Sign Language: A Look at the Historic and Prophetic Landscape

by Terry M. Wildman

Terry Wildman writes of a justice long-denied, not only for Native peoples who have suffered the loss of lands, livelihood, and life as the American empire spread across the continent, but also for those who struggle for life and liberty to this very day. Like the prophets of Israel, he seeks to correct our eyesight-to set before us God's vision and God's truth and to expose things that we, the American church, would rather not see about ourselves. Like the biblical prophets, he shoulders a burden that he bears out of love for God, the people of God, and the nation. Terry knows what God's ancient messengers knew, that right remembering is essential for right believing and right living. He not only sees the past well, he knows how to read the present and direct us into God's future. From the Foreword by: L. Daniel Hawk Professor of Old Testament and Hebrew Ashland Theological Seminary, Ohio Author of Joshua in 3-D: A Commentary on Biblical Conquest and Manifest Destiny

Genres: Religion, History

234 pages, Paperback

First published November 25, 2011

About the author

Terry Wildman was born and raised in lower Michigan. He is of Ojibwe (Chippewa) and Yaqui ancestry. Terry is a published author, recording artist, songwriter, storyteller, and public speaker.

He is the "Chief" of Rain Ministries, a nonprofit organization based in Arizona. Since the year 2000 as "RainSong", he and his wife Darlene have invested their lives in sharing the message of Jesus with Native Americans.

Terry is the author and project manager of the First Nations Version: New Testament published by InterVarsity Press.

He is also the Director of Spiritual Growth and Leadership Development for Native InterVarsity.

RainSong has produced four music CD's: Sacred Warrior, Rising Sun, Rise Up and Dance and Hoop of Life. Their music style is a folk-rock blend with Native American instruments and melodies.

In 2004 RainSong was nominated for a Grammy award and two Nammy awards. In 2005 they won the "American Christian Music Award" for the category of "Favorite Band/Duo-Breakout." In 2008 they were nominated for two Nammy Awards, one for "Best Song of the Year," All Colors Together, and for "Best Gospel Recording" for their CD Rise Up and Dance. Terry and Darlene were presenters that year at the awards ceremony held in Niagara Falls, New York.

As RainSong Terry and Darlene have also produced a storytelling CD with a musical background called The Great Story from the Sacred Book. This CD won the Nammy (Native American Music Award) for "Best Spoken Word" in 2009. Soon after they released a booklet to complement the CD through Indian Life Ministries based in Manitoba, Canada, (indianlife.org).

Reviews

[Loren O'Laughlin · Rating 5 out of 5]

The opening of the book covers good history. History Americans, especially Christian Americans need to be grounded in inorder to read the news today with clear understanding. The close of the book is an invitation to fellowship and to considering what reconciliation looks like. I’m coming to this book many years after it was written and Terry’s ministry has continued, so it leads me to have a lot of questions about how things played out after publication since it seemed he was just getting started.

[8thday4life · Rating 5 out of 5]

An a Non-native (as in.. white as you can get) this book was an eye-opener for me and I experienced a wide range of feelings from grief to anger, and also frustration that I was never aware most of the things in this book. I believe the issues raised in this book are crying out to be heard, acknowledged, and addressed on many levels. I greatly desire to see healing and reconciliation, and a continuing pursuit of justice for the First Nations.