Richard Twiss - Rescuing the Gospel from the Cowboys: A Native American Expression of the Jesus Way

RESCUING THE

GOSPEL FROM

THE COWBOYS

A NATIVE AMERICAN EXPRESSION
OF THE JESUS WAY

RICHARD TWISS

www.IVPress.com/books

InterVarsity Press
P.O. Box 1400, Downers Grove, IL 60515-1426
ivpress.com

2015 by Katherine Twiss

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form without written permission from InterVarsity Press.

InterVarsity Press is the book-publishing division of InterVarsity Christian Fellowship/USA, a movement of students and faculty active on campus at hundreds of universities, colleges and schools of nursing in the United States of America, and a member movement of the International Fellowship of Evangelical Students. For information about local and regional activities, visit intervarsity.org.

Unless otherwise indicated, all Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright 1996, 2004, 2007. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.

In Memoriam is used by permission of Terry LeBlanc.

While all stories in this book are true, some names and identifying information may have been changed to protect the privacy of individuals.

Cover design: Cindy Kiple
Images: Lakota Trinity by Father John Giuliani

ISBN 978-0-8308-9853-4 (digital)
ISBN 978-0-8308-4423-4 (print)

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Twiss, Richard, 1954-2013.
Rescuing the Gospel from the cowboys : a Native American expression of the Jesus way / Richard Twiss ; edited by Ray Martell and Sue Martell.
1 online resource.
Includes bibliographical references.
Description based on print version record and CIP data provided by publisher; resource not viewed.
ISBN 978-0-8308-9853-4 (eBook) -- ISBN 978-0-8308-4423-4 (pbk. : alk. paper)
1. Indians of North America--Missions--History. 2. Indians of North America--Religion. 3. Indians of North America--Canada--Religion. 4. Christianity--United States. 5. Christianity--Canada. I. Title.
E98.M6
971.00497--dc23
2015018092

To Katherine... my lifelong friend, partner and love of my life.
We continue to learn to walk side by side as we figure out how to be
the best human beings we can be for one another, our children,
grandchildren and Tiyospaye, extended family.

I am deeply grateful for you and what we have forged together.

June 11, 1954February 9, 2013

R ichard Leo Twiss, Taoyate Obnajin, He Stands with His People, passed from this life and into the next on February 9, 2013, in Washington, D.C., encircled by his wife, Katherine, and sons Andrew, Phillip, Ian and Daniel. Richard was fifty-eight.

Richard was born on the Rosebud Reservation, South Dakota, among his mother Winona (Larvie) LaPointes people, the Sicangu Band of the Rosebud Lakota/Sioux. Richards father, Franklin (Buster) Twiss (deceased), was Oglala from the Pine Ridge Lakota/Sioux Reservation, also in South Dakota.

Until age seven Richard lived in Rosebud, a town of six hundred, on the reservation. In 1961 Richards mom moved the family from the reservation to Denver, then to Klamath Falls, Oregon, and eventually to Silverton, Oregon, where Richard attended the third through twelfth grades. Richards mom ensured they made regular summer visits back home in order to stay connected with family and culture.

After graduating from high school in 1972, Richard moved back to Rosebud to attend Sinte Gleska, Spotted Tail, College. It was here that he became involved in the American Indian Movement (AIM). During this tumultuous time, Richard strengthened his connection with relatives and deepened his appreciation for Lakota culture.

Richard wandered for a while, ending up on the island of Maui in Hawaii, where late one night, alone on a deserted beach, Creator responded to Richards desperate prayer, making himself known to him. From that night in 1974 until his passing, Richard was on a spiritual journey to live a meaningful life as a Lakota follower of the Jesus Way.

Richard met and fell in love with Katherine Kroshus, of Vancouver, Washington, and married her in 1976. Richards proudest legacy is his four boys, Andrew (Diana), Phillip, Ian (Toni), and Daniel; and his grandsons, Ezra, Leo and Jude.

In February 1997 Richard and Katherine founded the nonprofit ministry of Wiconi International. Through Wiconi, Richard and Katherine touched the lives of many thousands of people. Richard also cofounded NAIITS (North American Institute for Indigenous Theological Studies); he was chairman of the board for My People International, a member of the CCDA (Christian Community Development Association) and cofounder of Evangelicals for Justice. In 2011 Richard earned his doctorate in missiology from Asbury Theological Seminary. Until his passing, Richard continued his teaching career through the NAIITS program, Portland State University and other institutions of higher education.

Richard authored a number of books, pamphlets and articles over the years. His first book, One Church, Many Tribes, reached many people with the message of an inculturated faith in Jesus.

Richards mother, Winona LaPointe, sisters Elaine and Laurie LaPointe, nieces Stacy (Mark), Melissa (Tony), Jana and their children remain to continue his memory. His brother Tom passed before Richard in 2010.

Composed by Terry LeBlanc, with assistance from Richards family

E ach of us met Richard Twiss at different times, yet each of us met when our own journeys (and Richards) needed additional lift to go forward on our common trail. Whether our first meeting was at a conference, through an introduction, while studying together, or just hanging out and taking a retrospective look at our Creators thoughts, all of us became fast friends with Richard.

We all reflect very similarly on the fact that Richard had the astounding ability to absorb what he read or heard from others, transforming and then seamlessly integrating it into his own thinking. While each of us does somewhat the same thing as a function of our Indigenous communal approach to knowledge, Richard was a master.

It was in Spokane, Washington in 1995 where Richard hit his stride. He had convened a Christ, Culture, and the Kingdom seminar for pastors to present our new ideas about culture and faith. When the conference ended and all the attendees had departed, we turned to one another amazed that non-Indigenous pastors were keenly interested in what we had to say. It was the start of a new era for Indigenous followers of the Jesus Way.

Our individual and collective encounters forged links of deep and unbreakable friendship. Our camaraderie was truly symbiotican idea from one transformed by the other, complete with escalating humor. Our journey together depended so much on humor that after a number of years of tag-team conferences, Richards mom referred to us as a stand-up comedy team. There was never any doubt that Terry was the straight man!