As we launch into today's episode of Indigenous Faith, Craig continues to share the remarkable experience he had in 2009 when he died in an emergency room in Santa Fe, New Mexico. But he didn't stay dead, instead, the doctors pushed blood and fluids back into him and got his heart started again. As amazing as that medical intervention was, there was a much greater intervention, and that was Craig's experience as he passed through death's door only to return by the miraculous hand of Almighty God! And that experience alone has dramatically affected his life since then. Where was Jesus at the point of death? Craig unpackages that important reality that, for him, helped faith overcome fear in the most horrific part of his traumatic experience in the Miracle at Mile Marker 313. From there, the Smiths continue through the text they are teaching from and address what Revelation 2:9 spoke about pertaining to the false Jews who were Jews by name only, yet were more aligned with Satan's side than God's. And the church in Smyrna had to deal with that reality. From there, Craig begins to unpackage what the Scriptures said about Smyrna, that while they were in poverty, yet at the same time they were incredibly prosperous. The actual word Jesus used was they were rich! In fact, richer than many kings and powerful leaders who had wealth untold. And this is where this episode makes an unexpected turn as Craig presents a very interesting way he defines the false teaching of the health and wealth prosperity gospel found in modern Christianity, and as seen on many Christian television programs. He actually goes as far as to call those who preach this false gospel, Christianity's Medicine Men and Medicine Women! What does he mean by that!? You'll just have to stay tuned for this very unique and stunning episode of Indigenous Faith! Get ready for some amazing moments ahead with Craig and LaDonna Smith and their Indigenous Faith teaching!

In today's episode, Craig and LaDonna continue unpacking Christ's words to the church in Smyrna. The passage under consideration is Revelation 2:8-11. Today's focus is from Christ's admonition to them about the persecutions they are and were to suffer for His name's sake. The Smiths shared in last week's episode about the severe suffering that had taken place in the region under ten powerful leaders of the Roman Empire and the great faith that believers had while facing persecutions that often led to violent and painful deaths. Today, the Smith's contrast the heroic efforts the churches had in the face of great tyranny and suffering with the cowardly way many of these ten Roman emperor's lives ended. What a sharp contrast it was. Using some great information from Dr. David Jeremiah's teaching and preaching on the events of Revelation 2, the Smith's take the rest of today's episode to share some of the ways, in their own personal journeys through pain and suffering, they were able to see faith trump fear, time and time again. Suffering has always been, is now, and will be until Jesus comes again, part of the life of His Church and His children. The question the Smiths leave us all is, are we willing, ready and enabled to face suffering when it comes our way? Be encouraged, dear friends, because Christ's indwelling power can and will see us through every trial that may come until we see Him face to face! What a great hope Revelation gives the believer! Live in it and rejoice that we are more than conquerers through Him that loved us, and loves us still!

Today, Craig and LaDonna Smith return to their teaching series on Christ's words to the seven churches in Asia Minor. Their focus today, and in in a few more episodes to come, is the church in Smyrna, found in Revelation 2:8-11. Smyrna is only one of two churches of the seven that received commendation from Christ, and no condemnation from Him. The Smiths walk us all through the highlights of this church, including the fact that they were a persecuted church, which brought praise from the Lord as to how they persevered under pressure. He also noted of them that they were not, in the eyes of the world, wealthy people or a wealthy church. He said "I know your poverty - yet you are rich! What did Jesus mean by that? Well, the Smiths help unpackage what Jesus said, and support it with other biblical passages that share the same sentiment. It's a great launch into the words of Christ to this second of the seven churches included in the Book of Revelation. We at TRM hope you will stay with the Smiths all the way through their important study on eschatology (end times), while focusing on the Book of Revelation as the launching point into all of the Scriptures and it's prophetic teaching to the world. If you are joining us recently, you might want to go back to the very first episode they launched on prophecy. To do so you'd have to go all the way back to the September 17, 2025 episode to begin this journey. Don't worry, you'll have plenty of time to catch up, as this series is a long way from completion. But isn't it interesting stuff? See you next week, dear friend! And, stay tuned!