Projects/Needs

The needs of the Ojibway young people on the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota are great!

Their cry for help was witnessed around the world on March 21, 2005, when a fellow student went on a shooting rampage in the Red Lake High School. The effects of the shooting, drug and alcohol abuse, crime and gang violence has caused many young people to be older than their years with very little hope for their future. The suicide rate among Native American children is the highest of any ethnic group in the world. Gang graffiti has blanketed the reservation showing a desperate cry to belong and be a part of something. The vision of the Eagles Nest and the Flying Eagle Ranch is to address many of these problems with the Hope and Love of the Gospel of Christ and teach them positive character traits and life skills to enable them to become productive members of their community.

The Eagles Nest opened in May 2001 and is located in Redby, Minnesota on the Red Lake Reservation. The Eagles Nest is totally supported by private donations and is under the umbrella of the Assemblies of God. The purpose is to encourage young people on the reservation to discover their God-given potential in all areas of their lives, physically, emotionally, socially and spiritually. This is accomplished by providing a safe environment with a variety of activities such as homework help, sports, games, cooking, cleaning, gardening, carpentry, crafts and Bible lessons. There are also year -round activities at the Flying Eagle Ranch which include camping, swimming, interaction with horses, winter sports, harvesting "sugar bush" (which include tapping the trees to finishing the maple syrup.) The Flying Eagle Ranch is located just off the Red Lake Reservation and is used as a motivational tool. Young people who show respect to others, and abide by basic rules get the privilege to go to the "Ranch".

Beyond these activities, the Eagles Nest and the Flying Eagle Ranch provide a family atmosphere and a stable, peaceful environment. This is not only essential to develop life skills and social skills, but it creates opportunities to council and address such issues as trust, confidence, and identity. Once these personal issues surface, we are more clearly able to assist these individuals in further development of their academic, communal, environmental, and cultural awareness.

As with any ministry project, funds are needed to facilitate the vision to touch the lives of the young people.

The Eagles Nest Needs:

Play ground equipment and a basketball court...............................$4,500

1. Youth Education Center.................................$30,000

2. Cabins.............................................................$15,000

3. Well....................................................................$6,500

4. Septic................................................................$6,000

5. Wind/Solar/Generator...................................$45,000

6. Gazebo...........................................................$12,000

7. Swimming Pond...............................................$3,500

8. Retreat Center.................................................$85,000

In addition to the above, funding is need to pay camp counselors and staff. The goal is to have three months of camp over the year. Staffing and operational expenses would be about $25,000.

We would be happy to send you a dvd which shows the work we are doing with the young people. Thank you for considering these projects.