M/V CHRISTIAN
Southeast Alaska
You Give Them Something To Eat
by Rev. Stan Berntson
Jesus said to them, “They need not go away; you give them something to eat.” Matthew 14:16
As Sharon and I travel from village to village, we are always trying to discern our mission in each place. Our interactions with people, and Bible texts, help us to realize that God has the mission already well focused, and also helps us live into it in a variety of ways.
Recently I was asked to share a message at a church in Hydaburg (Haida people). The Gospel text for that Sunday was the feeding of the five thousand from Matthew 14. Each time I read the text in preparation, the words “you give them something to eat” jumped out at me. The “you” in the text are Jesus’ disciples. But who are the “you” in context in Hydaburg?
Hydaburg is a beautiful town with beautiful people. There are some passionate leaders and some developing spiritual leaders. There is a strong emphasis on teaching culture. When we travel to Hydaburg, we have Vacation Bible school for three weeks, and then we remain there for the fourth week to help with Haida Culture Camp. For a long time, Hydaburg has been considered a mission area. However, there has not been an ordained pastor in the church for a long time. The church gathers faithfully with lay leaders leading worship, with a visiting pastor filling in now and then. How long will Hydaburg be considered a “mission area”? With Lutheran Indian Ministries, that is the focus question…always. Do we “do for” or do we “walk with”?
In his book “ONE CHURCH, MANY TRIBES - Following Jesus The Way God Made You,” Richard Twiss (Lakota, Rosebud) argues, “The Native community is to this day primarily viewed by Evangelicals as a needy, but largely forgotten mission field, a group in need of receiving ministry. The flow of ministry between the Anglo and Native churches is almost always in a top-down direction, a one-way flow of goods, services, ministry and resources from the Anglo church to the ‘lower’ Native church.” It is obvious for Twiss and other First Nations people, the answer to “Do we ‘do for,’ or ‘walk with’?” The answer is a resounding “WALK WITH!” Who are the “You” in the Hydaburg context? The people whom God is calling out as followers of Jesus in that lovely community. They are the ones Jesus is encouraging to feed the people of the village. And if Sharon and I can be of help, then so be it. If not, we should get out of the way. The people of Hydaburg need not wait for some other ministers from the dominant culture to feed them. They are to be empowered by the Spirit of our Lord to feed one another…and beyond!
Twiss continues, “I would love to see some of our Anglo church leaders, when asked to help a Native church, say, ‘Yes but on one condition: only if you will in turn send your pastors and leaders to come and equip us with the grace and gifting God has given you as Native people.’ When that day comes, it will verify that we are seen by our Anglo brethren as equal co-laborers in the mission of the Church”. The larger church needs the witness of the people of Hydaburg. Until the larger church realizes this, we are all impoverished.
I am in the village of Angoon as I write this. On our way here, we anchored in Chapin Bay near the southern tip of Admiralty Island (yes, think big brown bears). It was getting dark as we approached the bay. We were greeted by a dozen spouting humpback whales, feeding at the approach to the bay. I took the boat out of gear and we drifted, watching the whales in the twilight. They were feeding as they were created to feed, the way God made them. They seemed to be doing just fine. It was an incredible experience of sight, sound and smells.
As the Native people of Southeast Alaska continue to struggle with who they are as God made them, revitalizing their culture and growing into a renewed people, these lovely people will be fed by their Creator and in turn will feed one another with a heavenly food. We can walk alongside as partners and co-laborers. Thank you for YOUR partnership.
P.S. I highly recommend Twiss’ book for all. It is a very insightful and positive book that gives incredible insight to the Church from one First Nation person’s perspective.