Today the Smiths return to their extended study on biblical prophecy and Christ's words to the seven churches in Asia Minor as found in Revelation 2 and 3. Today they begin a look at the sixth church, the church in Philadelphia. Today's episode provides the all important context to this church as the Smiths provide some very important background information on not only the church, but the community as well. This is one of only two churches of the seven who did not receive any condemnation from Christ, but only commendation. The Smiths had time to only delve into the initial text of Revelation 3:7-13 which spoke of Christ as Holy and True. What a way to start this new look into this new church. We trust you will stay with Craig and LaDonna as the continue to unpackage these all important words from the Lord Himself to these seven churches, right here on Indigenous Faith!

In the first two parts of this series, Craig opened wide his heart in a message he titled Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith, at the Billy Graham sponsored First Peoples Christian Leaders Conference in Rapid City, SD. If you haven’t heard the first two parts of this message, we’d strongly encourage you to do so before listening to this third and final part. That way, the whole of the message will come through loud and clear. In the first two episodes, Craig discussed the redemptive role every Indigenous people group has been given by God to be His mouthpieces at strategic times in human history. History itself affirms the reality that God had done just that through many Indigenous people groups already. Could it be that soon, the same thing will happen here in North America as well? That’s been the prayer of Craig and LaDonna Smith in their over forty years they've been serving the Lord among their people. It’s crucially important to not just win Indigenous people to Christ, but to disciple them to spiritual maturity wherever and whenever our people respond by faith to Christ. And there are some unique challenges to doing so because not a lot of time and attention has been given to address the strong animism and spiritism of our old ways that still permeate our cultures today. In today’s wrap up, Craig shares the amazing story of a former Navajo medicine man, Pete Greyeyes and the salvation, healing, and deliverance he and his wife, Rena, found when they gave their lives to Christ. Pete's story illustrates the unique challenges the Smiths Indigenous Faith materials addresses to help Indigenous believers in Christ know how to address these powerful issues in their lives and cultures. In fact, much of the Indigenous Faith materials the Smiths have developed has come from both the Scriptures, and sitting at the feet of mentors like Pete Greyeyes and other first generation believers in Christ who came out of dark animism and who spoke with great authority and experience embedded in their past spiritistic lives and vocations. These are important days, and we must not delay in teaching and equipping Indigenous believers in knowing how to follow Christ without compromise in all these issues. It's a mantle that Craig and LaDonna Smith have committed to carry as long as the Lord gives them breath!

In today's episode, Craig presents part two of the foundational message he presented at the Billy Graham Evangelistic Association sponsored First Peoples Christian Leader’s Conference in Rapid City, SD. While Scripture affirms Indigenous people are to play a redemptive role in proclaiming the gospel to the specific locations God has placed them in, sometimes history wants to argue just the opposite. How can North American Indigenous people play any kind of redemptive role in these last days when it’s been our people who have been historically the resistant ones to the gospel message itself? It’s tough questions like these that Craig desires to respond to from the pages of God’s Word. In this second installment of his recorded message titled, Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith, Craig starts delving into how the Body of Christ needs to respond today to increase, and not decrease, its efforts in reaching and discipling Indigenous people here in North America with greater intentionality and efforts that are birthed and bathed in prayer and total dependance on the power of the Holy Spirit. Come to today's message with an open heart and mind to the principles found in God's Word, and in the application of those truths to today's North American Indigenous experience!

The Smiths take a break from their series on eschatology to present a three part series from a message he preached at a Billy Graham sponsored event in Rapid City, SD. Today, Craig and LaDonna take us into that conference in a three part series that presents Craig's message on discipling Native Americans he titled, Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith. In session one, Craig shares the Smiths personal story that has brought them through great trials and suffering in order to share this message at this unique event. Craig reminds the audience of Will Graham's grandfather, Dr. Billy Graham's visionary statement made back in 1975 about Native America being a sleeping giant for Christ, and if and when that giant awakens, could be the leaders of sharing the gospel in North America and beyond should God grant a last days revival. Dr. Graham's statement, Craig shared, is rooted deeply in the Scriptures. Specifically in Acts 17:26-27. Along with that biblical foundation, Craig shares a personal story on his visit to the Otavala Indians of Ecuador some years back. This tribe, which had been historically resistant to the gospel, all of a sudden experienced what only can be described as a move of God's Spirit that led thousands of Otavala Indians to come to Christ and hundreds of churches established among them. When one sees firsthand such a miraculous move of God among another tribal people, it gives great hope to see the Lord do the same among North America's Indigenous people. But its not just about reaching tribal people for Christ, they must become committed followers of Christ and the only way to make that happen is good thorough discipleship equipping of each believer. This is where Craig begins to address the missing link in the discipleship materials available to the church today. None of which address the key issues of dealing with past animism among tribal people. And that's why Craig and LaDonna have developed their Indigenous Faith materials to help fill that gap. The next two sessions are crucial to understanding how a biblically healthy life is possible for former animists and spiritists who are sold out to Christ. Session One whets your whistle while episodes 2 & 3 brings the firehose! Stay tuned, dear friend, and don't miss a single episode of this important foundational teaching. You'll be glad you experienced all three episodes of Establishing a Biblically Healthy Indigenous Faith!

In today's episode, Pastor Craig Smith continues a message he preached to his home congregation called Syncretism, The Larger Church's Largest Issue. In this two part series, Craig presents some research studies of Dr. George Barna, one of Evangelicalism's leading research expert. He shares a conviction that syncretism is the church's biggest issue today and presented supportive documentation to prove it. As you know, the Indigenous Faith resources the Smiths have developed are all about syncretism in the Naive church. This message proves that it's not just in Native ministry, but in the church at large. Please take the time to listen to both parts in this timely series designed to challenge believers of all races to walk in biblical obedience to Christ.

In today's episode, we hear from Pastor Craig Smith in a message he preached to his home congregation called Syncretism, The Larger Church's Largest Issue. In this two part series, Craig presents some research studies of Dr. George Barna, one of Evangelicalism's leading research expert. He shares a conviction that syncretism is the church's biggest issue today and presented supportive documentation to prove it. As you know, the Indigenous Faith resources the Smiths have developed are all about syncretism in the Naive church. This message proves that it's not just in Native ministry, but in the church at large. Please take the time to listen to both parts in this timely series designed to challenge believers of all races to walk in biblical obedience to Christ.

Today, Pastor Craig concludes his sermon he's titled Christ our Coming King by reviewing some of the items presented in the first part of this message he preached at his home church in Cass Lake, Minnesota in late May 2026. From there, he answers the question on many believers minds who do not fully understand biblical prophecy on the issue of the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by both the prophet Daniel and by Matthew in his prophetic presentation on end time issues in Matthew 24. How does the Antichrist commit this abomination, which involves himself claiming to be God in a new temple in Jerusalem, especially when that territory is in the hands today of the Arab Muslims and the site of their third most holy site worldwide called the Dome of the Rock? Pastor Smith offers one possibility, based upon current events, which may or may not be how this is accomplished. One thing is certain, though. It will happen because God's Word says it will! That's why it's important to filter today's current events with the Bible in hand and in our hearts if we are to know absolute, universal truth. Something the Smiths contend for each and every week right here on Indigenous Faith! They are so glad to have you along in this prophetic journey into God's Word!

After the Smiths finished their series on the church in Sardis, they break from their study in Revelation on Christ's words to the seven churches in Asia Minor to present a message Craig preached in late May, 2026 at their home church on the Leech Lake Reservation in northern Minnesota. This message, Christ our Coming King is in two parts and continues their teaching on end time prophecy. Drawing from Daniel and other Old Testament prophetic passages, Craig reminds his church family that we can believe the prophetic Scriptures, even if it comes out of the Old Testament because all it foretold of Christ's first coming has been verified and confirmed by history. And if it's confirmed truth for the first coming, we can be assured that it's confirmed truth for the second coming! The message also speaks about one of the many prophecies pieces of the end times, which is often misunderstood or not understood by many of God's people today. And that has to do with the Antichrist and issue of the Abomination of Desolation spoken of by Daniel in the Old Testament and Matthew in the New Testament. Clarifying truth is what Craig and LaDonna seek to provide you, as faithful listeners to the Indigenous Faith broadcast. With that in mind, they trust today and next week's preaching message will be a blessing, encouragement, and an enlightening event!