Oasis Youth Group

These past few months were full of interest. Not only was it the oddest of summers we had, even the weather was queer. In June I took four of the youth girls to FCA camps in Spearfish, SD. This time at the camps brought change into these young girls’ lives and gave them encouragement to take a new step in their walk with Christ.

I personally had the pleasure of attending a Methodist youth camp to share with teens from across the state. Our hope is that the youth of South Dakota whether white or native will be united as brothers and sisters in Christ.

This summer was also marked with several setbacks, the worst being the suicide of young Elijah Martin. The hardest part of living in Oglala is watching the youth ruin their lives because of pride. Weekly Eric and I have young teens that come to us desiring a changed life. They see that Christ will offer them the life they desire, but are scared to make that change. In Oasis we have been studying Romans 7:21 “When I want to do good, evil is there with me.” Here is Paul stating that evil is always there, fighting for control of our lives. If Paul had this struggle how great then is this struggle for youth living today, especially the youth of native America. Rarely, if ever, does anyone desire to be a man of evil, but living in this world makes righteous living almost impossible. Please remember this when you remember us in your prayers.

Leon Schwartz - Oasis Youth Pastor