3nd QTR 2007 Newsletter
April

In April Howard went on a Dancing Our Prayers Tour as a part of a Wiconi International team. The following is an excerpt from Richard Twiss’ Smoke Signals (e-newsletter) written while they were on tour. Through this excerpt you can gain a better understanding of the important role that these teams are playing in America and overseas.

DANCING OUR PRAYERS TEAM –
ALONG THE TRAILS OF INDIANA
I am here in Indiana on an extended Dancing Our Prayers Tour. My son Daniel, Jacob and Jodi Trevizo and Howard Lane and I have shared our cultural ministry presentations thus far in six cities since last Saturday. We have been at Taylor University in Upland, Heartland Church in Ft. Wayne, Crosspointe Nazarene Family Center in Kendallville, LaPorte Vineyard & Native home fellowship with Day and Parker in LaPorte, and Grace College and Seminary in Winona Lake. Tonight we are at Indiana Wesleyan University in Marion and finish this Sunday with an evening city-wide outreach at Bethany Church in Anderson. As we have shared our love for Jesus through the beauty of our First Nations dance, music, drumming and stories, the response has been overwhelmingly positive. In a small way we are educating and equipping the next generation of Christian leaders in America with a biblically-informed worldview. Through our cultural expressions, we are challenging people to seriously consider why they believe what they do about Native people around the world and their cultures; not only that, but also issues of social justice, political ideologies and global concerns through the lens of scripture. Without exception, people line up to speak with our team members to express their gratitude for being confronted with their own ignorance and ethnocentrism, along with a better understanding of God’s heart for diversity from a biblical perspective. At several schools we are making plans for larger, extended visits next year.

In September of 2007 the Dancing Our Prayers team will be going to Siberia, Russia to work with the indigenous people of that area. Howard will be a part of this trip. Agape Lane Ministry is honored to be a part of what God is doing around the globe through Native American people.

 

 

 

This young lady is from Russia, dressed in the traditional of her tribe.
She attended last years Wiconi Family Camp

 

May


May was an exciting month for Howard and I, the two of us drove home for the weekend to celebrate our grandson’s birthday. Tyler turned eight years old in May. We surprised him with our coming, because we were afraid we might have to cancel at the last minute. He was very surprised, I don’t think I will ever forget the look on his face when he realized the strangers pulling into his driveway were his grandparents. What joy! The most precious gift the Father could give us is time with Tyler, he delights our soul. You will indulge me for a few minutes to brag on him right? What choice do you have, eehhh? He is maturing so quickly, he loves to fish, just like his dad did when he was young. He is growing up to be an intelligent (all As & Bs in school), handsome young man and we are very proud of him. He also takes after his Uncle Nathan in the video department he loves the video games.
 

Many of you may have heard the news of all the rain we have been receiving here in Oklahoma. It has been a very wet year. Quite unbelievable as a matter of fact. We have had some flooding but have been more fortunate than other areas of OK and TX. The previous three years we have been in drought and we received more rain this year than the past eight we have lived here. The city had to stop giving fines to people for long grass because it was impossible to cut. We had been praying for years for rain and I think everyone’s prayers were answered all at once. It has been hard on many families because they did not have flood insurance because of the normal amounts of rain we receive here. Just two blocks away there were several homes that were flooded several times, and one day we saw a SUV that had been swept into the storm runoff next to one of those homes. Join us in prayer that the Lord will restore all that was taken from them.
 
June

The month of June our youngest son Nathan turned twenty six years old, that makes me feel like life is moving much too quickly. Nathan is doing well; he is working in Oklahoma City, for Dell. He is doing well within the company and hopes for a possible transfer somewhere in PA at some point. He would like to continue to work with computers while he and Shawn start a business together, which is their dream.

Howard traveled with Wiconi to Hominy Oklahoma where they spoke about cultural diversity and Christianity at the annual meeting for the Central District USA of the Friends Church (Quakers). Howard found this trip to be especially interesting because as most of you probably know the Quakers in the USA originated in PA. William Penn, the founder of PA was a Quaker. William Penn was one of the few European immigrants who made and kept Covenant agreements with the Native Americans.
Howard thought that the Quaker Church was rather unique in the way they evangelized among the Indian people. Their focus was to come and live and work among the people rather than minister to the people. The project of erecting a church building was always a joint effort physical and financially between the Quaker missionary and the local Native people, as was the evangelization of the locals.

Prayer & Praise
  • The River Assembly of God Church in Springdale TX. reviewed our web site and prayed about supporting the ministry they decided to become part of the support team in May. Thank you River Assembly and thank you Jesus!
  • Supporters are being consistent is their monthly giving, this is so important!
  • Howard will be traveling to Rosebud Reservation to participate with Richard as he teaches at Sinte Gleska University. He will leave July 14 and return 22.
  • I will follow on July 19 with a team of ladies who will host a ladies tea in honor of the young women whom we built relationships with during kids club and youth club during our field term on Rosebud Reservation form 1993-1997. (One of the ladies’ husband will travel with us) and we will return with Howard. We are extremely excited about this trip!
  • Wiconi 3rd annual Family Camp and Mni Wiconi Wacipi (Living Waters Powwow) is August 2-5, we will be attending the camp and ministering with puppets during family time and Howard will film.
  • Provision for Howard’s trip to Russia in September 5-14. Please keep the whole dancing our prayers team in prayer for provision, health and favor.
  • For Howard’s continued health and strength as he travels monthly, sometimes twice a month with Wiconi or another Native ministry.
For this reason I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. From whom the whole family in heaven and earth is named, that He would grant you, according to the riches of His glory, to be strengthened with might through His Spirit in the inner man. That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in love, may be able to comprehend with all the saints what is the width and length and depth and height-to know the love of Christ which passes knowledge; that you may be filled with all the fullness of God. Now to Him who is able to do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, according to the power that works in us, to Him be glory in the church by Christ Jesus to all generations, forever and ever. Amen.   Ephesians 3:14-21