Natives Follow Jesus

SHOW NOTES: Episode 99 was a celebration of where we’ve been. Episode 100 is about where we’re going. The story isn’t finished. We made it to 100 Episodes--not because the journey has been easy, but because God has been faithful. We are still here. We are still Native. And we will follow Jesus. This is not a finish line. It's a starting line for the next season. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can find out how to move from just talking about your faith and to move forward in living out your faith.

SHOW NOTES: Psalm 78:4 “We will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord…” We made it to 99 episodes—not because the journey has been easy, but because God has been faithful. We are still here. We are still Native. And we still follow Jesus. Opening LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when celebrate 100 episodes!

SHOW NOTES: What would change in your life if you really believed that you belonged to Jesus? It's more than knowing it in your head or just saying it at church, but really believing that you belong to Jesus. In this episode, you’ll discover how you should live in light of rejecting the lies and replacing them with God's truth. You can live differently when you embrace God's design, stop comparing, renew your mind, and start walking confidently with Jesus. You belong to Jesus. Live like it. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode.

SHOW NOTES: You have an inner voice that replays things that you have heard from childhood into adulthood. Sometimes those messages are debilitating and destructive. But there is hope. Jesus can change the way you think about yourself. Romans 12:2 says, "Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..." Jesus wants you to transform the way you see yourself by seeing yourself from His eyes. The world may see you one way. But Jesus sees you in a different way. Jesus can change the way you see yourself. Listen now and discover how. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when we talk about belonging. Because sometimes you can be surrounded by people and still feel like you don’t belong anywhere. But what happens when you discover that your deepest belonging isn’t found in people’s approval? It’s found in Jesus.

SHOW NOTES: In this episode, we’re going to talk about something many of us struggle with: Comparison. Because sometimes the biggest reason we can’t see what God has placed in us is because we’re too busy looking at what He placed in somebody else. We’ll ask: “Whose Mirror Are You Looking Into?” Comparison steals joy and confidence. Jesus doesn’t call you to live somebody else’s life. Jesus simply says, “Follow Me.” LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode we’re going to talk about something that often comes after comparison: feeling like an imposter. That feeling that says: “Who am I to do this?” “I’m not qualified.” “Somebody is going to find out that I don’t really belong here.” We’re going to talk about how God can use people who don’t feel qualified—and why your insecurity doesn’t have to have the final word.

SHOW NOTES: God intentionally created you with purpose. Your life is not an accident, and your Creator doesn’t make mistakes. God made you in His image. He does not make junk. When you start believing what God says about you, your life can transform from hopelessness to hopeful. Listen now to find hope today. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can find out how to refrain from comparing yourself to others--sometimes the biggest reason you can't see what God has placed in you is because you're too busy looking at somebody else.

SHOW NOTES: Some of you have believed lies for so long that they sound like your own voice. But not every voice speaking into your life is telling you the truth. In this episode, you'll confront the lies you may be keeping in your mind and heart. And replace them with God's truth instead. Join us for this new series--Chosen, Not Forgotten: Finding Your Identity in Christ. No matter the lies you keep listening to, as a follower of Jesus, you are rooted in Jesus Christ. Replace the lies with God's truth. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode to discover why comparison steals your joy and how Jesus can teach you to see yourself through God's eyes rather than the eyes of the world.

SHOW NOTES: When your identity is rooted in Christ, you are free to reject stereotypes, honor your heritage, love your neighbors, and help the next generation walk confidently in who God created them to be. Let's carry the conversations forward. Live for Jesus as Native People! LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Shout out to Notah Begay III who received the Payne Stewart Award on July 20, 2026 who has used his platform to serve his native community with positive mentoring and to offer golf to native children and native youth. Watch how Notah received notification of his award live on-air from the link above. One language revitalization opportunity is Dine Bizaad App on Apple Apps developed by AlbertHaskie, Navajo. Check out app here . Disclaimer: Referencing app is no endorsement of app. Read the Bible resources that I have used/are using: "Read the Word" with Pastor John Soper refers to Mission 119 , a guided daily Bible reading and audio commentary program designed to help Christians read through the entire Bible. And, The Bible Recap , a chronological bible reading plan developed by Tera-Leigh Cobble to help you read through the whole bible in a year. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode where you can learn how to follow Jesus as a Native person.

SHOW NOTES: This episode is a celebration of Beyond the Stereotype series. The first six episodes dismantled false narratives. This episode tells the better story—not by ignoring pain, but by showing that pain never had the final word. Native joy is a testimony to God’s sustaining grace. This episode brings the series full circle. Episode 1 begins with “We’re Still Here.” Episode 7 tells you how you’re still here—not merely surviving, but laughing, worshiping, gathering around the table, and following Jesus. My hope is that it offers listeners a vision that reflects the heart of Natives Follow Jesus : our joy is not the absence of pain; it is the evidence of God’s faithfulness through every generation. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode where we finish this series with a reflection on walking in beauty beyond the stereotype.

SHOW NOTES: This episode is an opportunity to challenge one of the most persistent misconceptions about Native communities: reducing us to poverty. Listen now as this episode acknowledges real economic hardships without allowing those hardships to define Native identity. Hear how Indigenous People celebrate the joy, laughter, creativity, and hope that have sustained Native people across generations. May you correct misconceptions as I seek to paint a fuller picture of Native life and faith. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Check out native business owners: Myron Lizer , Ace Hardware, Gallup NM and Karen Schell, Chee's Indian Store , I-40 eight miles from Arizona-New Mexico stateline. Peruse James Tsoodle's artwork . James is Kiowa. Read about the use of native traditional quillwork for Lily Gladstone's Oscar dress here. Follow native creator, Jennifer Berg, who creates knitted native clothing--on Instagram, @native.knitter to view her amazing creations. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you discover Native Joy as resistance to hopelessness.

SHOW NOTES: Native followers of Jesus often feel misunderstood by both Native and Christian communities. Some people assume all Native Americans practice the same spirituality. Others assume that becoming a Christian means leaving Native identity behind. Many Native followers of Jesus live in the tension between these assumptions. Some have been told they are “not Native anymore” because they follow Jesus. Others have felt misunderstood in churches that viewed Native culture with suspicion. This episode explores how following Jesus and honoring your Native identity are not mutually exclusive. It also invites listeners to distinguish between the person of Jesus and the painful ways Christianity has sometimes been used by people in positions of power. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. The 3D Gospel resource--view a video summary of the three worldviews: Guilt/Innocence; Shame/Honor; and Fear/Power here . I believe Native and Indigenous Worldview is a Fear/Power worldview. For those who have experienced "Church Hurt," this video offers a good explanation that someone's hurtful actions do not represent Jesus. Thanks to @seansarantos for his succinct overview. If you associate Christianity with those painful experiences perpetrated by others, then you are mistaken. Their harmful actions do not reflect the character of Jesus. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode where you will confront the reservation stereotype that poverty is the plight of all Native American and First Nation Peoples.

SHOW NOTES: Native men and women are often expected to stay silent about pain. This episode explores the difference between strength and silence, and why emotional healing is an important part of following Jesus. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Listen to the story of Heather Demaray here from Prairie Public News Room. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can find out how we are not all the same spiritually.

SHOW NOTES: Native identity is diverse. One of the most persistent stereotypes about Native Americans is the belief that we all look alike, dress alike, think alike, and share the same culture. The truth is much richer. There are hundreds of tribes, hundreds of histories, and countless ways Native people express their identity. This episode challenges the idea that there is a single “Native look” and encourages listeners to embrace the beautiful diversity that exists within Indigenous communities. Most importantly, this episode reminds Native listeners that they do not need to perform their identity for anyone else’s approval. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Check out the Lumbee Federal Tribal Recognition that happened in December of 2025 here . Peruse the Native Blood Quantum discussion from these two perspectives online: The California Law Review and Native Governance Center's Blood Quantum Guide Review the answers to the myth that all indigenous peoples live on reservations from the Bureau of Indian Affairs and the story of the struggle whether native peoples live on or off the reservation . Discover how Native Americans migrated into North America from Answers in Genesis and where Native Peoples settled . Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can dismantle the Strong Silent Native stereotype with me.

Native identity is sacred, not entertainment. This episode explores why Native mascots, costumes, and caricatures continue to affect Native people today. While many people say they intend to honor Native Americans through mascots, the reality is often very different. What is presented as appreciation frequently becomes a shallow stereotype that reduces living cultures to symbols, costumes, and mascots. This conversation is not about anger. It is about dignity. It is about seeing Native people as human beings created in God’s image rather than symbols used for entertainment. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you will learn that "No, we don't all look the same." Indigenous people look different and are dignified. Mentioned in this episode: Part two

SHOW NOTES: Indigenous Peoples are not mascots, myths, or museum pieces. We are living peoples created by God with stories, beauty, pain, humor, and purpose. We’re starting a new series, entitled, Beyond the Stereotype. This series is designed to help Native and non-Native listeners confront harmful stereotypes, reclaim indigenous identity, and a desire to follow Jesus with honesty, strength, humor, and dignity. Many people talk about Native people as if we disappeared. This episode reminds listeners that Native communities are alive, evolving, resilient, and still carrying culture, language, faith, and identity. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Documentaries exploring Hollywood's stereotypes of Native Americans unpack how early cinema reduced diverse, rich Indigenous cultures into two-dimensional tropes—such as the "noble savage," the bloodthirsty villain, or the mystic. They analyze how these caricatures justified historical mistreatment and shaped public perception. Watch Images of Indians: How Hollywood Stereotyped the Native American (2003) : This documentary details the history of Native American representation in cinema, breaking down how film was utilized as a propaganda tool. View trailer here . Check out Reel Injun (2009) : Directed by Cree filmmaker Neil Diamond, this award-winning feature is the definitive documentary on the subject. It traces the evolution of the "Hollywood Indian" from the silent era to the modern day and features interviews with iconic figures like Clint Eastwood and Russell Means. You can stream or rent it on platforms like Amazon Prime Video or Apple TV. Watch trailer here . Tune into What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Native America (2024) : Produced by PBS as part of their A People's History series, this short-form documentary investigates why Native people and stories remain marginalized, and highlights how modern Indigenous filmmakers are reclaiming their narratives. You can watch the full episode for free on the PBS Website . Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can join me in addressing sports mascots and cultural caricatures.

SHOW NOTES: Birthdays are more than getting older. They’re reminders that the Creator carried us another year. This week on Natives Follow Jesus, we talk about celebrating birthdays as Indigenous followers of Jesus — and why spiritual milestones matter too. Celebrate: your healing your sobriety your baptism your growth your survival your journey with Jesus Some victories are quiet…but they still matter deeply. Walk in beauty, relatives. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next series where we confront harmful stereotypes, reclaim identity, and follow Jesus with honesty, integrity, humor, and dignity.

SHOW NOTES: Memorial Day can feel complicated for Indigenous people. Many Native communities carry both pride in our veterans and pain from the history our people endured. This week on Natives Follow Jesus, we talk honestly about: • Native warrior traditions • Indigenous military service • historical trauma • faith, lament, and healing through Jesus We honor Native veterans while refusing to erase the truth of history. You can hold grief and gratitude at the same time. Walk in beauty, relatives. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Read more about Ira Hayes a World War II hero from the Pima Nation in Arizona from the Museum of Native American History here . Scroll down to view song made popular by Johnny Cash about the tragic death of Ira Hayes. Peruse the information about the Navajo Code Talkers here from the Gallup, New Mexico online postings honor the Navajo Code Talkers. You can scroll down to watch an hour long movie talking about the Navajo Code Talkers too. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can find out how to count your blessings in your walk with Jesus.

SHOW NOTES: Where is God leading Native Followers of Jesus next? This episode reflects on healing, identity, community, and the importance of encouraging the next generation with an authentic faith. The next season may not be louder or flashy--but it may be deeper. Listen now and reflect on what God may be growing in your life. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for each episode so we can follow Jesus better and follow Jesus together.

SHOW NOTES: Some of the strongest followers of Jesus I’ve ever known were mothers, aunties, grandmothers, and mother-like people, who walked faithfully with God through hardship, sacrifice, and prayer. Their faith wasn’t loud—but it endured. This episode honors the women who planted seeds of faith into generations and teaches us what it means to finish well. LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can begin to envision where God is leading Native followers of Jesus next.

SHOW NOTES: Songs and stories have always been central to Native identity. They carry memory, meaning, and truth across generations. As followers of Jesus, we have an opportunity to preserve something even deeper—our faith. This episode explores how our songs, stories, and creative expression can point to God and shape future generations. As we approach the National Day of Prayer, we’re reminded that our voices matter. Prayer is part of the story God is writing through us. Take a moment this week to reflect: What story are you passing down? LINKS + RESOURCES FROM THIS EPISODE: Sign up for monthly newsletter. Click sign up link, scroll down to email form, complete form, respond to email prompt, and get my newsletter. Join the movement on Instagram @nativesfollowjesus Send me an email at nativefollowsjesus@gmail.com to connect with me or to ask me a question. Thanks. Check out the story of Raye from Relevant Magazine article here . Thanks to Emily Brown for writing about Raye's spiritual journey. Listen to Raye's album, This Music May Contain Hope . Watch Nick Vujcici's testimony and be inspired to live for Jesus. Nick was born without limbs and struggled with his life circumstance. Watch and live for Jesus. Be encouraged with the life of a Native Who Follows Jesus, Layla Curtis , Navajo. Follow her and encourage her in her faith in Jesus. Layla and her team, Tuba City Lady Warriors, won the Arizona State Basketball Championship. Layla seeks to follow Jesus everyday. Give a review of this podcast on Podchaser.com Join us for the next episode when you can find encouragement from the women who have walked long with Jesus on Mother's Day.