A word from the Founder and President…
It is my vision as Founder and President of Native Heart Community Development Association™ (NHCDA) to see thriving Native American communities fully engaged in the process of transformation and living in harmony, balance and prosperity.
Billy Graham once said, “The greatest moments of Native history may lie ahead of us if a great spiritual renewal and awakening should take place. The Native American has been a sleeping giant. He is awakening.” Native Americans ARE awakening, and becoming more self-determined than ever. They are trying to find a healing path of recovery from abuse, addictions, suicide, violent crimes, poverty, and other social problems, which occur among Native people at a rate that is often more than double the national average. Historical oppression and forced assimilation, which all but destroyed every facet of American Indian life-ways and cultural identity, have either caused or contributed to these social ills and caused Native Americans to become marginalized.
The faith community can no longer ‘do ministry’ as they have in the past. They must learn about indigenous culture, spirituality, and their issues of concern, and explore ways to play a supportive role in meeting them. The first step in reaching out to the Native community is to have a humble heart of repentance, and to gain the necessary cultural competency to be effective. When we walk out the gospel among the People in a culturally relevant and sensitive way, we will give hope to hopeless people, and see thriving Native American communities free from drugs, alcohol, and poverty.
NHCDA equips spiritual and other community leaders to effectively address issues of concern to Native Americans, and to close the gap in the disparity of services. We train churches how to have an effective prison ministry to Native Americans; we train spiritual leaders and service providers to address substance abuse through our two-day intensive Spiritual Care-giving: Addressing Native American Wellbriety training; and we equip communities to start a one-year Native Turning Point wellbriety program in their community. We can also custom design programs to meet your needs. Contact us for a speaker, workshop, or program in your area.
If we are to avoid the mistakes of the past made with Native Americans, and make Jesus known to every tribe and tongue, we must make the gospel relevant to all people, and meet their real and felt needs as Jesus did.
Shirley M. Frisbee, M.A.T., B.S.
