For 50 years, a ministry called “CHIEF” has been reaching Native Americans with the transforming gospel of Christ. Today on Chris Fabry Live, the president of that ministry, Huron Claus, will talk about the challenges, changes, and encouraging breakthroughs he’s seeing in the next generation. He says the greatest need among Native tribes and nations today is Native Christian Leadership. Don’t miss the conversation on Chris Fabry Live.

Chris Fabry is the host of Chris Fabry Live on Moody Radio and is the author of more than 80 books. He is a member of the Christy Award Hall of Fame for Christian Fiction. His latest release is The Forge, a novelization of the Kendrick Brothers’ film. He and his wife live near Tucson, AZ.

Experience one of Christian radio’s most captivating voices on Chris Fabry Live. A master storyteller with warmth, humor, and biblical wisdom, Chris delivers authentic and thought-provoking conversations that help you navigate life’s challenges with faith and confidence. Through engaging interviews and relatable insights, you’ll walk away encouraged, equipped, and inspired to live out your faith. Tune in to Chris Fabry Live weekdays from 2–3 PM CT.

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Craig and LaDonna Smith are the founders of the evangelistic organization Tribal Rescue Ministries. They are Christian ministers from the Ojibwe and Navajo tribes. In their over 45 years of ministering together, their ministry focus has always been the proclamation of God’s Word while seeking to live God-honoring lives.

Craig Smith is licensed as a Christian and Missionary Alliance National Evangelist and serves as president of Tribal Rescue Ministries. LaDonna joins Craig in their music and teaching ministries and in their equipping of many next-generation spiritual rescuers.

TRM’s Mission Mandate:

Reaching the lost in our tribes and helping everyday believers become everyday spiritual rescuers in their tribes.

This mission clearly explains their passion for being light in a dark world and helping equip others to be light in the places God has sovereignly placed them in.

Craig and LaDonna Smith are the founders of the evangelistic organization Tribal Rescue Ministries. They are Christian ministers from the Ojibwe and Navajo tribes. In their over 45 years of ministering together, their ministry focus has always been the proclamation of God’s Word while seeking to live God-honoring lives.

Craig Smith is licensed as a Christian and Missionary Alliance National Evangelist and serves as president of Tribal Rescue Ministries. LaDonna joins Craig in their music and teaching ministries and in their equipping of many next-generation spiritual rescuers.

TRM’s Mission Mandate:

Reaching the lost in our tribes and helping everyday believers become everyday spiritual rescuers in their tribes.

This mission clearly explains their passion for being light in a dark world and helping equip others to be light in the places God has sovereignly placed them in.

Dr Gene Crume

It’s great having Dr. Crume here for the conversation with CHIEF. And again, it’s always a joy to introduce different individuals that we are working with that have a heart for reaching out to Native Americans. You will hear native pastors and leaders, and missionaries that are sharing about their ministries with Native Americans.

And today I want to introduce a dear friend, a special friend from the Chicago area Dr. Gene Crume Dr. Crume is the president of Judson University. And there were really several connections with him even before I met him. My mother is a Kiowa, and the Kiowa you know, historically you can see where different denominations had influence with different tribes and the American Baptist had really had an influence among the Kiowa people, my mother’s people of Oklahoma.

I think of the Hopis in Arizona. And so, when I realized I would have the opportunity to meet the president of Judson, I was really looking forward to that meeting. Another reason why I was to meet Dr. Crume was to really challenge him, to reach out to our native people, not only students but our urban native people. And one thing that I always share about native America, and maybe we don’t realize this, but today we have 9.7 million native people that live in the United States, and over 73% of the total native population living in urban cities. So, historically the church has reached out to the reservations, but today we need to really look at creative, new ways of reaching the native person in the cities.

When we visit Dr. Crume today, he represents Chicago and there are over 60,000 native peoples living in the greater Chicago area. And one area of connecting to your native neighbor in the cities is through, I believe education and the institution of education. When our native people come to the cities, it’s really two reasons . . . for jobs and they’re coming for education. And so, it’s at this point, Dr. Crume it is a great joy to know you, meet you. And I want you to share a little bit about yourself. I was reading that you are the sixth president of Judson University. And really your area of leadership began. Welcome to Conversions with CHIEF. 

– Huron Claus

He was a Professor of the Bible at the Moody Bible Institute in Chicago for more than twenty years. He is now the Director of Research at Harvest Bible Chapel in Rolling Meadows, IL. He received his M.Div. in Systematic Theology from Talbot Theological Seminary and his Ph.D. in New Testament and Pauline Studies from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School. He has written a number of articles for The Master’s Seminary Journal as well as other publications.

Listen to the podcast below.

Altogether, more than 125 Christian leaders representing 14 states, two provinces and 24 tribes gathered for the Native Peoples Christian Leaders Conference in Rapid City, South Dakota. They came to be encouraged and equipped, to worship together and network, all with the goal of seeing revival spread through Indigenous communities in the United States and Canada.

As Will Graham addressed the assembly, he recounted a similar gathering that took place in Albuquerque, New Mexico, on March 18, 1975. During that meeting, Will Graham’s grandfather Billy Graham said, “You as evangelical Indians are a sleeping giant. You are now awakening. The original Americans could turn around and be the evangelists to win other Americans to Christ.”

“I believe this is our opportunity—a God-given moment in time,” said Will Graham, pointing back to his grandfather’s words. “God is waking the Sleeping Giant, and I believe God will use you to bring the last great revival. This is a moment in history that can change our country forever.”

CHIEF President Huron Claus interviews Kevin Ruthven, a teacher at Rehobeth Christian School (in New Mexico). Kevin relates how chasing sheep and young children on a Navajo Reservation was his first introduction to Native ministries. Years later as a Chaplain and Bible teacher, Kevin shares his continued passion for working with Native youth, helping them to realize that their struggles do not define them but instead can lead to a fulfilled life in Christ. Join Huron and Kevin in this timely conversation about helping youth find their identity.

CHIEF President Huron Claus provides a brief overview on the “beginnings of CHIEF”; how his father (Tom Claus) started this ministry with the encouragement and guidance of Dr. Billy Graham. Following Huron’s “historical update, he “passes the microphone” to Ron Frahler, Director of Development for CHIEF. Ron shares how he got involved with CHIEF (a family legacy) and what he is working to increase prayer support, update the CHIEF website, along with growing and encouraging the donor base. Ron ends his comments by introducing Isaac Durham the newest member of the CHIEF staff. Isaac shares his testimony and how he came involved with CHIEF. Do not miss hearing how God has been working in Isaac’s life!