in them.

>The results were impressive. What a hunger we found! I will be happy

>to help If I can. I have felt that central to God's heart for His

>Native body is a complete turn around from passivity to encourage

>them to minister. The challenge to us as ministers is very serious.

>It takes allot of laying down our lives with the desire to be in the

>pulpit and just preach, to one of being a teaching moderator that

>allows other to learn the ropes of ministry, as we moderate the

>meeting. Kind of a school of prophets and ministries.

>Lastly, to those of us that are called in inner healing or spiritual

>counseling, and deliverance we must use these giftings to help the

>Native Christians become free from deep bondages and centuries of

>hurts and rejection. My wife and I are called to such a ministry.

>One time several years ago upon ministering to a little Native boy

>that had leukemia, I can tell you that in seven years of this type

>of ministry, I have never experienced the depth of bondage of fear,

>rejection, and hurt that had been passed down to this four year old

>child. My heart broke in that discerning these horrible overwhelming

>fears, and incredible feelings and ties of rejection that he had, I

>was able to feel a little bit of what my brethren the American

>Indian went through and experienced in his suffering. I took almost

>one month of almost daily intercession, seasons of fasting and

>personally ministering to him three times to break the curse of

>rejection and fear that was over him. Today, I am happy to say he is

>free from leukemia.

>I also have a teaching web site that is pertinent to some of the

>materials that are helpful to raising up people in their gifts. You

>can find it in this group under web site links. All material can be

>downloaded for free and for your use. God Bless You, Jose

> Jose