Smoke Signals - National Tribal Leaders Prayer Breakfast
Richard Twiss
Oct 9, 2009
Hau kola,
We are just two days away from our National Tribal Leaders Prayer Breakfast for the 66th Annual Convention of the National Congress of American Indians. I am grateful and excited to report that tickets for the breakfast have been sold out. Our room seats 140 and numbers of others want to attend, so NCAI staff is working with the hotel to get a larger room.
Please join us in prayer as we anticipate what ways the Holy Spirit will open peoples hearts to experience Creator’s love and purpose for their lives in new and life-changing ways.
I am especially grateful for the response because this is only our second gathering and we more than doubled from last year. NCAI meets together three times a year. The Winter and Mid-year gatherings are smaller conferences with the fall annual convention attended by several thousand people. Next year the convention is in Albuquerque and the following year in Portland, OR.
Next year I want to host more informal breakfasts, gatherings, and small group studies at both the Winter and Mid-year sessions. Eventually I envision regional small gatherings of people that meet with a host in different parts of the country.
This is the text that is printed on our breakfast program everyone receives.
Just government rests upon the commitment of men and women to serve the best interests of those they are elected to serve as they look to wisdom from the past, the knowledge of today, embracing seven generations and trust in guidance from the Creator above.
The National Tribal Leadership Prayer Breakfast exists to support the men and women who are called to serve their people by providing a place of spiritual encouragement, support and friendship making in the Spirit of Jesus.
From this prayer breakfast our aim is to facilitate small groups of men and women who gather regularly across the land for mutual support, accountability and shared community as friends.
In the bigger picture it is a faith-filled hope that our humble, simple efforts can begin in a small way to bring greater hope and healing to the brokenness that engulfs our Native communities across the land. This is not a small thing for one man or tiny organization to undertake. To establish something enduring and significant will require a community of committed people willing to support the vision for the next ten years. For me this means wisdom/council from tribal elders, a budget, dedicated financial support/prayer team/staff, and friends willing to serve alongside us.
Could you be one of these people? If you feel you are one of these people or would like to hear more about it, please feel free to call and let’s talk.
So, join us in praying for Creator’s very best to be experienced by all this coming Monday, October 12 at 7:00 AM (PST).
2009 PRAYER BREAKFAST PROGRAM
Welcome by Co-MC’s: Richard Twiss (Sicangu Lakota) & Robert Moore (Sicangu Lakota)
Opening Prayer: Mary L. Resvaloso, Tribal Chairperson, Torres Martinez Desert Cahuilla Indians
Song: Walter Holmes, Jr. Southern California Bird Singer
Story: CONTACT _Con-395E07165AB Faith Harjo, Miss Indian Oklahoma (Choctaw/Pawnee)
Speaker: Dr. John Perkins, Co-founder, John M. Perkins Foundation for Reconciliation & Development
Song: Robert Moore
Closing words: NCAI President, Joe A. Garcia (Ohkay Owingeh)
Closing Prayer & Final Comments: Richard Twiss
Lila Pilamaya,
Richard