Gerald Yellowhawk Recognized as Respected Elder

A Respected Elder - Dr. Gerald Yellowhawk

We are pleased to announce that Dr. Gerald Yellowhawk has been recognized as Respected Elder for Wesleyan Native Ministries.

“We are honoring Dr. Yellowhawk for his lifetime of ministry as a pastor, district superintendent, leader, mentor and friend in The Wesleyan Church and Wesleyan Native Ministries,” said Rev. Rich Avery, WNM’s director.

Jerry, as his friends call him, graduated from WNM’s former Brainerd Bible School in 1960 with degrees in human services and religion.  His first congregation was in Pierre, SD, where Jerry served as an associate pastor for five years.

From Pierre he went to Eagle Butte, SD, on the Cheyenne River Reservation (where he grew up), and founded the Cheyenne River Lakota Chapel.  He pastored there for eighteen years.  In 1985 the Yellowhawks moved to Rapid City, SD when Jerry took a position with Wesleyan Native Ministries.  He worked for us in various capacities, including district superintendent, until his retirement in 2001.

In his retirement years, Jerry has continued his call by working on a Lakota translation of the Bible.  According to a feature article in the Fall, 2007 edition of Black Hills Faces magazine:

Existing Lakota translations date to the late 1800s and were literal translations written by non-Native missionaries.  Jerry recognized the need to translate the Bible into the everyday language of the Lakota people in ways that would speak to their hearts – and there was no one more qualified to take on this project than a Lakota man who had Christian convictions and a wealth of experience pastoring his people.

So far, with the help of grants and a few assistants, he has finished the book of Luke and is part-way through Acts.  It is a long and complex process, but Jerry is undeterred.  “It’s very necessary.  It’s more human for us in Lakota,” he says.

Aside from his translation work, Jerry is spending his retirement painting, beadworking, traveling to art show and pow-wows, and guest-speaking at churches – as well as enjoying the legacy of seven grandchildren and four great grandchildren.

Whatever he does, Gerald Yellowhawk’s work is rooted in the deep values of his Lakota and Christian heritage.  “It’s been a good journey,” he says.

Jerry also serves on the Native Ministry Leadership Team in the Dakota District of The Wesleyan Church, and he preaches in the Eagle Butte church once a month.

We celebrate Jerry, and his wife Johanna, for over 50 years of humble and faithful service to the Lord – “Still following the risen Son,” as he likes to say.  And we’re grateful for his willingness to serve with us as Respected Elder.

We’ll soon begin featuring Jerry’s writing and thinking on our website and other media, on various subjects related to Native culture, Christianity, leadership development and more.  We want to share his insight, wisdom and experience with others, especially future generations of Native leaders.