by Rich Avery

After speaking at Waite Park Wesleyan Church in Minneapolis, I traveled to the northwoods of Wisconsin to meet with Rev. Mark O. Wilson and Native ministry leaders from Hayward Wesleyan Church.

I was blessed to hear the many ways this congregation is impacting the 4,000 members of the nearby Lac Courte Oreilles (Ojibwe) Reservation. 

The Lord has strategically placed over 20 people from the church into positions of influence on the rez: in the health department, pharmacy, funeral home, schools, after-school recreation centers, and more.

In addition, the church runs a van ministry which brings people from the rez to church on Sundays (they're praying for funds so they can add a bus) and a teen mothers program on Tuesday nights.

Please join Hayward Wesleyan in prayer as they consider additional youth and family outreaches, and maybe even a church service, on the rez. 


This working farm would offer transitional housing, life skills classes, Bible studies, family reconciliation programs, and work opportunities for those who have recently come out of jail/prison or drug/alcohol treatment programs. 

Hope Haven would also provide a safe coffee-house type of community center where people of all ages could come to connect with people who care, play games, study the Bible, and more.

Community leaders tell Becky and Jathan there is a growing need for these types of programs on the rez.  Please pray for wisdom as these plans develop, and funding in order to purchase the property.

While in Hayward, I was privileged to meet one of the church's first Native converts, Tiffany Leach, who is now a leader in the church and on the rez.  Earlier this week, she gave birth to Hayward's newest member, Ode'iminikwe Charlotte Leach.  Pastor Mark explains the beautiful meaning of her Ojibwe name at his Revitalize Your Church blog for small town/rural pastors.