Native Son Ministries

The Rev. Manuel Castro
Native American Ministries

 Bringing the Gospel of our Lord Jesus to the Native American People

As a minister and guest speaker, Manuel speaks at Churches, detention centers, schools and other community gatherings.  Manuel’s testimony about past gang involvement, drug abuse, time spent in detention centers and prisons has prepared him to reach out with love and compassion to those who face similar challenges.  As a minister and substance abuse counselor Manuel has answered the call of the Creator to work in his community.  Native Son Ministries is planting seeds of faith on the Reservations and in the communities of the South West USA. Manuel is ministering through prayer, encouragement to the youth, counseling, home blessings and the Native American Sweat Lodge.

The Sweat Lodge
Rev. Manuel bringing Jesus to the Lodge

The Sweat Lodge is probably the most recognized of all Native American Ceremonies. While there are as many ways to conduct this ceremony as there are sweat lodge leaders, there are many elements that are consistent with all Sweat Lodges.  The lodge itself is built from willow saplings or some other supple wood frame.  This frame is in the form of a half-dome and covered with blankets and tarps. When completely covered, it can be very dark inside, even in the daylight.  Adjacent to the lodge is a fire pit used to heat up rocks.  These rocks are usually volcanic and are called "Stone People," they represent our oldest living relatives.  When the stones are good and hot, they are brought into the lodge where the participants have gathered.  Water is poured onto the Stones creating steam. The Sweat Leader holds the sacred space and helps the participants with prayer and songs.  This is a ceremony of purification and prayer.  In the heat and the darkness of the lodge, we can come closer to ourselves, closer to the Creator and closer to understanding each other.

mcastro@nativeconnections.org