Native Americans are, without a doubt, an extremely marginalized group in our country. As such ethnic group, they are not easy to reach and evangelize. Pastor Valtierra felt that a move to a church in Milwaukee was his call, and he moved in order to reach and spread the word among this population. Pastor himself is part of a Native American tribe from Minnesota. He was participating in church life as a child, but then started rebelling in high school, like many kids do. After struggles with illegal substances in young adulthood, pastor found the word of God and a path to salvation.
Key Takeaways:
- After attending a Church Multiplication Network Launch training event, Jacob and his wife, Maria , last September planted The Gathering Place in Greenfield, Wisconsin.
- As part of the Ojibwe tribe, his family often visited the Red Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. A son of Assemblies of God church planters, Valtierra was active in church as a kid.
- Valtierra was addicted to drugs and alcohol. After several incarcerations and returning to his old ways, he recommitted his life to Christ in 2006 and has been sober since.
“Initially he accepted a position as transition coordinator at Indian Community School in Franklin, Wisconsin, as a way to connect with Native Americans. Before the launch, Valtierra became close to a family in the Potawatomi tribe. The grandmother asked him to come over one day to share his testimony with her family.”
Read more: https://news.ag.org/News/Heeding-the-Milwaukee-Call