Bringing Hope to the Lakota Sioux

PINE RIDGE, SD—Nearly fifteen years ago (in August of 1998), Bruce BonFleur and his wife Marsha came to live among and serve God’s beloved Oglala Lakota Sioux people on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation.

The Pine Ridge Indian Reservation is an Oglala Lakota Native American reservation located in the U.S. state of South Dakota. Drugs, gangs, alcohol, violence, sickness, disease, suicide, and demons corrupt this tiny community that has seen so much since the massacre of the nearby village of Wounded Knee.

As Bruce and Marsha mentioned in their calling, they had “no training, no personal agendas, little knowledge of Lakota history and total ignorance of Lakota language and culture.” What they did have were open hearts that responded to God’s call, individually and collectively, with, “I am willing.” God called them to serve in a small town in Nebraska outside the reservation called Whiteclay. “Put My light here” was what God told them.

As they formed the A.B.O.U.T. (A Binding Of Us Together) group, God gave them promises that He would move in a mighty way to “restore dignity” to His people, and to “transform” Whiteclay, Nebraska if they would keep their focus on Him alone and be faithful to praise Him.

Whiteclay, known to the U.S. Census Bureau as “Pine Ridge”, is an unincorporated community in Sheridan County, Nebraska, United States. The population was 14 at the 2000 census. Whiteclay’s economy is dependent upon alcohol sales to residents of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, located two miles north across the border in South Dakota, where alcohol consumption and possession is prohibited. According to the Nebraska Liquor Control Commission, beer sales at Whiteclay’s four liquor stores totaled 4.9 million cans in 2010 (13,000 cans per day) for gross sales of $3 million. The four beer merchants paid federal and state excise taxes (included in liquor’s sale price) of $413,932 that year. It was reported that over $5 million worth of cans were sold in 2012.

As they ministered in Whiteclay, God told them to stop focusing on what they saw around them and begin to praise Him!

It has not been an easy path for Bruce and Marsha. But through God’s strength in their weaknesses and by His daily grace, they have persevered. And now, the seeds that have been sown are beginning to bear fruit! One of the several changes that took place for them over the years was the changing of their name to “Lakota Hope Ministry.” With the new name came a move of their ministry office from the original 555 building to the five-acre property formerly known as Green Tipi Gardens (now called the Lakota Hope Center).

God has also made provision for Marsha to be able to re-join Bruce full-time in Whiteclay—something they’ve looked forward to for a long time. Another ministry, LightShine, is leasing their 555 building and has re-opened a thrift store and artist gallery causing the Light to shine even brighter in Whiteclay!

Another change was the direction of their work within the Lakota Nation, a people group which is consistently counted as one of the top three areas of poverty in America. When asked the question, “If Jesus was here, where would He be?” The answer was loud and clear.

God has pinpointed their ministry to serve the LEAST of the “least of these” as they narrowed their focus to loving the men and women living in the filth and squalor of the streets of Whiteclay. God has also given the “street people” a new name; they now call them “Rising Warriors!”

Bruce explained that the emphasis or the “focus” now is on the Risen Warriors and their families. He said, “We will begin later in May with our People Out Working (P.O.W.) Program—slowly beginning to put the street people of Whiteclay to work—repairing bicycles for kids on the Rez, producing a line of ‘re-purposed’ pallets into a retail line of unique items (home and garden decor, furniture and more); and, beginning the production of low-cost, green laundry soap for reservation families—a huge need here.”

I first met Bruce and Marsha when I traveled out to the reservation last spring with a friend. We were working on the far eastern side of the reservation and traveled to Whiteclay to meet up with a friend. That’s when we discovered Lakota Hope.

Part of the spring 2012 trip was to put our heads together in finding some common ground tactics in reaching the Lakota people for Christ in a little town on the eastern part of the reservation. As I have learned with tribal missions (especially in dealing with religions that are animistic in belief), you need to speak to them in language that the people understand. And one thing we discovered over the years is that we haven’t been speaking to the adults with the message of the Good News as much as we were to the children. And for years, the Sioux have been concerned about the children losing their heritage.”

Two years ago on the reservation, I stumbled upon the book THE LAKOTA WAY by Joseph M. Marshall III.

The book expresses the heart of the Lakota Sioux philosophy and imparts a path to help them find a fulfilling and meaningful life. Using stories, history, and folklore, the book centers on the twelve virtues that have sustained the Sioux since time immemorial: humility, perseverance, respect, honor, love, sacrifice, truth, compassion, bravery, fortitude, generosity, and wisdom. With each virtue, the author gives the Lakota word and translation of the word.

All these virtues are held sacred to the Lakota Sioux, and yet they all point to Christ—proof that they are made in the image of God. In using this method, and using their own language, I believe we can teach them how Creator God came to earth in the form of a man named Jesus—He became like us, so we could become more like Him. The Great Mystery made Himself known and came to set us free. This will open a door to explaining the Gospel and why we need a Savior.

We are using this method at Vacation Bible School this summer at one of the missions on the reservation with all groups coming out to help—including two Youth With A Mission groups (YWAM). And we are currently putting together the curriculum having each group focus on one of the virtues.

With the help of locals in the congregation, we will be able to pronounce each virtue properly in Lakota. Plus, we plan to use banners on the stage with each virtue written in Lakota. And so, in a sense, the children will be teaching the adults. And the adults will most likely listen as their children speak of their traditions and in their language. Plus, this will also pour culture into those doing the teaching - both the missionaries and the children.

I was surprised when I later met up and visited with Lakota Hope in Whiteclay and learned they had been using this approach for some time now and it has been very effective. It was confirmation by the Holy Spirit of an idea that had been placed in my heart for quite some time. It’s interesting how God works and connects people in unity for a common purpose!

Bruce and Marsha ask that you please partner with them in prayer as they build solid foundations based on the truths found in God’s Word through the power of the Holy Spirit. Their new website, www.lakotahope.org, gives information about their Night of Another Hope summer program. It also provides ways you can partner with them that will enable God’s Rising Warriors to break free from the death grip of hopelessness that has kept them in bondage for far too long!

For more information, call 308-862-4555 or email lakota hope1@lakotahope.org or visit the website http://www.lakotahope.org 

Christopher Pick is a singer/songwriter, missionary, and advocate for the Persecuted Church and Native Missionary Movement. His music has been heard globally and charted on many continents in both mainstream, adult contemporary, and Christian.

His latest project is “Tragedies

& Miracles”.