Background

It is difficult to describe just how, or put a date on just when, Diamond Willow Ministries began. It was, and remains, a process of taking small steps of faith as God opens doors of opportunity. What is evident, is that God has put in motion his people, both from within the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation and from off reservation, to bring hope....

Diamond Willow Ministries Timeline

11/1991 Rod Vaughn begins working at U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in Fort Thompson. Rod and

his wife Val move to Highmore, SD, which is thirty-five miles north of Fort Thompson.

02/1995 God provides an opportunity for the Vaughns to purchase forty acres of land located three miles west of Fort Thompson within the Crow Creek Sioux Reservation.

05/1999 The Vaughns move to the reservation and begin doing special youth events, having Sunday worship service in their home, start a Bible study, and begin supporting individuals and organizations such as the Boys and Girls Club with needed food and emergency financial assistance.

10/2001 The Vaughns, along with a few Native American families, form the Christian non-profit relief organization, Diamond Willow Ministries (DWM).

10/2002 A group from DWM attends the National Missionary Convention in Wichita, KS. There they meet several individuals and organizations that feel called to come along side DWM and help build a building on the reservation.

04/2003 The Vaughns donate six acres of land to DWM for construction of buildings.

05/2003 Construction begins on a bunkhouse on DWM property as well as an access road, water and electrical utilities.

11/2003 DWM is donated its’ first two Sioux-lineage Curly horses: Dancer and Curly Bear.

11/2003 The walls that will become the Ikce Oyate Christian Center are built at the National Missionary Convention in Cincinnati, OH and then shipped to the reservation.

05/2004 Onsite construction of the Ikce Oyate Christian Center begins.

09/2005 The horsebarn/shop building is constructed.

10/2006 The onsite housing duplex walls are constructed at the National Missionary Convention in Indianapolis, IN.

02/2007 Rod Vaughn resigns from his secular profession and begins working fulltime as the Director of Diamond Willow Ministries.

03/2007 Onsite construction of the housing duplex begins.

08/2007 The Ikce Oyate Christian Center is completed.

02/2008 The onsite housing duplex is completed.