Grace shown to American Natives

David Brainerd on horseback. He travelled over 3000 miles on horseback as a missionary.
Wikipedia

The title of this blog is "Tracing My Christian Heritage" and I love to read about the early Christian missionaries in America who shared the gospel with the natives. I often wonder if David Brainerd or perhaps a lesser known missionary shared the gospel with one of my ancestors; and if the good Lord will reveal how His grace was woven throughout the tapestry of the Somers family with all of it's branches and offshoots when I am with Him in Glory.

Here are some links to articles regarding the evangelism of Native Americans I recently found at Baptist Press that I think you will be blessed to read:

Pocahontas - Wikipedia

400 years: Pocahontas conversion discussed

JAMESTOWN, Va. (BP) -- Four hundred years after the death of one of the most well-known Native Americans in history, scholars say Pocahontas' profession of faith in Christ is among the few facts known with certainty about the famed daughter of a Virginia Algonquin chief.

Yet her conversion -- along with other key details of her life -- is absent from some contemporary portrayals of Pocahontas' life.

Read more here.

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Native American evangelism: past & present examined

NASHVILLE (BP) -- Following a two-day evangelism training session in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention annual meeting in Phoenix, the Fellowship of Native American Christians is setting its sights on what executive director Gary Hawkins calls "self-propagating, self-promoting, self-supporting" efforts to reach American Indians for Christ.

"It is absolutely essential for the [Gospel] message to become owned by indigenous people," Hawkins told Baptist Press in written comments. FoNAC must achieve "a contextualized, culturally relevant ministry while maintaining doctrinal soundness."

Read More

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First Indian Baptist aims for multi-tribal reach

PHOENIX (BP) -- When pastor Shaun Whitey asked First Indian Baptist Church in Phoenix to write down their tribal affiliation, people from nearly all of Arizona's federally-recognized tribes were represented in the congregation that Sunday, 22 people groups in all, which Whitey described as typical.

The church reaches a broad cross-section of tribal groups in its aim to carry the Gospel to all the state's reservations, Whitey said, yet faces an ongoing challenge of adequately preparing disciples who multiply other Christians.

Read More

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Native Americans built association's strength

PEMBROKE, N.C. (BP) -- In 1881, Burnt Swamp Baptist Association, an association of Native American Baptist churches, was established. From its humble beginnings of three churches in Robeson County, N.C. -- two of which still exist -- the association now includes 70 churches in 10 North Carolina counties and two neighboring states.

Coharie, Haliwa-Saponi, Lumbee, Pee Dee, Tuscarora and Waccamaw Siouan make up the multi-tribal association's membership, which was distinctively Baptist from its beginning.

Read More

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And they sung a new song, saying, Thou art worthy to take the book, and to open the seals thereof: for thou wast slain, and hast redeemed us to God by thy blood out of every kindred, and tongue, and people, and nation; 

~Revelation 5:9 (AKJV)