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This document is part of a larger cluster of articles about InterVarsity
chapter planting at https://www.intervarsity.org/mx/page/chapterplanting
OGLALA LAKOTA COLLEGE
by Rick Demarest
The Campus
Oglala Lakota College provides education and training to members of the
Oglala Sioux tribe. It is located on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South
Dakota. It has an enrollment of 1500 students. There are nine districts on
the reservation and each district has a college center and there is a tenth
center in Rapid City which is about 90 miles from the reservation. The
college is decentralized to make it more accessible and culturally
respectful. It is 100% commuter and is primarily attended by Native
Americans. It also has a high non-traditional student population.
The Challenges
Each center has its own identity and community. There does not seem to be a
clear academic identity on the reservation. Because of the setting,
ministry to students must mean ministry to the community, i.e. most
students’ identity is through their family and/or the town they live in.
Campus Contacts
I was invited to the reservation by a pastor. There is also one faculty
person who attends the church.
What We’re Doing
I am taking a Lakota Language class and I’m meeting some students this way.
I know three students and have invited two of them to InterVarsity
conferences.
The Vision
I am committed to learning the culture, building relationships with
students and learning what it will look like to gather students in this
setting. I gain the most hope from prayer and the relationships which I
currently have with high school kids and a couple of college students.
God is Working
The first Sunday after I moved to the reservation I met a nursing student
at the college. He was new to town and came to church that Sunday and we
met. Steve and I now have a strong relationship. He has looked at some NCF
material and is interested in leading a Bible study with his colleagues.
Help Needed
Working on a commuter campus is brand new to me. I could learn from what
others have done on these types of campuses. My AD and RD are very
supportive so I have that for encouragement.
My biggest challenge personally is learning about two new cultures at the
same time. The Lakota culture is new to me, plus I’m learning about
ministry in a commuter campus setting as well. I am also at a stage in life
where energy for new relationships isn’t as strong as it used to be.
This has been a time of trusting God in a fresh way and reminds me of the
faith it takes to step out into a new adventure. So far I am mainly
noticing how God is at work in my life through this journey.
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