The American Indian Prayer Guide

by Danette Maloof

36 weeks worth of daily prayer for the indigenous peoples of North, South, and Central America. Eye-opening historical and contemporary stories and information lead directly to relevant prayer.

Genres: Christian, Nonfiction, Childrens, History, Devotional

151 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2002

Reviews

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book accomplishes several things:
1. Helps kids see that "Native American" encompasses tons of different cultures and tribes, not one cartoon stereotype
2. Gives kids prayer requests that develop a heart for individual tribes and the Gospel going forth
3. Honestly addresses the horrible injustices, massacres, trickery, etc. that Native Americans have experienced from people who called themselves Christians but did not live according to Christ's standards
4. Guards kids from the errors I experienced in my public school education, namely, casting all Christians/white people as the bad guys and all native peoples as the good guys. Navigates it well, with an emphasis on feeling compassion and sorrow for victims of greed and violence.
5. Helps kids see how people not living according to Christian standards creates barriers in people's hearts against the Gospel

Maloof's presentation generated a ton of great discussion with my girls, and I'm really happy that they were introduced to the topic of how badly Native Americans were treated in this unflinching, Gospel-centered book.

[Roger Miller · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had a hard time reading this book to prompt me to pray for Native Americans; what I felt like doing was calling down lighting to smote the European white settlers. God have mercy on the church. When I see and understand the sins of the kingdom of God I am convinced, the only explanation we have not imposed yet is; God. Native American I apologize that my ancestors representing the Prince of Peace, cam as violent enemies. The Author Danette irritated me because there was little jabs in every people group on how there perception of God was wrong, yet they often loved their neighbor better than Christians.

[Leanna · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is not my favorite its filled with jabs at natives ways beliefs an force feeding there own Christian beliefs on every page as though the natives dont have there own vision or beliefs of the creator!! Im glad I didnt pay for this an found it in a Laundromat an thought it would be a good read until the context says close this book an burn it!! The facts are not facts at all an its insulting when forced off there land sold into slavery murdered for land they were more then happy to share had they just asked so peacefully an then say well in such an such place Theres over 300 living wherever ......with no regards mentioning how many natives there really could or should be had they not been treated as they were!!! Im sorry this book is insulting to my friends an family who are native .....your Christian beliefs an saying prayers but low key jabs like they worshipped the wrong gods ......who are you to judge ......im a spiritual being an i do believe in god/creator but i dont choose any denominations because for some reason every single religion thinks there beliefs are the one true god!! .....heres a prayer from pg 34. were supposed to recite an pray on every page but only Christian!!! ready......pray that Inuit people would know that they can have the best fellowship with each other when they walk in the light of Jesus.......each page has a shitty prayer!! Like im pretty sure the Inuit people were walking in there own light of there creator!! Dont waste your time reading this buying this danette please stick to writing your Christian force fed ideals for just Christians thank you an at some point I hope you read this an realize what a shameful terrible non factual bs book you wrote what colonizers published this anyways!!!??? Really bothered me how you left out important key things like pocahontas she didnt leave. At her own will she was taken!! Weather she bathed in your Jesus juice bs if that actually happened ....maybe she did so to help keep the peace!!! Im so rich from having native family an friends my childhood was amazing because of where an who I grew up with!! I was taught to respect the land all animals how to hunt how to garden .....how to harvest fish dry fruit druit.....but mainly I saw learned an was shown how to respect my elders!! Im sorry if I come off harsh .....sike no im not!! Terribly written bs facts an force fed shove it down your throat Christianity!! Your god is not the only rightgeous one!! Im so pissed at this book id buy them all just to burn them!!! Dont piss yourself off reading this!!! Pretty sure danette maloof has no native blood or love in her for indigenous people tribes land but hey lets write a book sonlight you published this craps smh shameful!! So please pray for her mindless one track mind!!! She needs to write a whole prayer book for herself !!! Again disgusted with this garbage terrible book!! God forgive her for she not aware that other religions beliefs are important not just yours!! Im sorry christians ....catholics .....jehovahs.......Jews.......mormons whatever your beliefs respect others beliefs without force feeding or thinking yours is superior end of rant!!! Ps I. Demondleanna dukes on FB lets chat

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was interesting to learn about the different culture of various Indian tribes. The prayers offered throughout the book seemed a bit redundant and sometimes seemed to miss the heart of the issue. Is Jesus the answer-absolutley but that doesn't negate the fact that we need to admit and apologize for wrongs that were done. The door also swings both ways!

[Katie Brohard · Rating 4 out of 5]

Useful in the way it was intended.

[Devon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Nice look into the native tribes of the Americas.
We read it for school (4th grade).

[The Ink Sipper · Rating 1 out of 5]

I pulled this book from our curriculum after day two. It felt more like a slap to the Indigenous people than an offering of prayer. It's not our churches practice to treat people like that and it didn't sit well with me and we didn't want our children to learn that example (my husband actually talked about throwing it out right then, and I will admit it's on a very short list of books I'd never pass on) I have picked it up a few times and talked about some cultural or historical fact that's in it, but we have not used any of the directed prayers in it. I'm sure it was meant with good intentions, but they weren't intentions we wanted to follow.

The format of the book was easy to use, and some of the facts and points lead to great discussions and continued research or teachable moments. That's about all that saved it for us.

[Crystal · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book gives a very brief introduction to 36 Native American tribes. It is intended to be read daily (5 days a week) over a 36 week period (think school year). I found it far more cohesive to read the whole week's reading all at once on day one and just not use it the rest of the week. I found the daily readings far too short to really get much out of them. We are learning more now that we have dispensed with the snippets daily and instead focus on the group for a longer period once a week.

There is a scripted prayer that follows each day's reading. I prefer to pray from my heart, instead of following a script, so I did not use the prayers that followed the reading. Scripts can be very useful for learning how to pray, but using your own words and emotions is far more effective, in my opinion.

[Rebecca · Rating 4 out of 5]

My favorite book from Sonlight Core D is American Indian Prayer Guide. I liked this book because it goes well with what I am learning about, it helps you to pray for the people who need it, and because if you want to know about mostly any tribe just look it up in the book. My favorite Indian tribe is the Shoshones, because they took part the exploration of the Louisiana Purchase. This book made me feel sorry, sad for these Indians. The settlers were so cruel to them in many ways. But we can make it better by ourselves not doing it, and by praying for the Indians and for other Americans.
- Review by 9yo girl.

My ds, 9 yo, thought it was interesting.

[Darlene · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this non-fiction book aloud to my children.

The book is meant to be read over a period of 36 weeks. Each week focuses on a different Native American tribe, and there are daily readings spread over five days for each tribe. Each day's reading ends with a prayer that concerns the tribe.

We found that the information about the many different Native American tribes was presented in an interesting manner. We enjoyed learning more about them and how their religious beliefs differ from our own.

[Brooke · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book to learn facts of 36 Native American tribes and commit to pray for them.

[Erin · Rating 3 out of 5]

a small amount of information about 36 different tribes...interesting...

[Lisa · Rating 2 out of 5]

There is a short reading to do for every day of the school year that focuses on one particular native
American tribe. This got repetitive after a while, which is why I only gave it two stars.