Latest issue of Wiconi's Smoke Signal

Walking in the Beauty Way  Hau kola, "hello friend" More than 270 people laughed, ate, prayed and worshipped together, drawing closer to Jesus, and along with another 1000 people who enjoyed the Saturday powwow, it made our 5th Annual Mni Wiconi Wacipi "Living Waters Powwow" and Family Camp, the best ever! Katherine and I want to say thank you for the generous gifts that so many friends like you sent which made it possible for 19 families, (62 total people), 8 Elder Families received sponsorships (16 Elders) and 1 Youth group (15 people) to attend through scholarships! With so much hardship in Native communities today, our annual gathering is absolutely an oasis of "living water" for those who attend. One of the tell-tale signs of Creator's blessing is the number of non-christian Native folks who attend the powwow each year to dance and enjoy the day because, as they say, "I like the spirit I sense in this place." Here's a few comments from people about their experience at family camp a few weeks ago. A young man said, "While dancing in the powwow, I felt a spiritual moment that left me so thankful that I am Native." A children's worker said, "It's beautiful to see how they are growing up in the Lord and their faith is incorporated naturally with Native culture and traditions." Another said, "I will refer our foster families who have Native children to consider attending camp next year."  A lady said, "I came to the powwow and camp looking for new direction from Creator. I received that through the speakers, the talking circles and meeting with my native friends." Another person wrote, "Bill's talk on respect was especially valuable as was Casey's talk on incense and tobacco for use in worship. One thing that stands out is the native ability to be still before Creator. That ability made it possible for me to hear the word of the Lord. Casey has been absolutely awesome in his humbleness and willingness to teach at all times and his wife Lora and entire family are a beautiful witness of native culture and faith in Christ." Lastly a father wrote, "It was beautiful to listen to the wisdom during talking circles. We would LOVE to bring our entire family; 5 children, 7 grandchildren. It is an experience we hope they all can share and tell the stories to their children and children's children." Emails have flowed into our office the past few weeks from people telling us their powerful and inspiring stories of blessing, hope, encountering God and healing experienced during our days together! Again, Katherine and I are very grateful for your friendship and support to help make this life changing annual gathering possible. Mark you calendar and plan to attend next year, July 28-31, 2011. You can enjoy a great picture report of family camp on YouTube; Just click here! Richard & Katherine Twiss Co-founders, Wiconi Interntional

Speaking to the Nations Laughing and applause was heard from delegates from 103 countries when they heard the speaker say, 'we need to rescue theology from the cowboys.' Okay, that speaker was me. I had the enormous privilege this past June of giving a key note message at the historic unification conference for the new World Communion of Reformed Churches (WCRC) at Calvin College in Grand Rapids, MI. The WCRC represents 80 million people from 230 churches in 108 countries. As a global communion of believers and churches they are wrestling with how to best remain faithful to the teachings of Jesus and the scriptures in the new era of "post-colonial Christianity" in the earth. I invited them to repent of their paternalism and intentionally include indigenous voices in shaping their understandings of the church of the future.There is a short video of my talk you can view by clicking here. My talk was very well received and is being incorporated into some of the official documents of the conference as well as being printed in several WCRC global publications and the Internet. READ MORE

P.S. New and exciting opportunities to make Jesus known and for advancing biblical justice among the nations flow into our office weekly. Richard and Wiconi will again convene the annual national tribal leaders prayer breakfast, this year in November in Albuquerque. Richard leads a dialogue session on "Developing Indigenous Theologies" at the Third Luassane Congress on World Evangelization in Cape Town, South Africa in October. We are engaged with supporting emerging leaders in our city-wide area. With the summer months our finances always dip and this year has been no exception. We are so grateful for your friendship, prayers and support. Please consider making a contribution as we pray about how to respond to the invitations and opportunities before us. You can easily send an online donation through our secure online donation feature by clicking on this link.     Sincerely and thank you so much,   Your friends and staff at Wiconi International 360-546-1867www.wiconi.com 2010 Family Camp Picture Report WCGIP More About Us ONLINE DONATIONS We celebrate the marriage of Ian and Toni Twiss Katherine and I were so proud and blessed as parents to see our son Ian (25) marry his college sweetheart. Toni is Navajo from New Mexico and we are so happy to have her as part of our family.   WWW.WCGIPNZ.ORG The Maori people of New Zealand are preparing to host 7th World Christian Gathering of Indigenous People, January 9-18, 2011. Please visit the website and make plans to join hundreds of native people from around the world to worship the creator of heaven and earth, Jesus. DETAILS COMING SOON!!!!! TRAIL OF HOPE NORTHWEST NATIVE YOUTH CONFERENCE AUGUST OF 2011