In today's second of a three part VIP interview with Navajo young believer, Caitlyn Denet, Craig and LaDonna ask her about the challenges, struggles, and victories she experienced as a Native student at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago, Illinois. After seeing God work in the lives of her parents, who were originally not supportive of her desire to go to Bible School instead of pursuing a degree in Engineering, she left the comfort of Rez life to enter Chicago as one of the only few Native students at Moody. And while it's often the educational institution that shapes the life of the student, Caitlyn begins to unpackage how this "little Rez girl" began to help this longstanding and well respected Christian educational institute realize it was blinded to the issues and needs in Native America. This is often the challenge for us in Indigenous North American ministries, as many evangelical Christian organizations, denominations, and even mission agencies do not have Native America prominently on their radar screens. You'll be amazed to hear how God used Caitlyn Denet to bring a level of awareness and heart to not only students, but the academics and even top level leadership that was not experienced until this Indigenous VIP impacted this prestigious institution for God's glory! And that's why, when she was introduced at her graduation to receive her diploma, she was met with the most amazing round of applause and appreciation by all in attendance! It just goes to show that often times, God's greatest work is done through the underdogs! Way to go, Caitlyn, you represented the Lord and your people well during your time at Moody Bible Institute! Don't miss the concluding episode in this three part series next week as Caitlyn shares what's next in her amazing and productive life as a Victorious Indigenous Person! If God can use Caitlyn, dear friends, He can use any one of us! Don't miss your mark but follow Caitlyn's example of simple faithfulness and saying "yes" to the leading of the Lord in your life! What a great example we have in this young Navajo believer, our dear sister, Caitlyn Denet!

Today, Craig and LaDonna start a three part VIP (Victorious Indigenous People) interview series with Caitlyn Denet from the Navajo Nation. Caitlyn is a young Native evangelist who is being powerfully used by the Lord to bring the gospel to her peers through the wonderful On Eagles' Wings ministry. Like so many of her generation, Caitlyn grew up in the challenges of living in a family that was, in part, followers of the traditional animistic ways of her people, and, in part, followers of Christ and the message of the gospel. Being exposed to both worlds within in her extended family, she was left with a major decision to make. Which road would she follow in her own life? Choosing to follow Christ as a thirteen year old has led her down an amazing road of great opportunities as a member of the On Eagles' Wings team, and a recent graduate of Moody Bible Institute. In today's episode, we get to meet this amazing young woman of God and hear how her spiritual journey began and was strengthened through her exposure to a deeper life in Christ through powerful Native youth ministries, of which LaDonna and I are blessed to continue to be involved in through preaching, teaching, and mentoring. This is a series you won't want to miss as we learn how another typical Rez kid encounters the Living Christ who has made such a difference in her life. We are pleased to present to you someone who can bring encouragement to your own life, dear friend, this week's VIP guest...Caitlyn Denet!

In this final episode in this three part series, Craig begins to share the tools they have been developing in helping Indigenous believers in Christ learn to live biblically healthy lives in the context of their cultures and communities. This message was presented at the Billy Graham sponsored Native Leadership Conference in Rapid City, SD, in May 2022. The Smiths are grateful to Will Graham, grandson of Dr. Billy Graham, for his invitation to join him and several other Native presenters at this event, which preceded Will's visits to two South Dakota reservations for his outreach events. In just a few days, another leadership event will be held in Calgary, Alberta in preparation for Will visiting some First Nations communities in the region for more outreach events. While so many ministry organizations don't have Native people on their radar, Will and the whole BGEA team have caught the vision, seen the need, and are doing something about it! For that, Craig and LaDonna Smith, and this Indigenous Faith podcast, rejoices!

In today's episode, Craig continues his message preached at the Billy Graham sponsored Native Leader's Conference in May 2022 in Rapid City, SD. Craig continues to take listeners into both Old and New Testament passages that help define what biblical health looks like in the context of believers who come to faith in Christ out of animistic cultures. The Smiths are happy to rebroadcast this critical series at this time with so many new listeners to the Indigenous Faith podcast. Please listen with an open heart, mind, and soul, as God's Word shines forth from the heart and soul of Craig.

In the next three episodes, the Smiths take you back to when Craig preached at the Billy Graham sponsored Native Leadership Conference in May 2022 in Rapid City, SD on the invitation of Will Graham. This rebroadcast helps lay the biblical foundation for the discipling of Native American and First Nations followers of Christ. It introduces to the audience an important overview of the whole Indigenous Faith focus of the Smiths and Tribal Rescue Ministries. We trust these episodes, presented in anticipation of Will Graham's upcoming outreaches into First Nations communities in Alberta, will remind us all the importance of not just making converts to Christ, but fully committed followers of Him throughout a lifetime!

In today's broadcast we are revisiting an interview we had with Will Graham, grandson of Dr. Billy Graham and one of the lead evangelists in the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association. Will is committed to including Native communities in his very busy schedule of outreach events that take him all over the world. This session was recorded as the Smiths were part of a BGEA sponsored Native Leader's Conference in Rapid City, SD in May of 2022. Craig was one of the speakers Will invited to minister at this conference. In September 2024, Will will be in Calgary, Alberta to hold a similar leadership conference in advance of upcoming outreach events in First Nations communities in the region. In honor of his faithful commitment to our people, we wanted to rebroadcast this wonderful interview with him. Then, in the next three episodes, we will rebroadcast Craig's message he preached at this conference titled Establishing A Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith. Pray with us for Will, and those who will be presenting at the Calgary conference, and then for his outreach events in Alberta which will soon follow.

In today's third and final episode in the VIP interview with ministry colleagues, Randy and Evangeline Jackson, the Jacksons continue to discuss end time prophecy with hosts Craig and LaDonna Smith. The day after this episode is released globally, Randy and Evangeline will be preaching and singing at a prophecy conference at the Smith's home church in Cass Lake, Minnesota. August 11-14 are the dates for this important series at the Cass Lake Alliance Church. As you listen to today's episode, Craig and LaDonna would ask you to pray for this important conference that will help attendees get a better biblical understanding on current worldwide events that help confirm centuries old prophecies in both the Old and New Testaments on Christ's second coming. Craig and LaDonna appreciate so much the lives and ministries of Randy and Evangeline, who have faithfully served the Lord all throughout their married lives and even before. They are the real deal as they honor the Lord in all they do. They truly epitomize the term, VIP, which the Smiths refer to as, Victorious Indigenous People! Be sure to reach out to others around you and invite them to listen in as well as the Smiths and Jacksons present principles to help Indigenous believers in Christ live biblically healthy lives in the context of our cultures and communities! Until next week, may the Lord bless you as you live victoriously for Him!

In today's second of a three part series with ministry partners, Randy and Evangeline Jackson, we continue to hear their perspectives on the current move of God among North America's Indigenous youth, and how encouraging it is for those like the Jacksons and Smiths in their later years to see this happening. Youth coming to Christ in unprecedented numbers, some being called out to serve the Lord in vocational ministries and populating both Indian and multi-cultural higher educational institutions in preparation for fulfilling that call, are all present realities in ways we've never seen before. And for that, both the Jacksons and Smiths give praise to God for His Spirit's move across Indigenous lands. Then the discussion turns to the importance of Bible prophecy and how needed this kind of teaching is in many Indigenous churches. Craig informs us as listeners to the reality that as one of Native North America's leading prophecy teachers, Randy Jackson has been bringing prophetic teaching to a number of Native churches in recent years. The Smiths are excited to announce that their home church, Cass Lake Alliance Church on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota will be sponsoring a four day, five session prophecy conference featuring Randy's in depth teaching! Dates are August 11-14, which is only a week away from when this episode launches! It's exciting to hear from Randy what he will be teaching on in this important conference which is open to all who would desire to attend. Stay tuned to this and the final third episode which will launch one day before the conference starts for more information. Important stuff, dear friends, and we are thrilled to present it all on the Indigenous Faith podcast! Until He comes...