Coming in a Good Way is a phrase in Native InterVarsity intended to convey a manner, posture, or philosophy of relating to others. It is widely embodied among First Nations protocols. Some of us learned the wisdom of our people first, and later experienced Jesus. Others learned the ways of Jesus first and through Him heard the invitation to personal integrity -- to "re-integrate" who we were created to be as Native people. From either direction we see harmonies: the gifts of Creator in our ways and stories, and the manner and teaching of Creator Sets Free, Jesus, mutually enrich us. If Jesus is truly Creator's Son as he says, then this is as it should be. He fulfils all. His is the Good Story, the Gospel.

The Good Story brings freedom and healing, but it is hard work. It is hard, in part, because so many things get mixed up in out lives to skew our perception and practice of God's goodness: selfishness, greed, violence, arrogance, and all the other ills that beset us, individually perpetrated and inherited in false thought structures and social and cultural institutions. With his help, we have to sort it all out.

One of those helps is the perspective of others who also follow Jesus. It is in this spirit that we offer these Coming in a Good Way materials. We do not intend to offer novel interpretations. We hope rather to offer old wisdom with fresh relevance at this cultural moment.

Native InterVarsity Leaders