"I'm going to Heaven!"

Greetings to you in the name of our Lord and Savior, Jesus!

Uvlaalautaq! Hello, how are you? (Inupiaq Eskimo)

My name is Rick McCafferty. I am from the Kickictagruk Inupiaq culture from the “Northwest Eskimos” of Alaska. I’m writing to you today to express my thanks to our God, and to you, for allowing me to serve among my precious Native people, through Lutheran Indian Ministries.

My bags are always packed and ready for the next adventure that God is calling me to. My itinerary belongs to the Lord, and I am ready to serve Him when he calls.

You see, while I am in the final months of my seminary coursework and will be ordained in the Lutheran Church next year, I am, first and foremost, a trauma and grief counselor. From my own home village of Kotzebue, Alaska, to Haskell LIGHT Student Center in Lawrence, Kansas, God calls me to share the healing love of His Son, Jesus, with the least of these.

My people are hurting. Addictions, abuse, abandonment, and isolation still percolate among Native people, whether on the reservation, in isolated villages, or in urban communities. While our tribes and cultures are different, the one thing we have in common is the history and impact of generational trauma.

But praise be to God that through your prayers and your faithful support of missionaries, like me, we can bring the Light of Jesus to this hurting and broken world!

My eyes well with tears as I recall the baptism of 69 Native Alaskan youth and teens at Kaattivik Bible Camp this past June. Standing in the chilly waters of Knapp Creek, named after my grandfather, one by one, these young people became children of our Heavenly Father, marked by the cross of Christ forever!

Even though you were miles away, through your gifts to Lutheran Indian Ministries, you were there with us, welcoming these children into the Lord’s family!

Packing my bags once again, I was called to Phoenix, Arizona, home to Gichi Manidoo Akewe (Ojibwe: “Putting God First”) Ministry, under the capable leadership of missionary Kevin Maulson (a member of the Lac du Flambeau Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa).

It is amazing to see the difference the Holy Spirit is making in the lives of homeless Native men and women through Kevin! But we shouldn’t be surprised – this is what God does when we follow His will!

I had the privilege, with Kevin, to lead a workshop in our Sacred Ground program, a program of hope and healing, specifically for Native American people, that dispels the darkness of trauma and abuse, to impact lives with the goodness of light in Christ, through the sharing of personal stories.

At the end of the week-long program, again, I had the joy to stand, in much warmer waters, and baptize many of the Native men and women who completed the program.

I’ll never forget the words of one of our Native American sisters as she exploded from the water, arms raised victoriously as she shouted, “Hello! I’m going to heaven!!”

And again, we could feel your presence through the joy and fellowship, on the shores of a desert oasis that Saturday afternoon. Because of your faithfulness and support of Lutheran Indian Ministries, the Holy Spirit grabbed hold of these men and women to join us as workers for the Kingdom!

I am so thankful to our God for bringing me out of my own hopelessness, many years ago, and into the healing grace of Jesus Christ, so I can, through the Holy Spirit, be a blessing to my Native people. I am thankful for the fellowship of my missionary colleagues and the bond we share together, through Lutheran Indian Ministries.

And, I am thankful for you, for your faithful and steadfast support which allows us to stay on the front lines of ministry, to hear many more Native youth, men, and women say, “I am going to heaven!”

And so, as I have the opportunity, I will ask boldly, would you please prayerfully consider a generous gift, today, to continue this most important ministry among our Native people?

As we gather with family and friends this Thanksgiving, please know that the missionaries of Lutheran Indian Ministries keep you in our prayers, as we know that you keep us in yours. Together, we give thanks to God for His Son, Jesus, who leads us all on a healing journey to our heavenly home.

Your gift today will be put to work immediately as we continue to bring healing and hope, to these precious people, through the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Thank you!

God bless you!

Vicar Rick McCafferty

P.S. I understand a faithful and generous donor has agreed to match your gift up to $20,000!

Your gift today will be doubled to make twice the impact for eternity. Hallelujah!

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