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by Dr. W. Jay Moon, (2005, PhD), Associate Professor of Church Planting and Evangelism
Sweat beads roll down his cheeks and drip off his chin as Jarod grabs the water hose to gulp down the cool water. Pausing for air, this seminary student lowers the hose long enough to exclaim, “I just had my most intense encounter with Jesus in there!” He then raises the hose to resume his assault on the water like a man reaching an oasis after a long walk in the desert.
The following morning, students gather to recall the experience. Another student looks to the sky and proclaims, “I feel stronger in my faith today. Yesterday, I called out to Jesus in there. I was at the end of my own strength – and he met me. When things get tough for me in the future, I know that Jesus will meet me again when I call out.” The others nodded their heads in silent agreement.
This powerful spiritual experience was a part of an immersion course on the Rosebud Lakota Sioux Native American reservation in South Dakota. This one-week course was developed by two Asbury alumni, Dr. Richard Twiss (who was born on the Rosebud reservation) and Dr. Jay Moon. The goal was to expose seminary students to the topic of contextualization. For example, they wrestle with the question, “What would it look like for a Native American Christian to retain their socio-cultural identity, yet change their allegiance to Jesus?”
Throughout the week, seminary students engage the Lakota culture by participating in the local Pow-wow, visiting tribal government leaders, conversing with local Native pastors, interacting with traditional medicine men, and doing participant-observation in Native rituals. Visits are also paid to Wounded Knee, Sinte Gleska (a tribally run college), and community development organizations. A highlight of the trip for people like Jarod is the Inipi ritual (also known as the “sweat lodge”).
The Inipi ritual is a powerful discipleship form for oral cultures. It exemplifies the use of dominant symbols inside the ritual process to intensify faith. For a Native to come to Christ, must they abandon all previous forms of discipleship in order to follow the “White man’s god?” If the answer is “Yes,” then this may help explain why approximately only 4% of Native Americans in the U.S. today are evangelical Christians. Is it possible, though, that this ritual is evidence of God’s prevenient grace in Native culture? If the answer is “Yes,” then this may be a good starting point for Native Americans to fully give their allegiance to Jesus while experiencing the power of Christ utilizing indigenous forms.
Dr. Richard Twiss, founder of Wiconi International, believes strongly that the Inipi ritual can be given Christian meaning so that the ultimate God comes in intimate contact with disciples (as former Asbury professor Dr. Zahniser was fond of saying). To help others experience this powerful discipleship form, Richard invited me to visit him on his reservation. Hence, the idea for this course was first born. For the last seven years, seminary students and others have travelled across the U.S. and Canada to experience first hand the power of Christ through contextual discipleship forms. This year, people came from Mississippi, Canada, Florida, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri, Illinois, Indiana, and Oregon.The relationships formed during the course are also bearing fruit. The words and deeds of Christ are portrayed in the lives of these students resulting in transformed lives. Can a course like this really change attitudes and beliefs in such a short time?Ask seminary students like Jarod . . . he is now a firm believer.P.S. I first met Dr. Richard Twiss and other Native American friends when we were students at Asbury Theological Seminary. Their faith and tenacity inspired me in my own faith journey. For the last seven years, we have conducted this immersion course together as co-professors. Unfortunately, Richard had a massive heart attack last year and died very suddenly. His influence and dream lives on as we continued the course this past summer in his absence. This time, though, his son and another representative of Wiconi International (the organization Richard and his wife founded) participated in the experience. Plans are already underway for next year’s course. Dr. Moon’s upcoming book describes the Inipi ritual and the discipleship process further. It is entitled “Spiritual Ruts and How to Get Unstuck: A Multicultural Discipleship Approach.”
Native American Immersion
Published Date: August 26, 2013
Jay, I’m so glad the experience is continuing. This course was such a blessing to me! It has already helped me to converse more freely and joyfully with Native friends.
Hi Jay,
Thank you so much for your article! I had no idea you were a professor at ATS! I’m so excited for you! I hope you and your family are doing well!
Blessings,
Amy
Matt Zahniser’s taught a course called “Cross Cultural disciphleship” — what we learned about cultural forms, ritual as a language of spiritual reality, has given us a powerful tool to communicate the gospel and overcome the bad religion produced when people are forced to lay down their entire culture to become “Christian.”
All of us were blessed to sit under the wise sages of Asbury. Every lesson Matt Zahniser had wholistic learning objectives. He challanged our thinking and rhetoric as if we were all phd condidates. And he challanged my heart to grow in love for Muslims and other misunderstood people.