This annual mission project started approximately 30-years ago to provide believers with the opportunity to serve the Lord in a short-term, cross-cultural mission setting with the Oglala Sioux people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation in southwestern South Dakota.
The Objectives of the Trip:
- Reaching youth through teaching and assisting with vacation Bible school.
- Evangelistic activities in the Pine Ridge community, i.e door-to-door tracks, street ministry.
- Service projects around the Pine Ridge Gospel Fellowship Church and the Pine Ridge community.
- Deepening the team's relationship with Christ through close fellowship with other believers.
- Increasing the team member's knowledge of, heart for, and desire to participate in mission work particularly with cross-cultural missions.
- Sharing our experiences and insights with others; thereby, building their interest and enthusiasm for service.
- Having fun and enjoying a week and service.
My Calling/Clause:
Being a Christian is one thing, but being a true disciple and follower of Christ is another. We are to be His hands and feet...showing His compassion and love. James 1:27 - Pure religion and undefiled before God the Father is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world.
This will be my second trip to the Pine Ridge Reservation for the annual VBS and mission trip. Having some Native American blood in my family tree, this trip provides me with an unique opportunity to show and live out the message of James to a part of my heritage that I otherwise do not know or share time with. Going into it last year, I did not realize that sharing with and being an male role model to the children of Pine Ridge (even if just one week) would be something that not only grows on you, but becomes part of you. I gratefully ask that you pray for me and the team, as prayers will be much needed and powerful in Christ’s name.
More about Pine Ridge:
(the video below is from an ABC documentary on the children of Pine Ridge). The Pine Ridge Reservation is one of the most poverty-stricken areas in the United States with a per capita income of around $6,300 and an unemployment rate of 80%. Alcoholism runs rampant on the reservation. Neighboring Whiteclay, Nebraska with approximately 10-15 residents and 4 liquor stores sold over 4.9 million 12-ounce cans of beer in 2010 almost exclusively to Oglala Lakota from the reservation. As with many minority communities, the traditional family structure is strained at best, so the ability to see and experience strong morally and spiritual positive role models is of extreme importance. After years of dispute with Whiteclay and Nebraska, the reservation tribal council voted to approve the sale of alcohol on the reservation itself late last year.
We hope that through our humble efforts of providing Vacation Bible School for the children and doing other ministry outreaches that we can bring God’s presence to dark and broken places. Please let me know if you would like to receive a list of prayer requests before the trip. Each team member has been asked to raise $1,300 to cover transportation and food. (Thankfully, the Pine Ridge Gospel Fellowship church has again graciously provided lodging accommodations for the team).
Thank you for your thoughts, prayers and consideration.
In His Blessings and Grace,
Wil Munfus
