After a foot-tapping bluegrass song by The Berge Family, the Smiths and Berges continue to share about the early development of their family's music ministries, and how those ministries became a very important part of what they did for the Lord. The session then turns towards one of the most difficult challenges any family ministry group faces, that of what happens when the children grow up and enter into that transitional season when love is in the air, relationships begin that end up in marriages that can and often do bring immense change on any family group. The question is, what then? How should a family face times like that when change could change a ministry that God is powerfully using? Ken Berge addresses this challenge by encouraging listeners to allow for the natural transition to a new generation of families, even if it means significant change or even the ending of a great run of family music ministry. The session ends with a meaningful song from the Smiths that feature Craig's father, Ray Smith, in the classic old gospel song, I Should Have Been Crucified, in a re-recording of the Smith Family Trio's version of the song they originally recorded in 1974. Be blessed, dear friend, as our two family's share in the music that shaped decades of our family's life.

Today the Smiths continue their interview with Ken and Becky Berge on the topic of family based ministry. For the Smiths and Berges, it's all about music. The episode begins with a song Craig and LaDonna recorded in both English and Navajo called, I Must Tell Jesus, and it ends with a beautiful A capella rendition of Beulah Land by the Berge Family. In-between, the Smiths and Berges continue their discussion about Ken and Becky and the Berge family's interesting backstory, which includes some fascinating stories that involve WWII, love, and marriage. Two couples from two different families and backgrounds, and a loving God who called them into serving the Lord as a family ministry team are what these episodes are all about. There truly is power in family based ministry, and as this story continues to unfold in the next few weeks, you'll see that clearly. Craig and LaDonna also pray you will be blessed by the addition of the songs of both the Smiths and Berges in each of the sessions in this series. The Smiths and Berges embody the biblical admonition to, Make a joyful noise unto the Lord all the earth. Come before is presence with singing...

Today Craig and LaDonna begin a unique series on the family. Specifically, the power of God as He uses families to serve Him together. And that can be done in many different ways. Craig and LaDonna welcome to the broadcast their dear friends, Ken and Becky Berge. The Smith and Berge families come from the same home church, Cass Lake Alliance Church in Cass Lake, Minnesota. Both families were called by the Lord into music ministries that have taken them across North America and internationally as well. These episodes are unique in that not only will you hear from the couples in this fascinating interview, but you'll hear their music as well. Each episode will include one song from the recording archives of each of the family groups. You'll be amazed by the backstory of the Berge family, and the impact they continue to have in encouraging other families to seek the Lord and find out how He can use them in family based ministry. Ken and Becky are founders of the hugely popular Lake Itasca Family Music Festival, an annual weekend event in early August that drew in 2024 close to 3,500 attendees to listen to the powerful and beautiful harmonies of families that use their gifts to proclaim the gospel in song. You won't want to miss a single episode in this series, friends! Let others know about it and encourage them to listen to these couples as they share principles for families seeking to serve the Lord together!

In today's episode, Pastor Craig takes us to Kiowa country in western Oklahoma where he preached a funeral message for someone he affectionately referred to as his second mother. Alfreda Claus was the matriarch of the well known Claus family, a family that has had a lasting legacy in ministry spanning five generations. This godly mother, wife, grandmother and mentor to many slipped into the presence of the Lord at the age of 92! We encourage you to join Pastor Smith as he honors her life and legacy in a unique sermon he's titled A Beautiful Woman, A Beautiful Land - Celebrating the Life and Legacy of Alfreda Claus. Tell your family and friends to tune in as well, as they will be uplifted by the story of this amazing woman and how her faith sustained her for most of her life. Also, Pastor Smith weaves in the gospel throughout the message, which could encourage your family and friends on to their own saving faith in Christ. We trust you'll be blessed by the story of Alfreda Claus from the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma!

In today's final episode in our series with Pastor Jason French, Craig, LaDonna, and Jason lay out what biblical worship must look like in the context of our Indigenous cultures. God only accepts worship based on His truths, and not the imaginations of the world, regardless of cultures or conditions. It has been a marvelous journey with Pastor French into the Word of God as it speaks to us on worship God accepts. If we, as Indigenous believers and churches desire to be in a blessable position before the Lord, we must meet Him on His terms and not ours. We encourage each of you to hear from the heart of this godly Cherokee leader how he understands worship that is a sweet smelling fragrance in the nostrils of the Lord. No compromise will ever win God's approval, because He has made it clear from His Word how He expects us to come to Himself in humble adoration and worship. Be an Abel, and not a Cain. Bring to Him the items of worship that is acceptable in His sight. Remember, as A.W. Tozer once said, God will save a man, but He will not save him and his idol! We hope you've been blessed, challenged, and have enjoyed this extended visit with Pastor Jason. We know the Smiths were blessed to host him on these powerful editions of Indigenous Faith. We'll see you next week on another edition of this growing broadcast. 'Till then, God bless you abundantly is our prayer!

In this powerful series on biblical worship, Pastor Jason French continues to give his perspective and convictions on how to process any human culture and its influence on worship in the Evangelical Christian church today. Of particular importance, and the focus of this series, is the modern Western culture and the traditional Indigenous culture's influences on biblically based worship. Craig and LaDonna remind listeners about mankind's adulteration of any created thing by turning those items into culturally based objects of worship or utilizing such things as mediatory devices that aid the worshipper in worship and devotion to God. All this leads to idolatry, which God hates and forbids His redeemed people to embrace. The issues are deep, controversial, and can divide believers in Christ into opposing camps of convictions. Thus marring the image and reputation of Jesus Christ among people groups around the world. It's time for God's people to realign themselves under the banner of the cross and in adherence to the truth so clearly laid out in the pages of God's Holy Word! Where do you land, dear friend, in this battle for the mind, will, and emotions of saved believers in Christ? If we are to honor the Lord, the only option is to camp on the side of the truth of God's Word in all aspects of our lives, worship included! Stay strong, and stay tuned as the discussions with Pastor Jason French continue next week. See you then!

Craig and LaDonna Smith continue their fascinating visit with Cherokee Worship Pastor, Jason French, as they continue to dig deep into God's Universal Call to Worship in Psalms 148. Today, the focus is on culture and its effects on worship. Jason shares his perspective on the challenge in the larger culture of turning worship into just another form of entertainment, and then they begin scratching the surface on how traditional Indigenous culture can impact God honoring worship by turning it into a man or culture focused goal instead of true biblical worship of the one true God. He also opens up his heart about something he calls, Cain Worship, which, as we know from Scripture, was him bringing an offering to God in his own kind of worship that he assumed God would be pleased with...but He wasn't! Not all offerings to God are pleasing to Him so we need to take notice about those ways when we are seeking to worship God in ways that not only honor Him, but He accepts as well. Fascinating stuff, dear friends! We trust you are encouraged by the ongoing series on Biblical Worship 101 with Jason French, right her on Indigenous Faith. See you next week for more!

Today, Worship Pastor Jason French (Eastern Band of Cherokee) and the Smiths unpackage the truths found in Psalms 148, which is God's Universal Call to Worship for all of creation. How do inanimate objects worship God is one of the questions Pastor Craig asked Jason. His insight to this and other questions on how things in the heavenly realm and all things on earth praise their Creator is incredibly helpful to help build lasting faith for all people. All of mankind is summoned by God to worship Him, but it must be done in His way is the clear teaching of God's Word. The two original sons that were a part of the Adam and Eve family learned about the fact that God does not welcome all kinds of worship. Cain offered to God some of the fruits of the soil he was tending while his brother Abel offered the fat portions from the firstborn of his flock. God accepted Abel's offering but rejected Cain's offering, resulting in Cain murdering his brother out of jealousy and rage. Why? Because the shedding of blood of a sacrificial animal was a type of the sacrifice Jesus would make on Calvary's cross centuries later to pay the sin debt of each one of us. To learn from God's Word what is acceptable worship and what is not is important to building a biblically healthy Indigenous Faith. As we go from here in this series, the Smiths and Jason French talk about the challenges facing Indigenous people in North America through syncretism and for the larger Western Culture churches, the challenges found by making worship more man focused through entertainment vs. God focused through reverent and meaningful worship. All cultures are affected by sin's curse and can lead us astray very easily, even in the issue of worship. Please, dear friend, take the time to go through the whole series with us. As Pastor Craig says, This is one of the most consequential series we will ever do on the Indigenous Faith broadcast. So please stay with us in the weeks to come for the complete visit with our Cherokee brother, Jason French! You won't be sorry!