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One Church, Many Tribes: Following Jesus the Way God Made You
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In this captivating chronicle of the Native American story, Rosebud Lakota Sioux Richard Twiss sifts through myth and legend to reveal God's strategy for the world's First Peoples. With wit, wisdom
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Paperback, 224 pages
Published
August 8th 2000
by Regal
(first published July 31st 2000)
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One Church, Many Tribes: Following Jesus the Way God Made You is a refreshing perspective written by Richard Twiss of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux tribe, who is the cofounder and president of Wiconi International, and a member of the International Reconciliation Coalition. Historical facts, Biblical truths, interesting accounts, and heartfelt passion, this book is a life-changer for many - should be read by all. A necessary message ripe for the time, it calls on Christians to work together as one to
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Richard Twiss writes about his own experience as a member of the Sicangu Lakota Oyate and introduces us to other indigenous tribes along the way. He writes with candor about the many travesties faced by indigenous people all over the world and the ways this has played out across the generations.
He weaves together stories of people who have tried to preserve their traditions and their faith in spite of other Christians. He advocates for their inclusion in the Body of Christ. In all of this, he ...more
He weaves together stories of people who have tried to preserve their traditions and their faith in spite of other Christians. He advocates for their inclusion in the Body of Christ. In all of this, he ...more

Richard Twiss is a member of the Lakota Sioux tribe and lived in Oregon when this book was written. I had the brief opportunity to hear him speak at a conference in Portland speaking about the Christian Faith of First Nations people and reconcilliation before he passed this past year.
Living in a State that is 1/3rd Native American I learned a lot from Twiss:
Twiss prefers the name First Nations or Indigenous people. He believes this better captures their essence as sovereign, independent, ...more
Living in a State that is 1/3rd Native American I learned a lot from Twiss:
Twiss prefers the name First Nations or Indigenous people. He believes this better captures their essence as sovereign, independent, ...more

Richard Twiss' book is an excellent discussion of culture, Christianity, missions, worship, and church practice. As a First Nations pastor and teacher his perspective is first hand, practical, thoughtful, and prods what needs to be prodded. Twiss notes how Western Christianity, especially Evangelicalism, has seen Native Americans as a source of missions to, but rarely a community of wisdom and religious energy. Evangelicals have to press into the thought that our cultural values and worldview
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I have really mixed feelings about this book. It is definitely written for a white Christian audience, or an audience that is unaware of the harm that has been done to Native culture, which is why I don't want to write it off, because I know that for some people, a book like this might be their only entry point into important discussions about Native American culture and faith.
I have a lot of misgivings about the book's use of Scripture, about some of the implied end times theology as it relates ...more
I have a lot of misgivings about the book's use of Scripture, about some of the implied end times theology as it relates ...more

I cannot believe I did not read this book sooner. It should be required reading for every pastor, and certainly for a lot of other people. If you're a non-white Christian struggling with how culture fits into your religious practice, this is an extremely thoughtful and compelling read, and if you're a white Christian (particularly an American one) trying to figure out how not to continue to be an imperialist as you share the Gospel, this is a necessary text. Twiss provides a catalogue of
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Eye opener
Wonderful read and a great eye opener to what the Native Americans has experienced and is experiencing today. I’m humbled by the stories shared. I hope more Christians would pick this book up to read and then make changes to how we live out our faith. I’m a firm believer that we need to incorporate our culture and heritage into our faith.
Wonderful read and a great eye opener to what the Native Americans has experienced and is experiencing today. I’m humbled by the stories shared. I hope more Christians would pick this book up to read and then make changes to how we live out our faith. I’m a firm believer that we need to incorporate our culture and heritage into our faith.

Here is the paragraph I wrote about this book in seminary:
Since Christianity can be used to heal all social ills, a chaplain may use it in the prison system to address the common spiritual ill of victimization. The Bible teaches that the world without Christ is subject to injustice and unfairness, so it is easy for anybody to claim the role of victim. Richard Twiss demonstrates this victimized attitude when he says that he had white mentors upon accepting Christ, so he acted like them for eight ...more
Since Christianity can be used to heal all social ills, a chaplain may use it in the prison system to address the common spiritual ill of victimization. The Bible teaches that the world without Christ is subject to injustice and unfairness, so it is easy for anybody to claim the role of victim. Richard Twiss demonstrates this victimized attitude when he says that he had white mentors upon accepting Christ, so he acted like them for eight ...more

This powerful book written by Lakota man and follower of Jesus has had a powerful impact on my worldview, and given me a great appreciation for my Tuscarora Iroquan heritage and Scotch-Irish heritage, a greater reverence for many Native American tribes cultures, spirituality, and culture,and a greater understanding of North America before colonialism and many of the appalling and evil things done by fundamentalist missionaries and those in power to so many tribes throughout North America.
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The U.S. church has had a tragic relationship with the Native people groups of North America. Richard Twiss calls for reconciliation and right relationship in the body of Christ. That means caring for and affirming EVERY part. Native Christians, contrarily, have been taught that they need to turn their back on their culture and ways in order to be true Christians. Twiss calls for the need to affirm Native Culture and embrace the god-given blessings and gifts to the church through Native peoples.
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A couple of weeks ago I read One Church, Many Tribes (Regal) by Richard Twiss, a member of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux tribe and the head of Wiconi International. Through Wiconi, Twiss serves Native groups through education and practical help to improve their quality of life and build relationships that point the way to a hope-filled future for those who have not previously been given much reason to hope. Twiss and his wife started Wiconi with one seemingly simple concept in mind: “You can be
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A wonderful book for discovery. The author is truly a man of God and of vision. A heart rendering unbiased historical account of indigenous peoples and early european american settlers. Richard Twiss (the author) does an excellent job of pulling covers of both cultures while building a solid case for reconciliation amongst both cultures. I am especially impressed how Richard utilizes Biblical scripture to validate First Nations peoples ancient ceremonial practices. Simultaneously, the author
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Enjoyed this book hugely. I read the book just after the author had died of a massive heart attack, which made the reading poignant and sad. Richard Twiss is a tremendous loss to the first nations people, and in fact to all Jesus followers. I loved that he went after a doctorate in theology so that could be what he calls a "smarty pants" along with the non-aboriginal theologians, could interact with them on their own level, and could advocate for his people in their need to worship the Creator
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A must read for anyone who wants to work in Native American Ministry. Still very valuable as it discusses the nature of worship and how we naturally worship God through our own culture. Missionaries have a problematic history of condemning native cultural expressions of worship as demonic that has hindered the pathway of the gospel in indigenous cultures. We are to worship God through our transformed culture as it is part of our identity, not abandon our culture (and identity) altogether.
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The author had some very interesting, thought-provoking comments on Native Americans and their difficulty fitting into mainline church denominations. I agree with many of his points, and am unsure about others. He had many ideas about how we need to integrate other cultures into our worship services, and how we need to work together to forgive anger from past treatment.

Brother Twiss tells the story of the harsh realities that First Nations people faced when immigrants from Europe first brought Christianity and Manifest Destiny to this continent. With extreme intelligence and brilliant humor this book is a must for anyone wanting to understand reconciliation between First Nations People and Anglo-Americans.

Tremendous book! How God calls every tongue, tribe and people to Himself, through Jesus! That one does not need to lose our language, culture, tribe, to come to Him, but that Jesus redeems our culture, calling us to holiness and wholeness, to become like Him, not nessesarily like how the traditional white, Western church depicts Him.

If you consider yourself a Christian, I highly recommend this book.
Richard Twiss gives a engaging history lesson of what it means to be a First Nation believer in Jesus Christ (the good and the bad). Our FIrst Nation brothers and sisters have suffered much (often at the hands of other "Christians" ) and have much to offer the world. A good read.
Richard Twiss gives a engaging history lesson of what it means to be a First Nation believer in Jesus Christ (the good and the bad). Our FIrst Nation brothers and sisters have suffered much (often at the hands of other "Christians" ) and have much to offer the world. A good read.

An intelligent and beautifully visioned presentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as the First Nations Peoples are uniquely positioned to carry it to the world.

Oct 20, 2008
Banana
is currently reading it
this guy spoke at my church and he's hillarious. book about how first nation's people could be the link to spreading the gospel to the world. interesting stuff....
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