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6B. Running Horse of the Sioux People 
This frail child knew where she belonged. There were many others during our week's crusade in Rapid City who came to love and serve God in a very real way. So, as a witness, these new Christians, with the rest of the church held a series of open air services on the streets of the City Center. Meeting together beforehand at the Railway station, our praise and prayer meeting grew louder and louder like the cheer leading before a big High School football match. Singing well-known hymns, we marched down the main street behind the cross. We stopped in front of a bar where we knew a group of men spent most of their time drinking.
Dakota Language
After a few whites in the meeting had spoken in English, our Sioux Indian brothers then added their own special contribution in their own tongue. When they started singing and shouting out Bible verses in Dakota, things really began to happen. The customers, many recalling childhood memories of revival meetings like these on the reservations, tumbled out into the street! At the exact moment our visiting Executive Director who was a tall, very proper Easterner began to speak, two drunks started to brawl at his side. One man fell at the Director's feet from the doorway, but he bravely continued his testimony.
Crucifixion
On another evening in front of the bar, Captain Lavern Lapoint, who was leading the meeting, asked me to share a few thoughts with the crowd. As I came to speak, he noticed a picture of the Crucifixion in my hand. He asked me to show it to the people listening, including those in the bar. I pressed it against the bar window with astonishing results. Jesus said, "If I am lifted up, I will draw all men to me." On the main street of Rapid City that day this literally came true as crowds rushed out on to the sidewalk to hear what we were saying about Him.
Lieutenants
After speaking out boldly, our outdoor witness always ended with the opportunity for listeners in the crowd to ask prayer either for themselves or others. Some confessed their sins right there on the street and were assured that God loved and forgave them. Others asked for a breakthrough over some burdensome temptation in their lives. For many, their beginning in life was made so much more meaningful. They received a warm welcome from the large group of Sioux Indians who already attended St. Matthew's Church in the City. Sometime afterwards, Bishop Gessner duly commissioned the cadets on that mission at the Reservation. After one year's training some became lieutenants for a single Diocese only, others were commissioned after three years as Captains.
Running Horse
As my work with the cadets was drawing to an end, the Indian people honoured me in their own very special way. Having constantly traveled from place to place, the Sioux of the Standing Rock Reservation, gave me the name of "Ta Inyanke" or "Running Horse." This had once been the name of a deeply loved Christian in their tribe whose honour I was to perpetuate by receiving his name. A beautiful multi coloured star quilt was draped over my shoulders as a mark of my new relationship. Another Church Army Officer, a friend of mine from South West Africa was named "The World Traveler."
After two years moving around, I returned for a great feast at the Tribal Halls. They hadn't forgotten me. "Oh, Running Horse," they greeted me. I was now truly a relative and was reminded later during the feast. We had eaten our fill and had been presented with gifts of beadwork and more food to take home. When the dancing started I thought that I would have a laugh and join in too. Without a glimmer of emotion the Chief caught my arm and quietly cautioned me with, "A cousin doesn't act that way!"
Born-Again Message
Aware of my new Indian status, I went from Standing Rock to join the team ministry on Pine Lodge Reservation led by the Rev. George Pierce. My greatest desire in those days was that the church should know an outpouring of God's Holy Spirit. George felt the same way too but the people showed no interest at all. A few months later, while on a long journey through uninteresting country the solution was to dawn dramatically upon us. I was driving at the time and George was praying about the work as we went along. Suddenly, George burst into tongues and equally clearly and repeatedly the interpretation of his words came to me. "Your message must be, You must be born again, cleansed by the blood of Christ. You must be born again, cleansed by the blood of Christ"
How wrong we had been wanting the baptism of the Holy Spirit for the Sioux people! Our message had to be, "You must be born again." We knew then that God would send others to follow us and build on that foundation. The bishop visited the different congregations for our farewell celebrations. A leading Sioux lay member spoke for the Indian people. "When a new man is sent to be our Pastor," he said, "all we ask of you is that you make sure he is born again!" The bishop, a man of deep compassion and concern for his people, gladly agreed to this one condition.
Standing Rock
When I had first come to work at Standing Rock, the church couldn't afford a salary of any kind. The bishop told me, "I don't want you to be in need!" "Bishop," I replied, piously, "My God shall supply all my needs according to his riches in glory in Jesus Christ." Several times after that however, a much needed check mysteriously arrived in the mail with the inscription? "I don't like to leave all the burdens to the Lord!" His constant concern for our work was always appreciated and especially when he happened to drop into one of our services in Porcupine.
Our Lay-reader, Eagle Bull, led the service that day at St. Julia's, nestled among picturesque pines, canyons and cliffs in South Dakota. It turned out to be quite a marathon! First, we had a tine of Gospel singing, then a testimony, then full evensong and a call to deeper commitment. Laying on of hands, which involved just about everyone in the congregation, followed the bishop's sermon. Time passed by! That was not the end, for immediately after the service we retired to a feast when many others got up to speak. Later he quipped, "You are cruel to your bishop when he comes to visit you!"
"You've gotta have a glory in the things you do, an alleluia chorus in the heart of you" 
