Byan Brightcloud

My name is Bryan Brightcloud. I’m Chiracahua Apache Fort Sill Band, member of the Buffalo clan, and a member of the Yellow Pollen Warrior Society.

When I was 19 years old, I went on a vision quest. I had been to church twice in my life and fell asleep both times. They had to wake me up when church was over. The only reason I went was because our next-door neighbor was a pastor.

When I was 19, I went on my vision quest like most Native young men. I was told by my elders that a coyote, spider, or something is going to come and tell me why I have been given this great gift called life. It was my fifth day fasting and nothing, not even an ant. I thought Creator doesn’t love me. He hasn’t sent me anything.

So, I went to my sister’s house and we were sitting there watching a television show about the life of Jesus. The show didn’t have anything that could be attributed to supernatural things or His deity, just His decisions as a human being. I remember asking, “He’s Apache, isn’t He?” I thought he was Apache because he would always needle His enemies. This is what Apaches do. My sister said, “I don’t know. There are no pictures of him.” I asked, “Where is He from?” She said, “Bethlehem.” I said, “Is that in Arizona?” She said, “I don’t know.” I said, “New Mexico?” She said, “I don’t really know.”

I went back to my vision quest out in the desert, waiting on the Lord. I was waiting and waiting on the Lord and I remember waking up in my sleeping bag with these big bugs crawling all over me. Big old beetles! I got up and brushed them all off. Then I looked over and I saw a manifestation of Jesus, a glowing being. Nobody had to tell me who he was. I knew who he was. I knew that He was Creator God. He communicated with me in a way I can’t describe. Spirit to spirit is the only way I can describe it. And He asked me questions.

How many of you know when God asks questions He is not looking for information? I remember thinking to myself, “I can’t answer these questions He’s asking me.” When you spend time with Jesus, people say, ‘You must have a thousand questions.’ No, you are on your face in His glory. He reveals things to you. Through His Spirit, He revealed all kinds of things to me.