In today's third and final episode of Christ's words to the church in Philadelphia, as found in Revelation 3:7-13, Craig and LaDonna complete their verse by verse commentary of this incredibly important passage of Scripture that had relevance for this church in the Dark Ages, but important for us as well. Remember, the Smiths have reminded us in episodes past that these actual seven churches were not only living bodies of Christ some 2,000 years ago, but they also represent all churches in all cultures in all parts of the world throughout all the Church Age. Important to today's teaching is the reality that throughout its history, the church has been anticipating with great expectancy the rapture of the church and the subsequent return of Christ to earth to establish His millennial reign, and we will be part of all those miraculous events! As the great gospel song says, "So keep your eyes upon the eastern skies, lift up your head, redemption draweth nigh!" Even so, come Lord Jesus!

This is the second of a three part series on the church in Philadelphia as presented in Revelation 3:7-13. Today the Smiths continue their verse by verse commentary on this passage and also continue to present seven important commendations Christ gives to this church. It's all important information that will help us live victorious lives in the context of our Indigenous cultures and communities. All right here on Indigenous Faith!

Today the Smiths return to their extended study on biblical prophecy and Christ's words to the seven churches in Asia Minor as found in Revelation 2 and 3. Today they begin a look at the sixth church, the church in Philadelphia. Today's episode provides the all important context to this church as the Smiths provide some very important background information on not only the church, but the community as well. This is one of only two churches of the seven who did not receive any condemnation from Christ, but only commendation. The Smiths had time to only delve into the initial text of Revelation 3:7-13 which spoke of Christ as Holy and True. What a way to start this new look into this new church. We trust you will stay with Craig and LaDonna as the continue to unpackage these all important words from the Lord Himself to these seven churches, right here on Indigenous Faith!

In the first two parts of this series, Craig opened wide his heart in a message he titled Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith, at the Billy Graham sponsored First Peoples Christian Leaders Conference in Rapid City, SD. If you haven’t heard the first two parts of this message, we’d strongly encourage you to do so before listening to this third and final part. That way, the whole of the message will come through loud and clear. In the first two episodes, Craig discussed the redemptive role every Indigenous people group has been given by God to be His mouthpieces at strategic times in human history. History itself affirms the reality that God had done just that through many Indigenous people groups already. Could it be that soon, the same thing will happen here in North America as well? That’s been the prayer of Craig and LaDonna Smith in their over forty years they've been serving the Lord among their people. It’s crucially important to not just win Indigenous people to Christ, but to disciple them to spiritual maturity wherever and whenever our people respond by faith to Christ. And there are some unique challenges to doing so because not a lot of time and attention has been given to address the strong animism and spiritism of our old ways that still permeate our cultures today. In today’s wrap up, Craig shares the amazing story of a former Navajo medicine man, Pete Greyeyes and the salvation, healing, and deliverance he and his wife, Rena, found when they gave their lives to Christ. Pete's story illustrates the unique challenges the Smiths Indigenous Faith materials addresses to help Indigenous believers in Christ know how to address these powerful issues in their lives and cultures. In fact, much of the Indigenous Faith materials the Smiths have developed has come from both the Scriptures, and sitting at the feet of mentors like Pete Greyeyes and other first generation believers in Christ who came out of dark animism and who spoke with great authority and experience embedded in their past spiritistic lives and vocations. These are important days, and we must not delay in teaching and equipping Indigenous believers in knowing how to follow Christ without compromise in all these issues. It's a mantle that Craig and LaDonna Smith have committed to carry as long as the Lord gives them breath!

In today's episode, Craig presents part two of the foundational message he presented at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association sponsored First Peoples Christian Leader’s Conference in Rapid City, SD. While Scripture affirms Indigenous people are to play a redemptive role in proclaiming the gospel to the specific locations God has placed them in, sometimes history wants to argue just the opposite. How can North American Indigenous people play any kind of redemptive role in these last days when it’s been our people who have been historically the resistant ones to the gospel message itself? It’s tough questions like these that Craig desires to respond to from the pages of God’s Word. In this second installment of his recorded message titled, Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith, Craig starts delving into how the Body of Christ needs to respond today to increase, and not decrease, its efforts in reaching and discipling Indigenous people here in North America with greater intentionality and efforts that are birthed and bathed in prayer and total dependance on the power of the Holy Spirit. Come to today's message with an open heart and mind to the principles found in God's Word, and in the application of those truths to today's North American Indigenous experience!

The Smiths take a break from their series on eschatology to present a three part series from a message he preached at a Billy Graham sponsored event in Rapid City, SD. Today, Craig and LaDonna take us into that conference in a three part series that presents Craig's message on discipling Native Americans he titled, Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith. In session one, Craig shares the Smiths personal story that has brought them through great trials and suffering in order to share this message at this unique event. Craig reminds the audience of Will Graham's grandfather, Dr. Billy Graham's visionary statement made back in 1975 about Native America being a sleeping giant for Christ, and if and when that giant awakens, could be the leaders of sharing the gospel in North America and beyond should God grant a last days revival. Dr. Graham's statement, Craig shared, is rooted deeply in the Scriptures. Specifically in Acts 17:26-27. Along with that biblical foundation, Craig shares a personal story on his visit to the Otavala Indians of Ecuador some years back. This tribe, which had been historically resistant to the gospel, all of a sudden experienced what only can be described as a move of God's Spirit that led thousands of Otavala Indians to come to Christ and hundreds of churches established among them. When one sees firsthand such a miraculous move of God among another tribal people, it gives great hope to see the Lord do the same among North America's Indigenous people. But its not just about reaching tribal people for Christ, they must become committed followers of Christ and the only way to make that happen is good thorough discipleship equipping of each believer. This is where Craig begins to address the missing link in the discipleship materials available to the church today. None of which address the key issues of dealing with past animism among tribal people. And that's why Craig and LaDonna have developed their Indigenous Faith materials to help fill that gap. The next two sessions are crucial to understanding how a biblically healthy life is possible for former animists and spiritists who are sold out to Christ. Session One whets your whistle while episodes 2 & 3 brings the firehose! Stay tuned, dear friend, and don't miss a single episode of this important foundational teaching. You'll be glad you experienced all three episodes of Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith!

In today's episode, Pastor Craig Smith continues a message he preached to his home congregation called Syncretism, The Larger Church's Largest Issue. In this two part series, Craig presents some research studies of Dr. George Barna, one of Evangelicalism's leading research expert. He shares a conviction that syncretism is the church's biggest issue today and presented supportive documentation to prove it. As you know, the Indigenous Faith resources the Smiths have developed are all about syncretism in the Naive church. This message proves that it's not just in Native ministry, but in the church at large. Please take the time to listen to both parts in this timely series designed to challenge believers of all races to walk in biblical obedience to Christ.

In today's episode, we hear from Pastor Craig Smith in a message he preached to his home congregation called Syncretism, The Larger Church's Largest Issue. In this two part series, Craig presents some research studies of Dr. George Barna, one of Evangelicalism's leading research expert. He shares a conviction that syncretism is the church's biggest issue today and presented supportive documentation to prove it. As you know, the Indigenous Faith resources the Smiths have developed are all about syncretism in the Naive church. This message proves that it's not just in Native ministry, but in the church at large. Please take the time to listen to both parts in this timely series designed to challenge believers of all races to walk in biblical obedience to Christ.