►Our host was Chief Caring Hands of the Natick Praying Indians (Center) Thursday & Friday, August 7th & 8th, 2008

Special participants were Chief Anne Richardson of the Rappahanock Tribe of Virginia a direct descendant of Chief Powhatan (the father of Pocahontas and leader over many of the Eastern Virginia trbes in 1607 when Jamestown became the first successful English attempt to colonize); Rabbi Eric Carlson of Congregation Zion's Sake, Newport News, Virginia; Reverend David Sladden from England; Ron Burhoff from Cincinatti, Ohio; Reverend Wade Trump from Williamsburg, Virginia and Jeff Marks, New England Concert of Prayer.

History of the Natick Praying Indians

Reverend John Eliot gathered various tribes from eastern Massachusetts during the early 1600's to teach and convert them to Christianity. These indians were known as the Natick Praying Indians. Elliot developed the Natick dictionary and developed the first Native American written language. He was also credited with creating the Natick Bible, the first Bible printed for Indians. Also, the first Native American minister came through Eliot's efforts, Daniel Takawambpait.

The Natick Praying Indians remained loyal friends to the English and possible saved the Massachusetts Bay Colony during King Phillip's War of 1675-76. King Phillip was a native leader who rebelled against the English and caused harsh reactions from the English towards all Indians in Massachusetts.

The greatest of these harsh treaments was placing the Natick Indians along with other Indians on Deer Island, an island in Boston Harbor. They were deported to this island in the winter of 1675. Due to no supplies or assistance from the English, most died within months due to starvation and exposure to the extreme cold weather of that region.

These unrighteous acts done toward these Christian Indians will be addressed and dealt with during our spiritual journey with Chief Caring Hands and members of her tribe that are able to travel with us.

We will conclude our spiritual journey with a meal and fellowship at the John Carver Inn in Plymouth, Massachusetts. This is an effort to leave the region on a very positive note, a meal with Native and English descendants and a faith to believe our efforts have extended God's grace to the state of Massachusetts.

This is not a conference. It is a walk back in time to get right what our forefathers did wrong. It's our hope to start a New Beginning for Massachusetts at the Lord's Table and with His love shared with our new relationship with the Natick Praying Indians and Chief Caring Hands.

Actions Taken

Thursday, August 7th at 7:00 P.M. Protocol, Gifting and Worship.

Chief Caring Hands and her husband welcomed the group to Natick. Present were Chief Anne Richardson from the Rappahanock Tribe in Virginia representing the Native American leadership from Virginia. Rabbi Eric Carlson from Congregation Zion's Sake, Newport News, Virginia represented the Messianic Jewish leadership from Virginia. Pastors Wade and Lisa Trump from Jamestown Christian Fellowship, Williamsburg, Virginia represented the English descendants from Virginia. Rev. David Sladden from England represented the English clergy that came to establish the Christian faith in America in the 1600's at both the Jamestown and Plymouth settlements.

Friday, August 8th

Natick Campgrounds - Welcome from the Natick Praying Indians on the land where each year they have their pow wow. Prayers and a traditional dance were shared along with Chief Anne Richardson reading bible.

Natick Church - Met at the location of the first church established for the Natick Indians where Reverend John Eliot and others taught the Natick's the Word of God.

Natick Waterfalls - The location where the 500 indians were loaded on three ships and sent to Deer Island. Declaration prayers were given and a word by Rabbi Eric Carlson.

Deer Island, Boston Harbor - Communion and declaration of blessing for the Natick Indians and America.

Plymouth - Fellowship and Celebration Meal at the John Carver Inn. 

Believing for a redue of the harvest celebration meal that the original Pilgrims celebrated with their new found indian neighbors, we enjoyed fellowship together at the John Carver Inn dinning facility. The John Carver Inn was built on the location of the original Pilgrim settlement. 
 

►August 8th, 2008 @ 8:30 P.M. Chief Caring Hands (far left in photo) along with Chief Anne Richardson (background) exchange gifts with local tribal leaders. A special thank you to the Natick Praying Indians for hosting this historical gathering in Natick, Massachusetts. 

It is through the love of Jesus Christ that those involved in Arise America go from city to city to accomplish great works for the Lord. It is through Jesus Christ and Him alone that we place our faith to give Him the honor and glory for making these gatherings possible.

John 14:6 "Jesus said, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."

As we gather at each of these important "Faith Gates" as we have termed them, our hearts are to cover unrighteous acts of the past with righteous acts (communion & faith in Jesus) in the present. As the word of God instructs, the land can be healed through certain steps of humility before Him.

2 Chronicles 7:14 "If my people who are called by My name humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

Notice the last four words of this scripture, "will heal their land." We believe that through our actions at Deer Island where hundreds of the Natick Praying Indians were left to die in 1675 & 1676, God is now able to release forgiveness, hear our prayers and heal the land. Where the blood of these Christian Indians once cried out from the ground through unrighteous acts of the English, now the land of Massachusetts and beyond can turn to God and experience the next Great Awakening.