Eagle Wings Ministries

For Native Americans & Friends
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 Rodger and Sarah Niemeier
 
      Sarah Niemeier was born Sarah Ann Haunani Kahaloa in 1956 in Pehua, Hawaii. 
       Sarah experienced physical and emotional abuse in her past,
           from her father's hand growing up, as well as from a former abusive husband.
       Sarah has two daughters and 8 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 and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.
         He came to Christ at Kent State University in 1972 and immediately experienced a 'call' to ministry.
         He graduated from Westminster College (PA) with a Bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and English
           and later graduated from Asbury Theological Seminary (KY) with his Master's in Divinity degree
              (focus on missionary anthropology in relation to Native Americans).
         During these years of training, he also participated in 5 separate short-term missionary trips to Nome, Alaska,
           and there received a 'calling' to minister specifically to Native People - which he 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.
         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 their Native American District.
         So Rodger, along with his wife Sarah and some former Seattle Intertribal Alliance church members,     
           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, vocational counselor, resource advocate and spirituality teacher.
                                                                               

Jess and Loni Faber

 

Jess is Native American and recently completed his Masters degree in Mental Health Counseling in Anchorage, Alaska.  He also formerly worked for the 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 as well as serving this year, 2010, as President of our Board of Directors.  Jess is also presently a therapist with the Quinault Tribe in Washington.


Jess' wife Loni Lou is also serving on the Board of Directors.


 

 

Bob LaFontaine is Turtle Mountain Chippewa.

 

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 Vice-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.



Darin Keuter

 

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