Gordon and Sheila Thayer’s Story and the History of Overcomers Ministry

Finding Faith

Gordon Thayer was raised in the Lac Courte Oreilles (La-coot-ooray) Ojibwe Tribe near Hayward, Wisconsin. After two tours in Vietnam, he served on his Tribal Governing Board for 12 years including four years as Chairman. However, he was tormented by his addictions and Native American spiritual practices. As a result, Gordon had no relief until 1982, when he found new life in Jesus Christ.

Graduate School and Ministry

In 1985, Gordon received a Bush Foundation Leadership Fellowship to earn a Masters degree in Education Administration. He joined the Bureau of Indian Affairs, in Minneapolis. About this time, he also began ministering in the evenings to Native Americans in his neighborhood who struggled with alcohol addition.

In 1988, Gordon and his wife, Sheila, founded Overcomers Outreach Ministries Inc. (Overcomers Ministries). Since 1990, Overcomers Ministries has also hosted many evangelistic projects, support groups, homeless housing, jail visitation, and summer family camps.  In addition, the Thayers were ordained in 1992 by International Ministerial Fellowship.

FBI Award

In 1992, Gordon co-founded and became Director of the American Indian Community Development Corporation (AICDC) which provides housing for homeless Native Americans. In recognition, FBI Director, Robert Mueller III presented him with the 2006 FBI Director’s Community Leadership Award “…for outstanding contributions within the community towards crime prevention and community awareness.”

Sheila Thayer and Overcomers’ First Nations Recovery Center

Sheila is a licensed alcohol and drug counselor, clinic supervisor, and Executive Director of Overcomers Ministries — First Nations Recovery Center. Sheila and staff have provided mental and chemical health care, medical diagnostic services, and culturally relevant case management following State of Minnesota license criteria.
Sheila says, “Our vision results from years of urban and tribal work providing a recovery program that restores and strengthens Native people, their families, and communities.”