PRAY-er

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 Rejoice always,  pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

I’ve never considered myself as much of a prayer warrior but my role this fall on the Flandreau Indian School campus has been moving more towards that of being a PRAY-er. It is not a role that I’m taking lightly and one that God is pushing to be proactive about.

I get asked each year to open the school year with a blessing over the students at a school assembly.  I prayed at a school pep rally for the cross country, volleyball and football teams last week.  The basketball coach for the upcoming season recently asked if I would be willing to pray before each home game to set the tone for the event.  Kids will jump off of the bus on their way to a game to be prayed over. A few others that follow along don’t really knowing what’s going on but they pray too. They end up being the ones who are jumping off of the bus before the next game.

Students come to our school from all sorts of spiritual backgrounds so it’s an honor when kids approach me for prayer.  Kids stop me in the hall or in the cafeteria and ask me to pray for them or somebody they care for. I have gotten intentional about stopping what I’m doing right there and then to pray with students. We pray in hallways, the cafeteria or just stopped on the sidewalk.  The idea is to get kids in the mindset that prayer is accessible at any time or any place, not just in church or at a specific time or through me. I want them to know that God is all-access.

Some of the sweetest times of prayer I’ve had recently were being able to pray with a student prior to a court appearance (that worked out well for them), with a student preparing for a big athletic event who was an emotional wreck (so much pressure to perform) and with a student who has so much going on that he didn’t know how to pray. There is literally so much pain in his life that he found it difficult to form the words to know what to pray for. It is those times that I thank God for the honor and privilege to be able to go the Father for intercession.

I hope you’ll look for more opportunities to be the PRAY-er in your community wherever that may be and go to the Father with requests. 

FIS Chaplaincy serves the students and staff of Flandreau Indian School by providing opportunities to encounter the hope and love of Christ. This faith-based, inter-denominational nonprofit is financially independent from the school operation and is fully funded through donations from corporations, denominational entities, churches, civic groups and individuals. Please consider becoming a monthly donor to assist us in continuing our ministry. 

BACK TO SCHOOL

There is so much potential and anticipation at the beginning of a new school year.

I’ve been preparing for students to return. I’ve repainted my office and cleaned the carpets (we have a lot of hot cocoa during the year and my carpets suffer, from the spills and the foot traffic).  I resurfaced the chalkboard wall for the question of the day to be posted each afternoon. I’m starting fresh with a clean slate--literally.  The snacks are stocked for the next couple of weeks. We’re putting together our calendar and looking at exactly what it is that God wants me to share throughout the year.

With all of my preparations, though, I know that God has been preparing for this season for a long time, too. He knows exactly who will be coming to Flandreau Indian School to be our students this year; the challenges that they’re bringing with them and I know He’s been preparing the hearts of those that He wants to meet Him here, some for the first time. 

I look forward to the opportunities that He is placing before us and want to be responsive to appointments that He is making. It’s going to be a great year! 

‘In their hearts humans plan their course but the Lord establishes their steps.’  Proverbs 16:9

Winter has arrived quickly this year at the Flandreau Indian School in South Dakota and caught some of our students without warm clothing. PLEASE CONSIDER DONATING adult sized WINTER HATS, GLOVES and SCARVES. Call Bill Britton at (605) 864-8625 or mail directly to: FIS Chaplain, 1132 N Crescent St, Flandreau, SD 57028. THANKS FOR YOUR HELP!

FREE CONCERT: BROKEN WALLS

PLAN TO JOIN US ON SEPTEMBER 5 @ 7pm

For More Information about Broken Walls: www.brokenwalls.com

MAKE A DIFFERENCE

FOR CAMP SPONSORSHIP, CLICK HERE TO DONATE

FIS Chaplaincy has teamed up with On Eagles' Wings to attend Warrior Leadership Summit (WLS), a summer camp experience for Native American and First Nations young people from all over North America.

WLS attendees have the opportunity to:

• Be part of large group praise and teaching sessions called Warrior Circles;
• Attend seminars and workshops on specific issues related to Native American and First Nations people called Battle Councils;
• Network and build relationships in a Christian environment with other Native American and First Nations young people;
• Have fun through daily recreation times where various athletic tournaments are held including basketball, softball, volleyball, and floor hockey as well as late night activities;
• Speak with trained counselors who can help in dealing with various life issues; and
• Hear from respected Native American Christian elders and learn from their stories of hope and faith in Jesus Christ.

With your contribution, current and former Flandreau Indian School students (ages 16-30) have another opportunity to encounter the hope and love of Christ at this life-changing event and develop a deeper understanding of their culture and faith.

Here are the details...

Warrior Leadership Summit is held June 28-July 3, 2014 in Missouri. We have 23 individuals ready to attend camp, coming from nine states (Arizona, Arkansas, California, Idaho, Minnesota, Nebraska, North and South Dakota, and Wisconsin) representing 12 tribes.

Camp registration is $25.
Travel costs will vary with each individual depending on where they live and how we will be able to get them to camp. 

TOTAL COST is $225 per person. 

While the stated goal for this campaign covers the registration fees, 
our aim is $5,175 to cover the total cost for each camper.

YOUR PARTNERSHIP = CHANGED LIVES

The Impact

"Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."

Isaiah 30:30-31

• The poverty rate among Native Americans was 28.4% (2010 census). The disparity for American Indians living below poverty on the reservations is even greater, reaching 38% to 63% in South Dakota (2006, NCES), with living conditions "comparable to Third World" (2004, Gallup Independent).

• Alcoholism mortality rates are 514% higher that the general population (2012, CNAY).

• Native teens experience the highest rate of suicide - more than double that national average of any population group in the United States and is the 2nd leading cause of death for Native American youth in the 15-24 age group (2012, CNAY).

• American Indian youth are arrested at a rate of 3 times the national average; 79% of youth in the Federal Bureau of Prison's custody are American Indian/Alaskan Native (Bureau of Justice Statistics, 2004).

Other Ways You Can Help

Pray. Pray for those who will be attending Warrior Leadership Summit this summer. Pray for restored hope. Pray for a change for eternity.

Spread the word. Share this link with your Facebook friends, Twitter, work colleagues, Bible study group, friends you meet for coffee, neighbors...
Wear a t-shirt to promote FIS Chaplaincy; get one here.

Become a Partner. Join with FIS Chaplaincy to provide opportunities for the students and staff of Flandreau Indian School to encounter the hope and love of Christ. Visit our website for more information, www.FISchaplaincy.com 

FIS Chaplaincy. The purpose of this non profit organization is to serve the students and staff of Flandreau Indian School by providing opportunities to encounter the hope and love of Christ through Biblically-based spiritual guidance, faith-based programing, community-building social activities, and meeting critical needs. FIS Chaplaincy is financially independent from the school operation and is fully funded through donations from corporations, denominational entities, churches, civic groups and individuals. Thanks to that support, FIS Chaplaincy has continued an ongoing partnership with the Flandreau Indian School for almost 50 years. 

NEW! FIS Chaplaincy T-Shirts

Flandreau Indian School Chaplaincy Program t-shirts are here! Share the mission of providing opportunities for the students and staff of Flandreau Indian School to encounter the hope and love of Christ - Real Hope for Real Life. 

Order Online :
http://teespring.com/FISchaplaincy

CULTURAL EXCHANGE

A Unique Opportunity

Students (including foreign exchange) from Arkansas Baptist High School had a terrific trip to Flandreau, South Dakota during their Missions Week! Working with the FIS Chaplaincy, the goal of the week was a cultural exchange between Native American students at Flandreau Indian School (FIS) and non-Native students. The hope in doing so was to build bridges where the Chaplain and mission team would have more opportunities to share the love and hope of Christ with the students of FIS; they in turn could take that hope back to their families on the reservation.

Arkansas students shared testimonies during the Sunday worship service on campus and were able to connect with the FIS students during after school and evening activities, as well as during family dinners in the home of the school chaplain. During the day when the FIS students were in class, the mission team travelled to The Center for Western Studies at Augustana College and Pipestone National Monument to learn about Native American history and modern culture, which gave them all a new perspective and broke their hearts for the conditions of the Native Americans in our country. On campus they toured the Cultural Center and visited classes on Native American heritage. The team also prepared support postcards to mail, sorted and washed hundreds of clothing items donated to meet students’ physical needs, and set up for the after school and evening activities.

As the week came to a close many new friends had been made among the students from Arkansas and Flandreau. A team member said it well, “This was great! I’m coming back next year.”