Dakota Sonshine - Reaching Native Americans - Mission Projects, Mission Opportunities

About Us

Don and Teena Lykins, Founders of Dakota Sonshine Ministries

Dakota Sonshine was founded in 1999 and became a non-profit organization in 2003. During that time the Lykins received training at the Center for Intercultural Training in Rutherfordton, NC and continued to learn the culture that they are serving while on the field. In 2001 Don took a voluntary furlough from USAirways Inc. and moved to South Dakota along with his wife Teena and their 4 younger children; Jared, Elizabeth, Samuel and Abigail. They currently reside in Sisseton, SD on the Lake Traverse Indian Reservation where they serve the Sisseton-Wahpeton Oyate, 2 bands of the Dakota Indians.

Their goals are to:

Raise up a healthy church as a foundation for the ministry and train people in grace and reconciliation.
Develop a summer camp for children living in the area to further communicate the values of both Christian and native culture and to introduce them to God’s grace and Christ’s love.
Host short term mission teams during the summer months for outreach in the local housing areas and construction projects.
Host summer interns who will help with construction projects during the development stages and do outreach in the local housing areas through backyard Bible clubs etc. enabling better relationships and follow up.

In the future Dakota Sonshine hopes to run week long overnight camps for up to 50 boys or girls with activities including archery, tomahawk throwing, horsemanship, low ropes courses, hiking and other activities that can be used to share the gospel and values reflected in the native American culture that parallel Christian values. Outreach into the housing areas will continue and a future bus ministry developed to reach those who aren’t comfortable attending a regular “traditional” Sunday service.

Prayer requests:
1)    Financial: Please pray that the needs of Dakota Sonshine are met through financial gifts and monthly support.
2)    Spiritual: God has opened many doors this summer. Please pray for those doors to continue to stay open and for growth in the church and ministry as well as those who are being wooed by the Holy Spirit to give their lives to Christ.
3)    Practical: We are praying for $3500 so that we can begin the process of erecting a Sprung’s Industry fabric structure on the property for church and discipleship.
4)    Pray for the Lykins’ family, the Dakota Sonshine board of directors and the church elders as they face important decisions and seek God’s direction.

For more information or to support Dakota Sonshine financially please contact us HERE.