The Christ Action Team helps to build new churches and facilities. Youth groups across the country have taken weeks during the summer to devote to helping others build for Christ. The pictures here are from the 2008 service events.

In 2008, we had several youth groups participating in Mission Outreach at Oaks Indian Mission: Trinity Lutheran Burr Ridge, IL; Redeemer Lutheran Austin, TX; Olivet Lutheran Sylvania, OH; Steely Cherokee Baptist; and Our Savoir Lutheran Mesquite, TX. Quite a bit of work and many blessings were accomplished by these wonderful, dedicated, hardworking young people.

Each group accomplished a great deal during their respective stays. Over 100 people worked on projects this year. Over 270 children attended the three Vacation Bible Schools that were developed and run by the youth groups from Trinity (Arts and Crafts), Redeemer (soccer), and Olivet (regular VBS). Here is a small list of the physical accomplishments:

  
• The first project was to install the wooden rafters on half of the Student center building. Trinity Lutheran from Burr Ridge accomplished this plus tiled two rooms and the stairway in the Rock House.
  
    
• The Trinity Lutheran Youth group from Bur Ridge, IL and Redeemer Lutheran from Austin TX remodeled the bathroom in the guest house. They installed a new toilet, sink and shower.
• Redeemer Lutheran Youth also finished installing the wooden rafters on the Student center building.
• Olivet Lutheran Group, Sylvania, OH prepared floors and installed tile in two rooms of the Rock House.
• Steely Cherokee Baptist Church completed adding the remaining metal for the building end (pony wall).
• Our Savior Lutheran group from Mesquite, TX installed ridge and edge metal. They also placed bottom and top metal panel gaskets.

During their stay at Oaks, activities which may have been more entertaining and less strenuous were: attending church services, visiting the Cherokee Heritage Center Museum and Trail of Tears Memorial, Experiencing the two Indian villeges built to replicate the Cherokee's East Coast homes before their relocation to Oklahoma and an 1840's Indian settlement in the then called Indian Territory. The groups attended mandatory safety classes, fellowshipped with local church youth groups, listened to Jim Squirrell, a Cherokee Christian storyteller, and dined out at a Cherokee Hog Fry. The final activity for the week included revealing secret prayer partners with each person sharing aloud the ways the Lord had blessed them as well as recounting the incidents that had touched their hearts during their stay at Oaks.

The schedule of a typical week's activities for the groups at the Indian Mission was:

• Saturday: arrive and settle in.
• Sunday: attend church in the morning, pick up lunch, travel to Cherokee Heritage Center which includes the museum, Trail of Tears village before arriving in Indian Territory and a village. Sunday night, volunteers attend a safety class and Spiritual gift test (self-grade) and selection of secret prayer partners.
• Monday: is a full workday – construction and preparing VBS materials. Monday night is canvassing, giving out marked NT and announcing VBS time to the community.
• Tuesday: work on project in morning and conducting VBS 1 pm to 4 pm. Tuesday night is a trip to have Christian fellowship with local church, marking Bibles and sharing in song. Marked NT Bibles are left with Church for their use.
• Wednesday: work on construction project and VBS. Wednesday night sharing with Cherokee Christian storyteller, Jim Squirrel. He also had a question/answer session.
• Thursday: work on construction project and VBS. Thursday night Cherokee Hog Fry finishing with revealing secret prayer partner and sharing ways God had blessed each one that week.
• Friday: depart and last minute projects.

Oaks Indian Center began in 1801 when the Moravian church first sent missionaries to the Cherokee Nation at Springplace, Georgia.

In 1926, a home for Native American children was established. In 1938, Oaks school became a public school. This school is now considered one of the finest rural educational facilities in eastern Oklahoma.

Oaks provides a residential care program for 48 Native America children ranging in age from 3 to 18. All have suffered some from of abuse or neglect. Many are orphans. Others have been abandoned.

The needs of the children are the same as all children - love, food, shelter, clothing, encouragement, support, understanding, and opportunity for education.

Values learned at Oaks enables them to lead meaningful lives. Please contact Paul Seiler at paul@bibleoutreach.org to learn more about what you can do to help!