| The Moravian Church first sent missionaries to the Cherokee nation at Springplace, Georgia in 1801.
When the Indian peoples were forced by the United States government to leave their homes in Georgia and move to Indian Territory (Oklahoma) in 1838, the Moravian missionaries went with them.
This journey has become known in history as "The Trail of Tears" because thousands of Indians died along the way.
The mission was re established in New Springplace, Indian Territory, and is now Oaks, Oklahoma. The Oaks Indian Mission became a Lutheran ministry in 1902 when the Danish Lutheran Church assumed leadership.
Today Oaks Indian Mission is a ministry of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and is the only Lutheran institution which, in partnership with Indian peoples, is building a system of community wide services.
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