Haskell LIGHT House is open!
The doors are open, the classes have started, and the Holy Spirit is working.
NEW BUILDING, NEW GROWTH
“Our last ten years of service at the LIGHT House have been amazing,” states Patricia Main (Cree), LIM staff at Haskell. “We have seen God’s faithfulness over and over again. We have planted seeds in the hearts of young, Native students and watched the Holy Spirit make them grow.”
But it isn’t just the students who have been impacted. Because of the campus ministry work, whole families are now attending service together at the LIGHT House. Community members, many of whom work at the University of Kansas, which is less than two miles from the new building, are getting involved with Haskell students and programs. And, God’s Kingdom is growing.
“Our main focus will always be the Haskell Indian Nations University (HINU) students, but we’ve also been working to become a place of hope for the community as well,” Patricia explains. “We are making connections with other on-campus ministries, as well as reaching out to local churches, groups, and individuals. Growing our LIGHT House family will grow God’s family.”
Between HINU events, like this weekend’s Welcome Back Powwow and cheering on the Fighting Indians on the field, the LIGHT House has a packed calendar of events that cater to students and community members of every age and in every phase of life.
“We have Sister 2 Sister for the women, Real Warriors for the men, Champions in Training for leaders and those who want to become leaders, and various other Bible Study groups that people have started on their own,” Patricia lists. “I really can’t wait to see what this year, and the next ten years, have in store for this ministry!”
TEACHING LESSONS
Like with most things in life, the new building project did not always go as planned. There were delays and missed deadlines. There were extra expenses and unfortunate surprises. But, “we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him,” (Romans 8:28).
“We are always talking to the Haskell students about overcoming obstacles,” explains Rev. Will Main (Dakota Sioux), LIM ordained pastor and LIGHT House staff. “The students we work with have had so many problems in the past, most of which they didn’t ask for but were born into, and we teach them that we are all Warriors for Christ. We want them to press into what God has called them to do, to push forward despite what is going wrong, and to rely on God as our strength. ‘I can do all things through Him who gives me strength,’ (Phil 4:13). So, when we would run into each hurdle in the building construction, it was a great opportunity to practice what we preach!”
And despite those obstacles, the LIGHT House, and its staff, continued to grow and thrive. They spent the better part of ten years working out of the old, cramped house, and in that time they created and grew new programs, built relationships, and assisted countless students, celebrating with them in their accomplishments.
ALL ABOUT LOVE
Robin Santos (Tohono O'odham), Haskell student and LIGHT House volunteer, once shared, "These stories, these are the victory stories, but the process is really hard, and we aren’t quick to share our failures. What I have to always remember is that Haskell LIGHT is all about love, because Jesus is all about love.”
And a new building will not change that.
Haskell LIGHT will always be about the love and sacrifice of Jesus Christ and the importance of sharing the truth with Haskell Indian Nation University students.
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If you are in the Lawrence, Kansas area, the LIGHT House will be officially dedicated on Saturday, October 29, 2016, at 12:00pm. We’d love to see you there!