In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna continue to unpackage the importance of understanding the two historical covenants God made, the first with Israel and the second with the Church. The Church has not replaced Israel, and now, since the day Jesus died on the Cross, Israel must join the other Gentile nations in obedience to the second covenant, which was established when Jesus shed His blood for the sins of the world. We all must now come to faith in Christ alone if we are to be eternally saved. This episode also uncovers the important reality that even though the nation of Israel was scattered and dispersed around the world 2,000 years ago, the most amazing miracle took place on May 4, 1948 when Israel once again was officially declared a nation as they regained their ancestral, God given homeland in the heart of the Middle East. That single day will go down in human history as the beginning of the world's clock beginning to officially wind down to the Second Coming of Jesus Christ to earth! That clock still ticks, and is nearing what some refer to as the Midnight Hour when the church is raptured, and seven years later, Jesus, and all His redeemed ones will return to earth to fight the final battle that ushers in an actual millennial reign of Christ on earth! Wow, there's so much to cover as the Smiths walk us through the biblical teaching on the end days. Even the preliminary sessions on getting the context right is an exciting journey into the Scriptures. Imagine what the rest of the story will reveal about God's plan for mankind, the earth as we know it, and eternity's promise! Stay tuned, dear friends, as the Smiths continue to teach on this exciting subject on this and upcoming editions of Indigenous Faith!

In this second episode of The King is Coming - Getting the Context Right, Craig and LaDonna Smith continue to present biblical passages that help us understand the role of Israel, not only in the whole panorama of the Bible, but specifically as it relates to end times teaching. Craig and LaDonna give clear biblical context to the two covenants God has established historically. The first covenant is specifically with the Jews, while the second covenant encompasses believers in Christ from every tribe, language, people, and nation. The Smiths clarify two important false teachings, including Replacement Theology and Dual Covenant Theology. Both are critical to understanding true biblical prophecy concerning the Second Coming of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Join Craig and LaDonna as the continue to lay the building blocks to an important foundation on which end times prophecy is built on as they continue to present God's Word in today's edition of Indigenous Faith.

In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna launch a brand new series titled "The King is Coming!" It's going to be an extended teaching series on the second coming of Jesus Christ as outlined in the Scriptures. The first part of the series is all about getting the context right, which is important to understanding what the Bible really says about the end times. The first part of context has to do with the people of Israel and their role in end time events. There's different interpretations of what the Bible teaches but Craig and LaDonna focus on what they believe with all their heart is what the Scriptures clearly say about God's Chosen People. As we go into further episodes in this first part of the teaching, the Smiths will grapple with questions like, "Is God done with Israel? Has He replaced Israel as His people of the Covenant with the Church and sees the church as taking over Israel's role in the world? There's so much to cover in this series on what the theologians refer to as "eschatology." But before they do, the Smiths share their heart in a moving tribute to Charlie Kirk, who was gunned down on the campus of Utah Valley University on September 10th. Thank you for joining the Smiths as they present this week's edition of Indigenous Faith!

In this, the third and final episode of this amazing visit with T.J. Valtierra, the Smiths as this great young leader of the future what his hopes, dreams, and vision is for his life and ministry, and the inner-city that is so heavy on his heart. T.J. truly does have vision, and he articulates it in a clear and compelling way. In what is a real ongoing redemption story, God has taken this former prodigal, saved him, delivered him, and now uses him to spread the gospel in not only word, but in deed as well. Aren't you blessed to hear this story? There's not many that can match the total amazingness of this life and hope story. And as heavy the discussion has been over these three episodes, the episode ends on a wonderful high not as T.J. talks about being honored by the Minnesota Vikings professional football team for his community service as one of their Hometown Heroes recognition. Included in that honor were two tickets to that year's Super Bowl! It's true that every once and a while God shows great favor on His servants. And for T.J., this was a great honor. It makes us wonder about the honors that are in store for faithful servants like T.J. Valtierra in heaven. As good as this earthly honor was, I'll be looking to see his eternal reward in a. place called Paradise! That's a long way from the inner-city mayhem he's been faithful to serve in here on earth! What a great story! What a great God!

As the Smiths continue their fascinating interview with T.J. Valtierra, T.J. shares how even with such a tough upbringing for all his siblings, including crime, drugs, abuses, gangs, prison, shootings, stabbings, etc., all his siblings now share the gospel of Jesus Christ after He did a salvation work in all their lives! In what continues to be an incredible story of this Native family, we see the redemptive work of the Lord Jesus in some very powerful ways. From there, the discussion moves to how the story that made international news a few years ago about George Floyd hit very close to home for T.J. and his family. T.J. shares his heart on what he and the whole city of Minneapolis experienced in the aftermath of Floyd's death at the hands of Minneapolis police officers. T.J.'s perspective is filled with wisdom that transcends politics and the divisive nature of that difficult time in America's recent history that's worth the time to listen to what he has to say. The more and more the Smiths get to know this dear brother in Christ, the greater respect they have for him and the God T.J. serves. This is a story worth listening to, and we're glad you are along for the ride! To God be the glory, great things He has done is all the Smiths are left with saying as they heard his story first hand, and now bring to you, faithful listeners to the Indigenous Faith podcast/broadcast. Be blessed, dear friends, as you listen to this second part of the remarkable VIP interview with T.J. Valtierra on Indigenous Faith!

The Navajo have a very expressive term for the English expression, "Oh my goodness!" It's Yah-di-lah! All LaDonna and Craig Smith can say regarding the life story of this truly Victorious Indigenous Person, T.J. Valtierra is, YAH-DI LAH! The backstory of this amazing servant of Christ is so incredibly challenging it seems even Hollywood would find it hard pressed to capture it in a blockbuster movie! But true it is, as told right from this amazing warrior for Christ, T.J. Valtierra. Like many Native people in North America, T.J. and his family was raised in the urban inner-city. His parents continue to maintain a faithful ministry of over fifty-years, and yet, for all his siblings, crime, drugs, violence, gangs, and other inner-city woes are their stories. But yet, as you'll hear in this amazing multi-episode series, there is redemption for all at the foot of the cross. Now, T.J. is one of the most powerful young Native preachers in all of Native North America as he continues to serve the Lord in the same inner-city environment that stole so much of his youth and life. The Smiths are privileged to work with T.J. and other young Native ministry workers through their ongoing partnership with On Eagle's Wings and their Warrior Leadership Summit, which is where the Smiths caught up with T.J. and his beautiful young family in the summer of 2025. This is one story you will not want to miss one episode of dear friends. What's better than reading about the life and times of T.J. Valtierra? Well, listening to the life and times of T.J. Valtierra! So without any further delay, the Smiths are excited to share with you this remarkable VIP visit with their dear brother in Christ, T.J.!

In this third and final episode in this VIP series with Colleen Estes and Mario Keeper from the remote First Nations community of Pikangikum, Ontario, Canada, these two warriors for Christ continue to share about the new work of God in their lives, as well as their community. Known historically as one of the darkest communities in Native North America with way too many suicides, substance abuses, etc., hope is on the horizon through the power of the Spirit of God now at move in new and unprecedented ways. Mario's renewal in his heart with his God is resulting in him completing a degree he was so close to completing nearly a decade ago, and now knows God's calling him into pastoral ministry! Whether that be in Pikangikum or somewhere else, the Smiths are confident that God will use all he's gone through and how God has worked in his life recently, to become a powerful proclaimer of the liberating truth of the gospel. And the Smiths continue to thank the Lord for the faithfulness of their dear sister and colleague in ministry, Colleen Estes, as she continues to serve the the Lord until He takes her home and they lay her body in the ground in her beloved community of Pikangikum. She is truly a hero of the faith just like the mighty men of valor and great sufferers Hebrews refers to, and of whom is said, The world was not worthy of! The Smiths pray the Lord will have encouraged your own heart and soul by the faith of these two servants of Christ, so different, so diverse, yet so close to the Lord and to each other. It illustrates the power of the Lord to bring those who come from such diverse backgrounds and upbringings together into a team that serves Christ and His Great Commission so well. Mario and Colleen, great is your reward in heaven!

In today's episode, Mario Keeper tells of the healing power of Christ in his life in dealing with the loss over the years of three siblings to suicide, and how he now has not only a renewed passion for Christ, but for his community as well. Colleen Estes shares the impact Mario and other Native young believers are having in the community as their lives are given over to Christ. The discussion then changes to the serious challenges they and other northern communities have experienced not only in past years, but even this year, and even while they've been at the Warrior Leadership Summit as raging wildfires threaten northern communities including Pikangikum. So many challenges, yet God continues to work in and through these two servants of Christ. This, the most isolated community in all of Native North America, yet Pikangikum was the largest community represented at WLS this year! Truly, the Scriptures Colleen claimed about sowing in tears yet reaping in joy were being fulfilled right before her eyes, and the Smith's were eyewitnesses to that reality. Stay tuned next week, dear friend, for the final episode in this amazing VIP visit with Colleen Estes and Mario Keeper! You won't want to miss it!