TRAIL OF HEALING Day 2: 'Unity' Marks Second Day Of Mission

30 January 2011

EDITOR'S NOTE: ResonateNews.com Editor Patrick Butler is on the road with the Trail of Healing — a prayer-based convoy composed of people from Louisiana and Texas ministry organizations. The group is traveling El Camino Real de los Tejas in hopes of leaving in their wake peace and restoration from historical transgressions. The trail has six key stops and ends in Roma, Texas, on Wednesday.

By Patrick Butler
ResonateNews.com

NACOGDOCHES, Texas — The Trail of Healing arrived here Saturday on the second of a six-day journey across Texas. A group of intercessors from prayer-based organizations throughout Texas and Louisiana —where the trail began —are taking part in the sojourn in hopes of leaving peace and closure in their wake. Several stops along the trail hold painful memories for Native Americans.

Photo By Jeff Attaway
The Trail of Healing ran through Nacogdoches, Texas, on Saturday. It continues in Bryan, Texas, on Sunday.
“I've never seen anything like this in my 26 years of ministry,” the Rev. Ken Stone, pastor of First Baptist Church of Clayton in Carthage, Texas, said Saturday. Stone accompanied 25 others at the beginning of the Trail of Healing meetings in northwest Louisiana. “The unity flow and prayers of the people in five different locations was inspiring,” Stone said. Prayers were offered by every member of the group in unstructured prayers that opened the door to everyone contributing, he said.

The trail ends in Roma, Texas, on Wednesday.

According to tradition, Nacogdoches was founded by a Caddo Native American chief whose twin brother settled Natchitoches, La., — the first stop along the trail that runs along El Camino Real de los Tejas. Nacogdoches was also a major travel route during the Texas War of Independence in the 1830s.

Nacogdoches was home to several Native American tribes for generations before they were driven away from their land by European settlers in the mid-1800s.

“Historical issues such as slavery, bloodshed and covenant-breaking with Native Americans that has brought bareness and poverty to our land were prayed for,” Stone said. “Today was the perfect example of taking church outside the four walls and into the public domain where it belongs.”

Saturday's meetings in Nacogdoches at Millard's Crossing Historic Village were opened by Native Americans — Comanche Mark Waueoauh and Caddo Janet Butler.

“To pray for Texas” said the Rev. Dr. Tom Schlueter, “we must start with Native Americans. It is a protocol that has far too often been ignored — no longer.”

NEXT STOP: Bryan, Texas

NOTE: ResonateNews.com Writer Raymond Billy contributed to this report.