Oglala Re*Creation & Worship Center
The Re*Creation & Worship Center is a small mission church with the Assemblies of God Home Missions in Oglala on Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, South Dakota. Located just north of HWY 18 and clearly visible from anywhere around, the "Rec" (as it is mostly called) is within walking distance of the two major housing complexes in Oglala, the Housing and Trailer Court. We are a multi-purpose facility, open most days of the week, for after-school kids' programs, youth nite, Bible studies, worship services, community events, etc. It is our goal not only for our ministry but for our daily life to bring the Love of Jesus Christ and the Good News of His Salvation to the community around us. We believe that God has called us among the Lakota people to be "A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS."
A word from the pastor
I have been on the Rez now for more than twenty years, and let me tell you it has been one wild ride! I have learned many, many things in my time in Oglala; things about myself, about ministry, and about the Lakota people. I love this place and I love these people; if I had to go back in time and get a second chance to make that fateful decision to leave my home down south, I wouldn't hesitate to do it again.
Has it been tough, of course. Has it been impossible at times, absolutely. Have I felt like giving up and calling it quits, at least a thousand times. But what keeps me here and what gives me the strength to face a new day, a new challenge once again, can be summed up in one word: Love. You see, we love a God who first loved us, and since He has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we have the responsibility and the privilege to share that Love wherever we go - and my "wherever" just happens to be here in Oglala!
You may notice that on this entire website there are no statistics when it comes to our ministry among the Lakota people. There are two good reasons for that. First of all, we do not like to brag about what the enemy has done and is presently accomplishing. Yes, we are only too acutely aware and realistic about the status of Pine Ridge Reservation; it is desperate! The statistics about teen-suicide alone are frightful and unimaginable, yet we see them lived out on a daily basis. The truth is, if you were to dwell on them for too long, they would most certainly sap you of all hope and joy and faith. But here at the Re*Creation Center, we like to brag about what Jesus is doing through His wonderful and mighty Holy Spirit - and believe me, He is doing some awesome things! So the second reason we leave out statistics is very simply that the Lakota people are not statistics to us at all. As we share in God's wonderful ministry here on the rez, the Lakota have become our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our community. Through the eyes of our God and Creator of all of us, we do not see them as projects that need fixing, or problems that need our solving. We see them as God sees them, as His beautiful creation that is starving for His peace, hope, and love.
So here we are, exactly for that very reason - to show the Lakota what we have found, that God the Creator in His great mercy and love has provided for all mankind a way to have peace with God. It is not through religion, it is not through ceremonies, and it is not through sacrifice; it is only through God's Son Jesus. Jesus paid the price. He hung pierced on that tree for our wrongs, He gave the ultimate flesh offering to take away our sins. Not only that, but He has purified us so that we can enter into the most holy dwelling place of our Creator and boldly ask for whatever we have need of. He also provided us with an eternal home, where pain and death are no more and where we will spend eternity in the beauty of God. This is His wonderful plan of salvation, the ONLY way, and it comes true in our lives when we have faith in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Is there hope for us? For the Lakota people? Absolutely! As long as Jesus sits on the throne and there is breath in our chests, there is always Hope. God loves the Lakota people and He desperately wants to bring healing, reconciliation and restoration into their lives. By the way, that is why we call our building the "Re*Creation Center": to show in that play of words that we offer a place to come and chill out, but even more that it is a place to find new life in Jesus Christ!
Eric Sutton, Pastor
Has it been tough, of course. Has it been impossible at times, absolutely. Have I felt like giving up and calling it quits, at least a thousand times. But what keeps me here and what gives me the strength to face a new day, a new challenge once again, can be summed up in one word: Love. You see, we love a God who first loved us, and since He has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, we have the responsibility and the privilege to share that Love wherever we go - and my "wherever" just happens to be here in Oglala!
You may notice that on this entire website there are no statistics when it comes to our ministry among the Lakota people. There are two good reasons for that. First of all, we do not like to brag about what the enemy has done and is presently accomplishing. Yes, we are only too acutely aware and realistic about the status of Pine Ridge Reservation; it is desperate! The statistics about teen-suicide alone are frightful and unimaginable, yet we see them lived out on a daily basis. The truth is, if you were to dwell on them for too long, they would most certainly sap you of all hope and joy and faith. But here at the Re*Creation Center, we like to brag about what Jesus is doing through His wonderful and mighty Holy Spirit - and believe me, He is doing some awesome things! So the second reason we leave out statistics is very simply that the Lakota people are not statistics to us at all. As we share in God's wonderful ministry here on the rez, the Lakota have become our family, our friends, our neighbors, and our community. Through the eyes of our God and Creator of all of us, we do not see them as projects that need fixing, or problems that need our solving. We see them as God sees them, as His beautiful creation that is starving for His peace, hope, and love.
So here we are, exactly for that very reason - to show the Lakota what we have found, that God the Creator in His great mercy and love has provided for all mankind a way to have peace with God. It is not through religion, it is not through ceremonies, and it is not through sacrifice; it is only through God's Son Jesus. Jesus paid the price. He hung pierced on that tree for our wrongs, He gave the ultimate flesh offering to take away our sins. Not only that, but He has purified us so that we can enter into the most holy dwelling place of our Creator and boldly ask for whatever we have need of. He also provided us with an eternal home, where pain and death are no more and where we will spend eternity in the beauty of God. This is His wonderful plan of salvation, the ONLY way, and it comes true in our lives when we have faith in Jesus, who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life (John 14:6).
Is there hope for us? For the Lakota people? Absolutely! As long as Jesus sits on the throne and there is breath in our chests, there is always Hope. God loves the Lakota people and He desperately wants to bring healing, reconciliation and restoration into their lives. By the way, that is why we call our building the "Re*Creation Center": to show in that play of words that we offer a place to come and chill out, but even more that it is a place to find new life in Jesus Christ!
Eric Sutton, Pastor
