Birth of Buffalo Signals Christ’s Imminent Return For years church leaders have been frustrated by the seeming lack of response to the gospel by our Native American brothers and sisters. Time, effort and considerable resources were expended with little return. Now that has radically changed. We are seeing large numbers of Natives joining the Adventist Church and preparing for Jesus' soon coming. Monte Church, director of Native ministries for the North Pacific and Canadian Union conferences, tells me: • During the last 12 years the membership of Native people in the NPUC and Canada has phenomenally increased by more than 1,000 percent, from 320 to more than 4,000. • Fourteen years ago we had two full-time workers for Native people in the NPUC and Canada. Today there are 34 full-time and two part-time workers. • There are 36 Native churches (with a membership of at least 50 percent Native people) that meet every Sabbath. • In the last 30 months four full-time and two lay Native pastors from other denominations have become Adventists and are now working full-time for the Adventist Church. Two White Buffalo Monte also tells me that a phenomenon has occurred that has made a profound impact on these people. For centuries the Sioux and the Cheyenne passed down a prophecy that the Creator God would come back to heal the sick, bring global peace and recreate this earth. The event that would immediately precede this second coming was the birth of a white buffalo. Now not one but two white buffalo have been born—one in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota. In response, many Native Americans, he says, are predicting the soon coming of their Creator God! Eskimo Prophet Furthermore, Monte tells me that among the Eskimo people an ancient prophet named Maniilaq prophesied that God would return to Earth in much greater splendor than the northern lights. He taught that people around the world would see the event and that when He returned He would bring His people everlasting peace, life and health. Significantly, he also taught that the seventh-day Sabbath was to be set aside for worship. Many More Noteworthy Trends According to Monte, there are many other nature stories, legends and cultural teachings being taught among these people. And God is using them to prepare the honest-in-heart for the greatest event in history. Praise the Lord! Two texts that are very familiar to Adventists come to mind: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28, KJV) and “After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Revelation 7:9, KJV). We would all do well to join our Native brothers and sisters in recognizing the signs of His imminent return. (See article beginning on page 6.)
Birth of Buffalo Signals Christ’s Imminent Return
For years church leaders have been frustrated by the seeming lack of response to the gospel by our Native American brothers and sisters. Time, effort and considerable resources were expended with little return. Now that has radically changed. We are seeing large numbers of Natives joining the Adventist Church and preparing for Jesus' soon coming. Monte Church, director of Native ministries for the North Pacific and Canadian Union conferences, tells me:
• During the last 12 years the membership of Native people in the NPUC and Canada has phenomenally increased by more than 1,000 percent, from 320 to more than 4,000.
• Fourteen years ago we had two full-time workers for Native people in the NPUC and Canada. Today there are 34 full-time and two part-time workers.
• There are 36 Native churches (with a membership of at least 50 percent Native people) that meet every Sabbath.
• In the last 30 months four full-time and two lay Native pastors from other denominations have become Adventists and are now working full-time for the Adventist Church.
Two White Buffalo
Monte also tells me that a phenomenon has occurred that has made a profound impact on these people. For centuries the Sioux and the Cheyenne passed down a prophecy that the Creator God would come back to heal the sick, bring global peace and recreate this earth. The event that would immediately precede this second coming was the birth of a white buffalo. Now not one but two white buffalo have been born—one in Wisconsin and one in Minnesota. In response, many Native Americans, he says, are predicting the soon coming of their Creator God!
Eskimo Prophet
Furthermore, Monte tells me that among the Eskimo people an ancient prophet named Maniilaq prophesied that God would return to Earth in much greater splendor than the northern lights. He taught that people around the world would see the event and that when He returned He would bring His people everlasting peace, life and health. Significantly, he also taught that the seventh-day Sabbath was to be set aside for worship.
Many More Noteworthy Trends
According to Monte, there are many other nature stories, legends and cultural teachings being taught among these people. And God is using them to prepare the honest-in-heart for the greatest event in history. Praise the Lord!
Two texts that are very familiar to Adventists come to mind: "And when these things begin to come to pass, then look up, and lift up your heads; for your redemption draweth nigh” (Luke 21:28, KJV) and “After this I beheld, and lo, a great multitude, which no man could number, of all nations, and kindreds, and people, and tongues, stood before the throne, and before the Lamb, clothed with white robes, and palms in their hands” (Revelation 7:9, KJV).
We would all do well to join our Native brothers and sisters in recognizing the signs of His imminent return. (See article beginning on page 6.)
