By David Farlow

The idea was birthed in the small teepee-shaped red church building on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation at Wounded Knee, South Dakota. It came from a realization that traditional church services had limited appeal to the Lakota Indian youth living in the area. It was a bold question. Why, it had never been done before. But that didn’t stop Julie Hollow Horn and others at the Church of God in Wounded Knee from praying and petitioning God. Why not send our youth to the International Youth Convention in San Antonio? And there began the journey.

In this impoverished community where there is little hope and few opportunities, the idea of traveling away from the reservation was daunting, a near-impossible dream. But for the leaders of the church, they saw this as a challenge they must meet: providing the youth with an opportunity to get away from the drugs, alcohol, and violence and showing them that they are not alone as Christians.

“I went door to door in the community asking teens if they would be interested in going to IYC,” said Julie Hollow Horn. “Three teens were interested but very skeptical that it would actually work out.”

With much prayer and sacrifice, the three youth, led by Julie and others from the church, worked to raise the money needed for the trip. “We received a real blessing and were helped with the expenses by a church from Franklin, Ohio,” Julie said.

“It was incredible. I had never seen so many youth in one place,” said Terrance Little Moon, one of the teens who made the trip. “And they were all there to worship Christ.”

“Our kids were a bit overwhelmed when we first arrived,” said Julie. “But when we first walked in to the assembly hall and I saw on the big screen a picture of Christ, I knew we had made the right decision.”

“It was during the prayer walk that the Lord opened my eyes and heart,” said Terrance. “I made a commitment to read my Bible, to serve the Lord.” After discussions with his pastor, Stanley Hollow Horn, Terrance decided to start a youth night at the church for the teens of Wounded Knee. Terrance said he hoped to bring about changes in their lives through the youth meetings.

Terrance asked that we pray God to guide him.

IYC=Life Change.