Finally Free

Many of you probably already know that my “theme verse” for this past year has been John 8:32…

 

 

That was also the theme at the 2008 Warrior Leadership Summit, a Native Youth Discipleship Conference that we just attended.  Two girls (from the Tokio Youth Group) and I spent almost a week together, driving to Missouri and attending the WLS conference with about 700 other Native youth from all over the country.  Besides sharing laughs, meals, and prayers with each other, we met other Native believers from reservations in Arizona, New York, Alaska, New Mexico, Minnesota, Oklahoma, South Dakota…we even met some fellow North Dakotans!  

Our new North Dakota friends came to WLS with our AIM friends, Joe and Sue Rogers!  It was a real bonus to get to see Joe and Sue and to spend afternoons drinking smoothies and visiting with them and their ND group…what fun!

It was an incredible encouragement to witness the gathering at WLS and to hear so many stories of hope and freedom because of Christ!  Seeing this beautiful group of young Native believers was also a powerful reminder that we are not alone and that the Lord is doing an exciting work in this generation!  As I mentioned, this year’s theme at WLS was based on John 8:32…”Breaking Free!”  Both the morning and evening sessions each day were centered around the freedom that comes with knowing Christ:  freedom from spiritual bondage and the chains that hold so many captive to spiritual darkness and hopelessness.  Each student was given a “chain” bracelet to symbolize those chains and was encouraged to break it off and lay it on the front platform when they experienced the freedom provided through Christ.  It was pretty amazing to see those “chains”, broken and lying on the floor.  Pray that these youth would continue to experience hope and freedom as they follow Christ!

Thank you so much for your prayers…the Lord continues to amaze me with His faithfulness.