The faithful love of the Lord manifests in the relationship He has made with His children. The attitude of our hearts should reflect a committed love toward Him; this love binds us together as a community of faith.

Indian Falls Creek (IFC) strives to strengthen and cultivate this community within the Indigenous churches across North America, who will gather for the 79th IFC, July 26-30 at Falls CreekConference Centers.

Mike Keahbone (Comanche, Kiowa, Cherokee), pastor of Lawton, First, will serve as camp pastor to churches representing more than 50 tribal nations. From preschool to adults, the classes, recreation and worship services are designed to uplift the entire family. The week is an opportunity for churches to cultivate generational faith among their members and encourage campers to reach out to their family members who need Christ.

Campers begin the day with morning devotions and classes, which provide opportunities to make new friends and fellowship. The Mathena Family Event Center houses the children’s morning classes and both the morning and evening Children’s Church services. Preschool, Youth, Young Adult and Adult classes are hosted in the Tabernacle and cabins across campus.

Less than 10 percent of Native peoples are Christian. When seeing the numerous Native people at IFC, this fact can be easily forgotten. The leaders of IFC know this week is important to the edification of the family of churches that attend each year.

Awakening Faith, Cultivating Ministry—Indian Falls Creek serves as a catalyst for spiritual awakening that transforms lives for Christ by uplifting Indigenous believers and cultivating Native-to-Native Ministry for eternal impact.

Many campers who have attended since childhood look forward to the fellowship with lifelong camp friends. The collective nature of Native cultures lends to the community felt among campers. The encouragement and call to faithful living can be seen in the leaders who bring their church families, volunteers who serve annually and the IFC Board members.

The majority of pastors among Native churches are multi-vocational and minister to small congregations. Bringing their church families to camp allows them more time to fellowship with and minister to them. Also, standing alongside leadership from other Native churches at IFC cultivates stronger bonds
between churches.

Volunteerism is the backbone of IFC programming, which provides opportunities for people to develop leadership skills, practice gifts of service and discern calling. Each summer, mission teams come to minister to the children and in recreational areas. Some campers volunteer to enact daily programming to support Board members, allowing them to serve alongside friends they only see at camp.

Consider bringing your family to IFC. If you would like to volunteer or support camp, contact IFC Executive Director Victor Cope.

Pray for the:

– Movement of God the Holy Spirit among the tribal Nations and families represented at camp to change lives and call people to ministry.

– Indian Falls Creek Board of Directors as they complete and enact programming.

– Volunteers and mission teams ministering to campers.

– Encouragement, resilience and continued commitment among church pastors and leaders.

– Provision for churches and families to attend.

For more information, visit IndianFallsCreek.org.

Barnett is Chairperson of the IFC Board of Directors. Webster is IFC Asst. Director of Promotions and Publicity