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Gospel Resources for Native Americans
A special welcome to all visitors of Native American heritage! This page contains
links to Bibles, stories and web sites written in First Nation languages which tell about Jesus
and His love for the Native American people.
Many followers of Jesus are praying that God will bless the Native American people, and some of the links on this page have information to help them learn more about Native American languages and culture.
Thank you for visiting. May the grace and peace of God be yours today!
*NOTE: Many of the following links are outside our site and open a new window in your browser.
Close the new window to return to this page.
Publications About Jesus
The Four Spiritual Laws explains God's plan of salvation in Navajo and an English version adapted for Native Americans.Gifts from the Heart: Faith Stories from Native Americans, compiled by Alyne JoAnn Catolster, is offered by the United Methodist Church at their Ethnic Local Church Concerns web site.
Native American Language Bibles
Bibles in Your Language can help you find audio, online and print Bibles in indigenous languages of North and South America, including:
You can purchase New Testament portions on audio cassette in Crow, Southern Tiwa, Northern Tiwa, O'Othham (also known as Papago Pima) and Tewa from Faith Comes By Hearing. They also carry audio Scripture portions for several indigenous languages of Mexico, Guatemala and South America.
Voices: Native American Hymns and Other Worship Resources
by Marilyn Hofstra
Discipleship Resources, 1992
Background Info on Native Peoples
The U.S. Census Bureau estimates that 2.4 million people of Native American heritage are living in the U.S. in 1999. This is approximately one percent of the U.S. population.
This number is made up of many people groups speaking many languages. More information is available from the Census Bureau as detailed in their list of publications on American Indian and Alaska Native populations. One item of interest is census data for the "Top 25" American Indian Tribes in the U.S.
The 1990 census tabulated more than 330,000 people speaking more than 130 native North American languages at home.
The U.S. Census Bureau has mapped where Native American, Eskimo and Aleut people live.
Christian and Missionary Alliance offers a cultural overview of the Pueblo Indians.
The Population Reference Bureau publishes articles analyzing data and trends from the 2000 USA Census.
Lisa Mitten's homepage, Native American Sites, is an excellent secular source for links and information on Native American tribes and languages.
Native Jesus Way is a web ring "For websites with Christian Native Content. Worship the King - Native American Style!"
Leadership and Pastoral Training
American Indian Bible Institute offers a variety of training aids and materials in Biblical Church Development in Native American and cross-cultural settings.
Cook College & Theological School, in Tempe, Arizona, works to "educate, enable and empower Native Americans for for Christian Leadership."
First Nations Institute, in South Dakota, offers training to prepare Native American adults for Christian leadership and community service in a Native setting and under Native tutorship.
Indian Bible College in Flagstaff, Arizona: "Training Native Christian Leaders for Indigenous Native Churches."
The International School of Ministry offers affordable bible training in Inuktitut . Their course in structured, taught by interdenominational Christian leaders, and available on audio tapes so your church can become a training center.
Information for Churches
Perhaps you've noticed that several Native American families live in your community. Your church would like to get acquainted with them and find ways to serve your Native American neighbors. But how can you begin?The Jesus Film is a great way to share the gospel in the "heart language" of your Native American neighbors. Campus Crusade for Christ has produced this beautiful film of the gospel of Luke and translated it into over 600 languages, including Western Cree, Eastern Canadian Inuktitut, Navajo, and Northern Tiwa. Your church can buy a video for less than $20 and sponsor a "Friendship Night" to show the film and begin a dialogue. Ask Native American leaders in the community if they would like to see the film and if they'll help you invite other families.
To order the Jesus Film, visit Jesusfilm.org. Or order by phone from Campus Crusade at 1-800-432-1997.
An online brochure, "Working with Native Americans," has been published by the North American Mission Board (NAMB) of the Southern Baptist Convention. The brochure is in PDF format, so in order to read it you will need Adobe Acrobat software, available at the site for free.
NAMB also has a website with information including Native American ministry, culture, church planting, events. Check out their resource page for demographics, Sunday School lessons, and information on The Jesus Way, a New Testament edited for Native Americans by the International Bible Society.The online article, SONGS TO THE CREATOR: Indigenous Music program for the First Nations people, by Kristy Miller, presents an action plan for Native Americans who want to create hymns with traditional music and instruments.
At Wiconi International, speaker and author Richard Twiss (a Lakota born on South Dakota's Rosebud Reservation) offers books, music tapes, videos, teaching tapes, and links related to First Nations people.
The Center for Indian Ministries was founded to minister to the Ojibwe tribes in Minnesota, and has now expanded to serve the American Indian community nationwide. Their web site includes links to other groups which minister to American Indians.
CHIEF (Christian Hope Indian Eskimo Fellowship) provides training for Native American pastors and church leaders. Their motivating vision is to see an effective Christian witness in every Native American tribe and all related tribes in this generation.
The Native American Fellowship of Assemblies of God will host their 18th Annual Convention June 8-13, 2003 at Glacier Bible Camp in North Carolina.
Indian Life Online publishes testimonies and books by Native American believers, and sells a video called Learning to Fly on Christian discipleship. I hope you'll take few minutes to read Christianity and Native American History, a powerful chapter from the book Whiteman's Gospel by Craig Smith. And don't miss the two online Dan Red Eagle Comic Books.
First Nations Monday has a prayer ministry and a website with directories, links, and lots of useful information.
The article Indigenous Breakthroughs! describes an exciting new move of God among indigenous people worldwide in their own cultural settings.
Eagles Wings is the ministry of pastor and author Randy Woodley and his wife Edith. Both Native Americans, their mission is "to present the Great Spirit's Son, Jesus Christ and His Words, the Bible to Native Americans in culturally relevant ways."
Tribe of Christ is a First Nations church in Alabama.
Spyder & Tekakwitha Webb of Clear Water Ministries have released a music CD entitled "Yiga Ama" (Cherokee for "Clear Water"). It features "Amazing Grace" in Cherokee, with an all drum and percussion accompaniment, and eight original songs lifting up Creator and honoring Tsisa with guitar and percussion. To order, send a $15 donation for the CD (or $10 for the tape) plus $2 shipping and handling to:
Clear Water Ministries
672 Fredonia Rd.
Greenville, PA 16125
Joseph and Laralyn RiverWind strive to bring the Gospel in a way that is culturally understandable to indigenous and non-indigenous people throughout the world. Their band, the Blessed Blend, composes and performs a unique blend of Celtic and Native American music.
Learn the Language
audioforum.com offers self-instructional audio-cassette courses in Apache, Cherokee, Cheyenne, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Creek, Hawaiian, Kiowa, Lakota, Lenape, Mayan, Mohawk, Muskogee, Navajo, Ojibwe,Passamaquoddy, Salish, Tlingit, and Yu'pik.
Recommended Reading
Most of these books are available at your local bookstore. Follow the link to Amazon.com for descriptions and reviews. (If you choose to buy online, 5% of the price will help cover expenses of our ministry.)
From the Flames of Wounded Knee to the Center of God's Will
by Shirlee Evans and Darrell New Plenty Stars
Xulon Press 2008Living in Color: Embracing God's Passion for Diversity
by Randy Woodley
Chosen Books Pub Co, September 2001
Author is Keetoowah CherokeeOne Church, Many Tribes:
Following Jesus the Way God Made You
by Richard Twiss and John Dawson
Regal Books, 2000Whiteman's Gospel
by Craig Stephen Smith
Indian Life Ministries, 1998
Read a chapter onlineThe Seed of a Nation: Reconciling with the Birth of America
by Darrell Fields
Covenant Press, 2000
Eternity in Their Hearts
by Don Richardson
Gospel Light Publications, 1984
No picture
availableChrist Is a Native American
by Achiel Peelman
Orbis Books, 1995
No picture
availableVoices: Native American Hymns and Other Worship Resources
by Marilyn Hofstra
Discipleship Resources, 1992Traditional Native American Crafts and Activities (Celebrating Our Heritage)
by Bill Helin (Illustrator)
Arlette N. Braman
John Wiley & Sons, 2000
Ages 9 to 12Bruchko
by Bruce Olson
Creation House, 1989
No picture
availableSpirit of the Harvest:
North American Indian Cooking
by Beverly Cox
Stewart Tabori & Chang, 1991
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