Seventh-day Adventists have understood the personal responsibility in our Lord’s promise of His soon return, to preach the everlasting gospel to every nation, tribe, language, and people (Matthew 24:14 and Revelation 14:6). Beginning with J. N. Andrews, our church has literally covered the globe with missionaries. In addition, we have developed ministries to many diverse groups here at home.

While I was pastor for a congregation in the Greater New York Conference, there was a great exodus from Haiti. Our church immediately activated a ministry for the Haitian refugees as a natural response. I remember visiting prisons where many Haitian people were being detained. Many churches have been just as responsive to other immigrant groups. But what about a people who have lived in this country for, well, who knows how long? Yes, I am talking about the First Nations Peoples — the Native Americans.

You may believe, as I once did, that since the Indian people have always been among us, they have had the same religious opportunities as anyone else in this country. And there is a lot of truth to that belief. But there is a post history attached to the plight of Native Americans, after the arrival of the Europeans, that I believe was designed by the enemy to keep Indian people out of God’s kingdom.

My grandfather was born in Indian Territory (present day Oklahoma) to Cherokee Indian parents in 1865. He was orphaned at about five years of age and placed in a special orphanage designed to care for Indian children — a place specifically designed to strip Indian children of any Indian culture they may have retained. They were ill-fed, ill-clothed, beaten often, and not allowed to speak their native tongue or wear their hair in a traditional way.

By the time I was old enough to understand, my grandfather had long ceased talking about the things that had happened to him as a child. Only later did I learn from my mother some of the things he experienced. After he died I discovered he could speak the Cherokee language, but it was too late for him to pass it on to me. Grandfather had learned that it was far better not to be Indian in a white man’s world.

During my teen years, there was an awakening among native people desiring to be in touch with their native culture. Seeking to regain their native roots, many withdrew from the Christian church they had embraced during the times when it was advantageous not to be Indian. Native American studies became popular — even required, in many universities and colleges. These classes typically associated Indian religion with astrology and spiritualism, resulting in a new-age redefinition of the culture.

Unfortunately, our church missed an opportunity to carry out our Lord’s commission with Native Americans during this transition time. The Mormon Church seized the opportunity, and you will find a Mormon church at almost every Indian reservation throughout the country.

Today, there is renewed interest in returning to native roots. My own chief was once a Methodist evangelist. Now, he is what is known as a traditionalist — one who has rejected the religion brought by the Europeans and is seeking the traditional beliefs of his ancestors. Many Indian parents are seeking to raise their children in the old traditions, which I believe creates a new opportunity for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

We have an edge. If you study diligently, you will discover that we have some very common beliefs with the Native American community. Very old, recorded eye witness accounts of the ways and life of Native Americans have revealed that the number seven was a sacred number to many tribes.

There is evidence that as early as 1750 to 1775, many Native Americans made a distinction between clean and unclean foods. Some written accounts indicate that many tribes carried and cared for arks, in similar fashion to Israel and the Ark of the Covenant. There are many other similarities such as cities of refuge that operated like the cities of refuge of Bible times.

Most Native Americans are not aware of these similarities. That’s where you and I come into the picture. It seems to me that our Creator has worked with Native Americans for thousands of years (see Romans 1:19, 20). He has now given us a unique opportunity, as Seventh-day Adventists, to take the Everlasting Gospel to America’s First Nations Peoples. Will you join Him?

Fred Rogers is the coordinator of the Southern Union Native American Initiative. He writes from Decatur, Georgia.