Our Story

Then I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, “Whom shall I send, and who will go for Us?” Then I said, “Here am I. Send me!” Isaiah 6:8 (NASB)

  It's amazing how God places an idea or a vision in someone’s mind and, years later, we see how He puts all the pieces together. Hope for Every Nation, Inc. was formed to keep the purpose or calling, that God gave John Hills, active and moving forward. We want to share the Hope and love of God, not only through our words but through our actions, with the native Sioux people living on reservations throughout South Dakota. 

       This is our story...

In 1991 or 92, I was watching the movie Dances with Wolves, on VHS tape (remember what those are?). At the end of the movie, I felt a deep sorrow for the Native American people and anger for how they were mistreated. At that time, I felt God speaking to my heart about sharing His love with them. But between starting a family and the general busyness of life, I put that stirring in my heart away for many years.

Flash forward:  Summer 2005. I had become the youth pastor of our church. Sitting in my office one afternoon, I was thinking about what project our teen ministry could get involved in for the summer of 2006. It was then that I remembered Dances with Wolves, and the stirring in my heart that God gave me. I immediately got online and began searching for a ministry that was working on Indian Reservations, in the US. One of the first ministries that I found was the American Indian Christian Mission (AICM) in Arizona. After contacting the director, I found that they were booked through the summer of 2007. I asked to have some information sent to me and our middle and high Sunday school classes began to send monthly support for a Navajo child to go to school.

Meanwhile, I continued to search for other ministries on reservations. I remembered that Ron Hutchcraft Ministries worked with the Native American people. After contacting his office, I was given the number of Ron’s brother, who was living on a reservation in the mid-west. We exchanged a few calls over the next week, and it ended with Ron’s brother, saying, “Sorry John, we are having some problems out here. I will have to let you know about bringing out a group.”

After a few more attempts at trying to find a ministry to work with, I gave up on a trip for the summer of 2006.  

A week or so later, a brochure from Teen Mission USA, arrived in the mail to the church office. Opening the front cover, I couldn’t believe what I saw: Native American mission trip, July 2006, South Dakota. My heart skipped a beat, I knew this is what I was looking for. I contacted Teen Mission USA and made arrangements to be at their annual meeting in Lexington KY.

After sitting through about 8 hours of meetings, I found that I didn’t fully agree with how Teen Mission USA ran their trips. But I did manage to get a number for Rod Vaughn, the founder and director of Diamond Willow Ministry, located on the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation. After our first phone conversation, Rod and I had planned a trip for the end of July 2006.

In the Summer 2006, fourteen of us flew out to Rapid City, South Dakota. We decided to do some sightseeing on the front end of our trip, and found that a lot of the movie, Dances with Wolves, was filmed in that area. At one of our stops for dinner, there were some of the original buildings and props that had been used in the making of the film.

Diamond Willow Ministry is located about 3 miles from the center of Fort Thompson, along the Missouri River. At that time, they had a Church building (with a fellowship and full kitchen area located in the unfinished basement), a two-sided bunk house, and a horse barn. Rod and his family were waiting on the porch to greet us. Immediately a lasting friendship was formed. That evening we went to the Casino restaurant for dinner and I met Sandy Gabe who happened to have been an “extra” in Dances with Wolves.

Our group had a great week helping with construction in the basement area of the church and spending a lot of time with the children of Fort Thompson. The relationships we built that week would continue for years to come. Before we left, Rod recommended a book for me to read by Winifred Barton- John P. Williamson A Brother to the Sioux. He also invited us to come back out in September, for the dedication of the Christian center.

Over the next 9 years, we would continue working with Diamond Willow and with the families of Fort Thompson. At the end of our trip in 2014, one of the teenagers came out to visit me on my last night. She wanted to know if I would come to her high school graduation the following June. In my mind, I had “big” plans for what we would do for our 10-year anniversary in 2015, but I told her I would think about it.  Morgan held a special place in my heart and as I flew home, I knew that I would not be leading the 2015 trip.

In May of 2015, I drove the 1350+ miles to Fort Thompson with Lois L’Amour and Adventures in Odyssey to keep me company. I remember thinking about wanting to do something more for the teenagers at Crow Creek. Many of those children we’ve spent time with over the years are now teenagers and young adults. I knew how much the teenager’s loved basketball, but I needed something more to draw them in.

Morgan’s graduation started at 2pm on Sunday May 17th in Chamberlain. I arrived early, and found her mom, Chepa. I asked if Morgan knew, and she said she had no clue that I was here. Chepa called Morgan over, and I turned my back so Morgan wouldn’t see me. Chepa told Morgan to turn around, she wanted to inspect the back of her gown, and I turned and moved in behind Morgan. When she turned back, her face and smile lit up so big, and she hugged me so tight, I had to ask her to let go…I couldn’t breathe ☺. It made that long drive so worth it! Chepa asked me and her brother if we would wrap Morgan in a star quilt after she crossed the stage. I was honored to do so.

On Monday morning, I had breakfast with Rod and Dave Thomas at the Casino, and they shared with me all the things God is doing at Fort Thompson, and how He is using the ministry of Diamond Willow. Afterwards, I was sitting down in the fellowship area of the church I heard a woman, Sara Sollars, sharing with one of the teens about her son-in law. He had had a rough life but, after spending some time in jail and in rehab, God changed his life. His name is Ituha Cloud, a Christian hip hop singer with an amazing story to share… Her story started the wheels in my head turning.

After returning home, I called Ituha. Like many people, Ituha didn’t realize how life is on many reservations across our country. He felt compelled to be a part of what God is doing on the Crow Creek reservation. After working through all the details, we partnered with Diamond Willow to do a Teen Event on Saturday November 21st 2015 in Fort Thompson, as well as prepare Thanksgiving meals for the homeless and women’s shelter. Little did I know then that this would be the start of the Hope Tour.

In September of 2016, my son David recommended a movie for me to watch on Netflix, Songs My Brothers Taught Me. This movie is based on the life of a teenager living on the Pine Ridge Reservation.  Albeit a little dramatic, the film got me wondering. Why not take the Hope Tour to Pine Ridge? Of course, it didn’t stop with their… What about doing three events, on three reservations, over three days? I shared my idea with Ituha Cloud. “I’m in!” he said.

This brings us to 2018. With some prompting from close friends and family, I began the paperwork to start our own non-profit organization in Maryland and in February, we received our letter from the IRS:  Dear Applicant: We are pleased to tell you we determined you’re exempt from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRS) Section 501 (c) (3). Donors can deduct contributions they make to you under IRC Section 170.

We are very blessed to be able to continue this journey. As I look back and see God putting all these pieces in place, I am reminded that He is in control of our lives. It’s up to us to listen and obey what He has given us to do. We very much appreciate all the people who have served with us throughout these years and for those who have supported us, and continue to support us; as we continue to plan for future trips. Thank You!