On Eagles’ Wings Uses Basketball To Deliver Hope

The On Eagles’ Wings youth ministry spent two days last week in Wolf Point where the group organized basketball activities, provided free meals and awarded raffle prizes. These items, however, weren’t the most important elements that the group of 38 young adults offered.

“We talk about hope,” Nick Liew, coordinator of On Eagles’ Wings, said during Tuesday night’s event.

The attraction filled the west end basketball court with young people from throughout the Fort Peck Reservation anxious to display their basketball abilities and simply enjoy playing on beautiful summer nights.

Liew noted the time shared on the tour focuses on developing leadership. After Wolf Point, On Eagles Wings’ next stops include Idaho and Washington.

“A lot of us grew up playing rez ball, like a lot of these kids, which is a big connection,” Liew said.

Many of those visiting Native Americans were involved with substance abuse or gangs before turning their lives around.

“We decided the cycle will end with us,” Liew said. “Our desire is to empower other young men and women. We focus on leadership. We hope that they find the one who made us, that they find Jesus.”

He explained that much of the teaching comes in one-on-one situations.

On Eagles’ Wings has been a leading national Native youth ministry for more than 30 years. According to the group’s website, they area committed to sharing the Hope of Jesus, equipping and mobilizing Native young people for the cause of Jesus Christ.

On Eagles’ Wings raises up young leaders to make a difference in their communities, and to bring the hope of Jesus to their people.

Liew said that a tribal member originally contacted On Eagles’ Wing about coming to Wolf Point, and then the Assembly of God Church followed up to make the experience possible. The time of the west end court included a three-on-three tournament on Monday night and a five-on-five challenge game involving area players against On Eagles’ Wings’ members on Tuesday, July 16.