Eagle Wings Ministries

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 Rodger and Sarah Niemeier
 
      Sarah Niemeier was born Sarah Ann Haunani Kahaloa in 1956 in Pehua, Hawaii. 
       Sarah has experienced physical and emotional abuse over many years in her past,
           from her father's hand growing up, as well as from a former abusive husband.
       Sarah has two daughters and 7 grandchildren.
       Sarah has been in Christ for over 16 years, active in church life & ministry,
           with ministry gifts in domestic violence advocacy & counseling for the healing of abuse.
 
       Rodger was born (1952) and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
         He came to Christ at Kent State University in 1972 and experienced a 'call' to ministry.
         He graduated from Westminster College (PA) with a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies
           and later graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary (KY) with his Master's in Divinity
              (focus on missionary anthropology in relation to Native Americans).
         During these years of training, he also spent 5 separate short-term missionary trips to Nome,
           Alaska, after receiving a 'call' of ministry to Native People - which he yet follows to this day.
         Rodger also spent 8 years during this time as an assistant minister at Life Anew Ministries in Dayton, Ohio:
           a live-in ministry, founded by Sonny Cuesta, primarily for young people coming out of drug addictions.
         He also spent 5 years during this same time as a Bible and English teacher at Dayton Christian Schools Middle Schl.
       In 1988 he moved with his family to Seattle, WA, to plant a urban Native American church as part of the Native
         American District of the Christian & Missionary Alliance organization. The church-plant was called Seattle Intertribal
         Alliance Church; it began in 1989 and closed in 2002 when the Alliance dissolved the Native American District.
       So Rodger, along with his wife Sarah and former Seattle Intertribal Alliance church members Lewis Johns and Bob     
         LaFontaine, re-organized the ministry into Eagle Wings Native American Ministries, officially incorporating in 2004.
       Since 1999, Rodger has also been working for the inpatient treatment program of the Seattle Indian Health Board
         as a teacher of adult education, spiritual director and vocational counselor.
                                                                                   

 Darin and Lena Keuter

 

Darin is of the Coeur D'Alene tribe of Idaho.  He is a practicing Chemical Dependency Professional, presently counseling through the Seattle Indian Health Board inpatient and outpatient treatment programs.  He has completed his Master's Degree in Counseling, is a fully certified Washington State mental health counselor, and is proceeding to work on his Doctoral degree.  Darin brings needed gifts and abilities for the counseling focus of Eagle Wings Ministries in its development.  He, too, has experienced firsthand the life of chemical dependency.

 

 

Bob LaFontaine is Turtle Mountain Chippewa.  He went to a Catholic Indian Mission School up through 8th grade. 

Like Lewis, Bob was a member of our former Native church and came to Christ at a men's breakfast several years ago. 

He is currently serving as our Board President.  Bob has worked with Native and non-Native families and youth over his years in Social Service.  He has his BA degree in sociology, with a minor in education, from the University of North Dakota.  He has a Master's degree in Public Administration.  Bob has spent 14 years in the educational field as a teacher, counselor, and administrator; and 12 years in social work and CPS (Child Protective Services).  Bob has a proven heart and aptitude in working with people. Having recently retired, he loves spending much of his time with his wife, children and grandkids.

 

Jess and Loni Faber

 

Our most recent Board members, joining in June, 2008, Jess is Native American and recently completed his Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling in Anchorage, Alaska.  He also formerly worked for Thunderbird Treatment Center of the Seattle Indian Health Board, where he connected with Rodger and Eagle Wings a few years ago.  Jess will also bring much-needed counseling skills to Eagle Wings Ministries.