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work has been ongoing by national churches for decades. But, as is always the case in every area of the world, there is still
much to be done. This article is written to encourage the churches to continue to fulfill the Great Commission because the time is short. We must all work together to get the Good News to every nation, tribe and tongue.
But it is also my unpleasant duty to write this in order to warn the churches of some "indigenous people movements" that are not
biblical. The World Christian Gathering of Indigenous Peoples (WCGIP) is a front for the Third Wave and will not only divide the churches but foster bigotry and animosity against the partnership of historical Western mission organizations with the
evangelical churches of Micronesia. All churches in Micronesia would be well advised to tell their people to avoid the upcoming WCGIP in Hawaii in October of 2002, as well as other similar gatherings like the Many Nations, One Voice celebrations. These gatherings are being promoted by Youth With A Mission (YWAM) and were the subject of a ten-part radio program on Word To The World by Danny Lehmann, director of YWAM Honolulu.
One additional note before I get any further into this article: I have made contact with the leadership of YWAM, including the director of the Pacific area, over some of the issues raised in this newsletter. I am sad to report that I have received either no response or negative response. I have also written to Richard Twiss and Terry LeBlanc asking for an explanation of their views but did not receive any direct response to my questions. When events like this are promoted publicly those involved must expect public scrutiny. Some directors of discernment ministries have talked to Danny Lehmann on separate occasions regarding some of these YWAM issues, but he has been unreceptive and, in most
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cases, unconcerned about trying to effect needed changes in YWAM. I'm sad about that but I must warn the churches to stay away from what he and YWAM are promoting.
The series of Word To The World radio programs featured three of the key leaders who are promoting the WCGIP. Those men are Richard Twiss, a Lakota Sioux Indian from Wiconi International, Leon Siu, a native Hawaiian of Alaha Ke Akua, and Terry LeBlanc, director of My People International, a Micmac/Acadian Indian from Canada. I want to warn the churches
of Micronesia that, though the goals of these men and their organizations sound lofty, the fact that they are a direct connection to the Third Wave and the C. Peter Wagner New Apostolic Reformation (as is evidenced by the endorsements they have received from them and their meetings) is not well known. These gatherings are an entry level into the false doctrines of the Third Wave, no matter how culturally aware and politically correct they may sound.
Some of the stated goals of these gatherings is to teach indigenous peoples that God is "redeeming cultures"; in fact that God created "cultures". The claim is that the gospel was already evident before Western missionaries came in contact with indigenous cultures. Therefore Western missionaries are primarily blamed and must repent of bringing Western culture with them which ruined the godly societies God had already put in place. So the goal is for indigenous people groups, now called "First Nations" to get together and assert their "redeemed" cultures by way of regalia and cultural shows throughout the world because they are the only ones who can effectively reach out to the Two-Thirds World and finish the task of "world evangelization" which will usher in the return of Christ.
These ideas are riddled with false teaching. First of all there is NO mention in the Bible about
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"redeeming cultures". God will redeem the nation of Israel, but today He is in the business of redeeming people! Cultures are the "traditions of men" which the Bible tells us are in opposition to the commands of God. (Mark 7:8-9) The second erroneous assumption is that missionaries are largely solely responsible for turning indigenous cultures toward Western culture. Though it is true that Western missionaries were coming from a Western perspective and sometimes made the mistake of teaching Western cultural values instead of Biblical ones, a careful study of history will show that sailors, whalers and others who plied their trade in the islands were often the ones that
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"redeeming cultures" and preparing the world for Christ to return because allegedly He won't come back until this Christianizing work is done. But the Bible is clear that the end times will see a great apostasy, a falling away rather than a great revival. Then Jesus Christ will return bodily to rule and judge the earth and set up His Kingdom. Yes, the whole world will hear the gospel message before Christ returns, but it is also clear from Scripture that few will answer that call.
I want you, the reader, to be aware of where these four men are coming from theologically. I will give you some quotes from their radio interview and let you know a little of what they believe.
RICHARD TWISS
Richard Twiss was on the 700 Club show with Gordon Robertson (Pat Robertson's son) recently and in an interview he told Gordon that the Great Spirit of the Indians is the same as the Holy Spirit. Robertson heartily agreed. The problem with this idea is that the Great Spirit has no son, and without the son there is no redemption. The Great Spirit required human sacrifices and other atrocities. Twiss is highly endorsed by the leaders of the Third Wave on his Wiconi web site. He travels all over the world
wearing his Indian headdress, dancing to drums, chanting old Indian songs and lyrics. He could be seen dancing in a video I have of one of the early indigenous peoples gatherings in Colorado where people were dancing around, taking their clothes off,
and attempting to manipulate the spirit world with their hands and music. Ancient Maori war chants were used without changing the words. Would Micronesian islanders use ancient chants, where the words and meanings have sunk into obscurity, to do evangelism? How do they know they are not summoning demons? Twiss said in his interview with Danny Lehmann:
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