Wyoming church told to leave Native American reservation over viral sermon clip

A church in Wyoming that for 10 years has ministered to Native Americans was told to vacate its reservation-based property after a sermon clip generated a local controversy. The Northern Arapaho Business Council earlier this month told the Foundations for Nations church to leave the Wind River Indian Reservation, according to a report by The Ranger, a local news outlet.

What was in the sermon clip that got so much attention? The clip that went viral was from a July 5 sermon by Pastor Sarah Lucas in which she criticized elements of a Native American sun dance. The full sermon was not available on the Foundations for Nations YouTube channel as of Friday, but a portion of the sermon had been widely shared on social media. In the clip, Lucas characterized Native Americans as praying to pipes and to ancestors for healing from sickness and addiction. She challenged the practice, arguing for the Biblical view that Jesus Christ is the only source of healing and forgiveness.

“Jesus is the chain-breaker,” she said. “He is the only God that we should be praying to.  A pipe cannot hear your prayers. It’s just a piece of material.”

What’s wrong with that? The clip drew widespread criticism from some, who characterized it as an attack on Native American spirituality. Among the most recognizable critics was Christian Wassana, a cast member of the widely acclaimed drama series Yellowstone. Wassana said in an Instagram post that Lucas’ sermon felt like “an act of genocide” and history repeating itself. He insisted that Jesus would encourage Native Americans to continue with singing their songs and attending their ceremonies.

How has the church responded? In a statement sent to WORLD, Lucas cited numerous ways in which Foundation for Nations poured into the community financially: Through its food bank, services to the homeless, and Christmas programs. But she said the church’s most valuable gift to the Native American community was the gospel of Jesus Christ.

"This has never been about attacking a people or their ethnicity," she wrote. "It has always been about pointing people to Jesus. Christianity is not merely a religion; it is a relationship with the living Savior who gave His life for us."

Lucas said the church would continue to operate on reservation land, which she said was owned through a fee simple deed—a form of land ownership that grants the owner all traditional property rights. She also went on to thank members of the Shoshone, Arapaho, Lakota, Navajo, and other Native American tribes, who she said offered the church their support.

Dig deeper: Listen to my report from two years ago profiling members of Foundation for Nations’ congregation.