Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska P.O. Box 770749 Eagle River, Alaska 99577-0749 Ph: 907-694-6348 Fax: 907-694-6378 e-mail : info@eccak.org ECCAK!
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 500
Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska
May/June 2010
.… .. S W E N G N I L L I CH
that
WARMS
the heart!
Reaching People for Christ’s Sake from near the North Pole !
Mail to “IN-IT TOGETHER” recipient:
ECCAK Annual Meeting in NOME
Inside This Issue: Annual Mtg Clips
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The Glory and Dark... 3
Chickaloon 4 Evangelical Cov White Mt. Rabbit 5 CMJ Grants... Fondells Honored
188 6 7 A record of
to the Covena
Wetting the Appetite 8 President, Gary Walter
CG&E Executive Minister, Dave Olson
SPEAKERS: Alaska was blessed by many who came from the “outside” as we gathered in Nome for, what Chip Swanson thought was the 91st ECCAK Annual Meeting! Distinguished guests President Gary Walter and Executive Minister of CG&E, Dave Olson [above] preached and taught the Word of God. Noel and Kyle Becchetti shared about the work God is doing in India. Others who shared the pulpit were Dorothy Bekoalok from Anchorage, Hugh Forbes from Bethel and Nome’s own, Harvey Fiskeaux.
guests attended the special Saturday night dinner hosted by KICY with Rob Hall as the Master of Ceremony.
KICY: It was a great week because we also had a special gathering to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of KICY. Many more distinguished
MUSIC: It was not possible to cram all the planned music from each village into the tight schedule, but we
HONORED COLLABORATORS: Erik Mayer from Arctic Barnabas Ministry, Andy Cizek from Samaritan’s Purse and Bob Whidman from MARC were all given special recognition for their invaluable services to ECCAK. Each received a painting to hang in their “shop” to remember how much we appreciate them and thank God for their much labor on our behalf.
(“Nome”Continued on page 9)
Mad Moose Our Readers...
9 10
A Baptism! Prayer Calendar
11 12-13
Grandpa Ost
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Guardian Angels Old Pictures... Daniel Savetilik...
15 16 17
Compassion (cont.)
18
What’s Happening
19
Websites...
20
Just Stuff...
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More Annual Mtg CLips 23
2010 Annual Meeting Clips
More 2010 Annual Meeting Clips
In the 4-picture collage [below left] are Pastor Harvey Fiskeaux from Nome, Dorothy Bekoalok from Anchorage, Hugh Forbes from Bethel and Noel and Kyle Becchetti, missionaries serving in India, all speakers at the 2010 ECCAK Annual Meeting in Nome.
Jack Brown ministers in music to the 425 plus people gathered to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of KICY
Erik Mayer from ABM finishing up some details before the mad rush to Nome. Jim Hansen of Nome serves along his side.
Gary W sent K alter and D IC a with a Y Manager ve Olson pr echeck Denni the Lo s f rd’s w or $5000 to Weidler ork ac ross th continue e airw ays.
of oy j e g th t the brin ughou nally s g nd. vin thro rigi Sha ipers are o ak Isla y r ey iv en rs h d H he wo me. Th n Nun n a t o e to No ma Hil Lord ek in villag a e e , th ve w yuk i r fest Meko from rocks ept the k y e th in song ing God is a r ong. p y te! B God in s u d m e t is o a n r rs also p ers were ily Sing out! Many othe m a F ” te ing n Mu from cry The “Va More clips pg. 23... 2
Chip onors mony h l e h testi f Bet vid o a gift and ministry a D a Eul on with l KICY s u Swan meaningf o. s ag i h g n f o of lo
s to ey sing me v r a H Pastor hnson of No Jo ay! Francis 100th birthd r e on h
Like many other church families in Nome, the Fiskeaux’s exercise their gift of hospitality. ECCAK extends a HUGE THANK YOU to the Covenant Church of Nome and KICY staff!
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Ways Your Hands and Heart Can Help! Pray Our newsletter, “Chilling News”, is full of stories about the people and the ministry of ECCAK throughout Alaska. If you would like to be added to our mailing list, please let us know. Encouragement Writing and/or calling those who serve in the bush is a great ministry. Want to adopt a church or a pastor? Ask for a prayer card of a pastor. Mission Teams Often times we have need for teams of people to come and join with a local church, camp, college, youth group, etc. for a construction project or outreach event. You can connect through Alaska Merge Ministry at http://akmerge.com/how-it-works Financial God often calls people to give to ECCAK beyond the normal local church tithe or churches to place ECCAK in their mission budget. Some are led to leave a gift through estate planning for work in Alaska into the future. Credit Card Donations ECCAK can receive donations via credit cards. You can contact the ECCAK office (907) 694-6348 and Sara or Yvonne will be happy to assist you. Teachers or Nurses Christian teachers and nurses often come to bush Alaska to serve in the local Covenant church during off hours. Also, some villages have no one reaching out to the youth. Call the ECCAK office 694-6348. 22
Pastors/Youth Workers Often we have empty pulpits and are in need of pastors, short and long-term. Some villages have no one reaching out to the youth. Donate Air Miles If you accumulate free air miles, please consider donating to help a bush pastor and family get away for some respite. Give Through the ECCAK office, you can donate money to help send a child or young person to summer camp!
ECCAK mission: To make disciples of Christ through a diverse culturally relevant witness by healthy missional churches and their supporting organizations. ECCAK Vision: To challenge and assist every local church to become one that GROWS… G = God’s Word R = Relationships O = Outreach W = Worship S = Service The Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska [ECCAK] is a non-conference “field” of the Covenant Church of America.
Dependent on the gifts from churches and people to carry out our mission for Christ’s sake in Alaska.
Field Director: Rodney J. Sawyer Associate Field Director: Nathan Toots Office Manager: Sara Scoles Assistant Manager: Yvonne Edmonson
The Glory and the Darkness of our Cultures By James Bruckner, Professor at North Park Theological Seminary
will not endure. (They will be consumed like an old boot in a hot maq’ii fire.) When we take on another culture’s bad values and practices, we share in Christ’s judgment ahead of time. What parts of white and what parts of Eskimo culture are its “honor and glory”? What traditions can be carried with joy into Christ’s kingdom? Let us begin now to walk in the light of the Lamb (Rev. 21:23) and to recognize what “glory” in our cultures will be carried with us into the new creation at Christ’s return. When Christ returns and God creates a new heavens and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-2), Christians will bring the glory and honor of their indigenous cultures into the New Jerusalem. Revelation 21:26 says, Peoples (=cultures) will bring into it the glory and honor of the nations (=ethnicities). The word for “nations” in the original language of Scripture (indigenous Greek) is “ethnos” meaning “ethnic cultures”. Whenever you see the word “nations” in an English Bible, you can translate it “ethnic cultures.” What does this mean for us? Every culture in the world has “glory and honor”; beautiful and strong values and traditions that God calls “the glory” of the ethnic cultures. God’s word says that these wonderful parts of our cultures will be carried by us into the new creation, to be shared with all peoples. When we share the best of our cultures with each other as Christians, we are beginning a fellow-
ship that will be fully realized in heaven. On the other hand, each culture has its dark and deadly habits and traditions that will be burned in the
Rev. 21:26-27 The glory and honor of the nations will be brought into the city. Nothing impure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does what is shameful, but only those whose names are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
purifying fire of God’s judgment. They 3
And you thought the trip to the outhouse was far in Alaska!
Chickaloon Fire Department to the Rescue Several years ago, a chimney fire in the former home of Don and Effie Graham caused the house to burn down. The family staying there at the time escaped without loss of life, of which we still thank God. A couple of years ago, Erik Feige, fire chief of an independent fire department at Chickaloon, approached ECCAK about the possibility of leasing a small portion of our property to build a fire house close to the lake. It was a no-brainer decision for the ECCAK General Council. The location on the lake would allow for them to pump water from the lake to help put out the next fire. The “next fire” happened on March 24, 2010. Excerpts from an email explain it all…
“It's never good when the phone rings at 0515 in the morning. This time it was Herb Fey, in a reasonably calm yet focused tone, calling to say his shop was on fire. Out the door we went. By 0530 Eric Feige showed up at Herb's at Mile 80 of the Glen Highway with Engine 2 and, working with Herb, got a line deployed to attack the fire. Power was shut down to the structure. Firefighter Marita Lawler was next, followed by Firefighter Mark Cowley, and Firefighter Bob Kreft with the tanker. Dispatcher Sam Brummet was standing by at the Chickaloon Store. The fire had started around the woodstove
chimney stack and had slowly worked it's way into the rafters and wall adjacent to the stove. Once we got the metal siding pulled away off the exterior wall we attacked the fire and extinguished it completely. Everyone headed home by 0630. Water and smoke damage was minimal but Herb has some cleaning up and reconstruction to do. Herb Fey was very grateful for the efforts of the volunteers to save his shop. As his livelihood is carpentry and his shop contains a life's worth of tools and equipment one can only imagine his relief when the fire department showed up.”
ain e ch coffe e wall h on t
ar popul e a ot At e wr nk: n o e m i ?" so the s Jesus Do e tly v o b d a direc oul W e t t o a "Wh n wr perso r e h t : Ano neath s." the under His hand ook t n perso "Wash third : a ite Yet to wr ." time our feet y d "An
Gallagher opened the morning newspaper and was dumbfounded to read in the obituary column that he had died. He quickly phoned his best friend, Finney. "Did you see the paper?" asked Gallagher. "They say I died!!"
We are thankful to the Lord for those who are called to serve the public in this way. We are also thankful that the fire truck is only a few hundred feet from the two new cabins we plan to complete this summer.
We are sill looking for volunteer groups to come and help with the Chickaloon Cabins. We are still in need of funds to purchase kitchen cabinets, flooring and furniture. To give, please use enclosed envelope. 4
"Yes, I saw it!" replied Finney. "Where are ye callin' from?"
Can you identify identity theft?
Daffy-nition: Sweat is nothing more than a "workman's condensation."
While the teams have left Vancouver with their medals and gone home, we can't forget the other Games and the teams that mush for Nome . I mean those teams who pull a sled along a windswept trail, those on a "gold rush" of their own in blinding snow and hail. They test their mettle in the cold beneath a silvery moon while bronzebronze-furred parkas warm the bones of mushers night and noon. These teams do not give interviews or weep when anthems play. They simply race to reach their goal and hear their master say, "Well done!" by Greg Asimakoupoulos author of "The Ptarmigan Telegraph" former Iditarod correspondent for SRN News www.partialobserver.com
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White Mountain Rabbit To Make Debut
Covenant Websites to Explore...
From McElwee’s newsletter:
Covenant Newswire Service: www.covchurch.org—click on the Newswire button Covenant Bible Camp (CBC): http://www.cyak.org/bible-camp.html Advocacy for Victims of Abuse: www.covchurch.org/women/ava Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska: www.eccak.org Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK): www.cyak.org New Hope Counseling Center: www.nhccak.org Alaska Christian College: www.akcc.org Amundsen Educational Center: aecak.org
Pastor Ross has been teaching Rachel Joy photography and recently encouraged her to enter a contest for the TelAlaska phonebook cover for 20102011. We are absolutely thrilled to let you know that she won the competition and that her photo will appear on the new telephone books throughout certain regions across Alaska . She was quivering and couldn't believe that she actually won. We are all praising God for His gift to her. Thank you for all your prayers for her. It is through photography that she has come to love living in White Mountain .
James Barefoot Trip Facilitator Village Churches 907-304-1617 artic4jim@yahoo.com
Kate Cannon Trip Facilitator Road System Churches 907-227-3420 ktrynr@gmail.com
Merge staff Learn more at: listens to your team ministry goals. akmerge.com/how-it-works helps you find ways to cut costs. leads your team through an orientation to fit your ministry. accompanies your team for a smooth and effective week of ministry. encourages and facilitates continued communication and long term relationships.
Rachel Joy is not only a photographer but also a seamstress who uses Musk Ox Hair.
Honey, What’s For Dinner? A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing aid. Not quite sure how to approach her about it, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem. The doctor told him there was a simple, informal test he could perform to give the doctor a better idea about her hearing loss. "Here's what you do," said the doctor, "Stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversational speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a response." That evening his wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm about 40 feet away, let's see what happens." Then in a normal tone he asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" No response. So he moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Still no response.
Legacy is both the values and valuables that we pass down to those who follow us. Building your legacy is a life work that takes careful thought and planning. It goes hand in hand with the stewardship of everything that God has entrusted to you. Legacy outlasts life. Our heirs are not just children and family; but society as a whole, ministries we support and the people whose lives we touch. 20
What is your legacy? How can we help you build it? Alaska Representative is Bill Hickman from Snowqualmie, Washington He can be reached at 1-888-494-0663 or wchickman@CovenantEstatePlanning.org
Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again he gets no response. So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again, no response. So he walks right up behind her. "Honey, what's for dinner?" "Ralph, for the fifth time, chicken!" [forwarded by JR Whitby]
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Compassion, Mercy and Justice Grants Approved Several years ago, Pastor Max Lopez at Anchorage First Covenant worked within ECC’s Churches Planting Ministries departments. One of his responsibilities was to help conferences and local churches to look beyond themselves to help those who are on the “outside” and are hurting. ECCAK churches received his message eagerly and have been active in reaching out in new ways.
NEIGHBORHOOD GIFTS PROGRAM So far for the 2010 year, three matching grants have been approved: 1) $10,000 for the Mekoryuk Youth Center [used to be their parsonage], 2) $6,000 to Eagle River Community Covenant for the Neighborhood Gift Program, and 3) $10,000 to CYAK for Greif and Loss training in Western Alaska. A brief description of each follows:
Stacy Pratt—Local Missions Coordinator at Eagle River Community Covenant
MEKORYUK YOUTH CENTER
The Covenant church in Mekoryuk has one of the most effective outreaches to their young people than probably anywhere in the United States. On any given Sunday, probably about 85% of the youth and children in the entire community attend Sunday School or related youth outreach! Pastor Nathan and Sandra Hanna own their house, so the “parsonage” has been receiving an “extreme makeover” the last couple years (largely due to the ministry of Arctic Barnabas Ministries) to make it available for the young. The one thing 6
Covenant Bible Camps
that was lacking is furnishings. Up until this grant, eager young participants sat on the floor at their gatherings. Lack of kitchen appliances diminish the ability to serve. Not any more. Pastor Nathan is working with Arctic Barnabas Ministries to ship out furnishings to make the place more hospitality friendly.
Alliance Christian Fellowship and Eagle River Community Covenant are teaming together under the leadership of Stacey Pratt to provide the residents of Eagle River and Chugiak and possibly the Mat-Su region with a close-to-home distribution point for the Neighborhood Gift Program. This program is a combined effort of Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, the Food Bank, and local churches and synagogues. The event, held right before Christmas, provides food and toys for families who are unable to provide for themselves due to financial challenges. (“Compassion” continued on page 18)
The
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SUMMER 2010 Leadership Camp High School Camp Junior High Camp Trailblazers Pathfinders
June June June June June
2nd - 7th 7th - 14th 14th - 21st 21st - 26th 26th - July 1st
www.cyak.org/bible-camp 2010 COS Mtg ECC Annual Mtg
May 16-21 Jun 24-27
East Coast St. Paul
ECCAK Churches in need of staff: Shaktoolik Covenant: Pastor Kalskag Bible Chapel: Pastor No Name Church of Anchorage: Church Plant to be
The “In it together...” ECCAK Ministry Team Nome Covenant , White Mountain Covenant, Golovin Covenant, Elim Covenant, Koyuk Covenant, Shaktoolik Covenant, Unalakleet Covenant, Fairbanks Covenant, Mat-Su Covenant, Eagle River Covenant, Korean Hope Covenant, New Song Covenant, Anchorage First, Bethel Covenant, Mekoryuk Covenant, Hooper Bay Covenant, Scammon Bay Covenant, Mountain Village Covenant, Kalskag Bible Chapel, The River Covenant Church Our Supporting Organizations
New Hope Counseling Center (NHCC) Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF) Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) Alaska Christian College (ACC) Covenant Bible Camp (CBC) KICY Radio 19
Fondell’s Honored by KICY
Compassion, Justice and Mercy Grants Approved (cont.) duce life draining reactions to grief in village communities GRIEF AND LOSS SEMINARS that came through high rates of subAt the 2009 ECCAK Pastor/Leader stance abuse, domesRetreat, Dorothy Bekoalok, origitic violence, sexual nally from Shaktoolik, provided the abuse, accidental leaders with a workshop on grief and death and suicide. loss. Her workshop was very well The ministry is to received by the pastors. Pastor Harpartner together with vey Fiskeaux is quoted as saying Local Village counsomething to the effect, “We need to get Dorothy to come to Nome to give Pastor Mary Putera & Dorothy Bekoalok cils to cover the costs of bringing Nathis workshop.” Pastor Mary Putera heard the cry tive minister Dorothy Bekoalok and mental health of bush pastors and submitted a grant that will counselor Pastor Mary Putera from CYAK to the allow the Evangelical Covenant Churches in Bush 14 Evangelical Covenant Church Bush village Alaska to receive concrete help and support in churches to present a two-day workshop on the helping village communities recover from grief impact and skills of healthy recovery from grief and loss experienced generationally, systemically and loss. and persistently. The workshops will help to re(“Compassion” Continued from page 6)
Many names come to mind when one thinks about KICY, but none are as prominent as the names “Ralph and Gert Fondell”, who were the early pioneers in starting KICY 50 years ago. Ralph first traveled to Nome in 1958 to do some preliminary work for getting the radio station off the ground. He moved up with his family in 1959. Ralph acted as engineer until the mid-60’s when so much of the construction took place. In the mid-60s he was moved to the position of General Manager and served in that capacity until he retired. Gert will long be remembered for many of her programs, with “Gert’s Corner” being the longest standing and the “favorite” of many. Both Ralph and Gert served as “Mom/Dad” or “Grandpa/Grandma” to many of the staff and their children. At the special KICY Dinner Celebration, both Ralph and Gert were honored when they were called upon the stage. Terry Reynolds and Dennis Weidler shared that the radio station will now bare the name “The Fondell Broadcasting Center.” Both Ralph and Gert were overwhelmed. How we thank God for the example set by this couple who have faithfully served the Lord, not only at KICY, but more recently at the Eagle River Community Covenant Church! Terry Reynolds [left] with applause from a smiling and appreciative Dennis Weidler [right] reads a commemorative plaque to the Fondells which will be prominently displayed in the KICY reception office.
Guardian Angels: Saving a Village (cont.) (“Guardian”Continued from page 15)
young adults. They are nothing less than Guardian Angels. Some of the Guardian Angels are: Allen Brankonk, Ashley Brankonk, Jimmy Gray Nicholson, Harvey Whitman, Erin Kiokun, Alyssa William, Corretta Olrun, Jeremy Oscar, Caroline Oscar, Johnathan David and Teddy Whitman. “Guardians” are ready with snowmobile
(Ryan Maughn is a Graduating Senior at North Kingstown High School in North Kingstown Rhode Island. As part of his Senior Project, in addition to reading several books and researching the clash of economic systems and the ethnically diverse population here in Alaska, Ryan came to visit. Ryan was able to accompany the CYAK team on a recent trip to encourage the youth on Nunivak island. While there he met and interviewed the guardian angels.)
Answer to Riddle from Page 11:
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An envelope
New ECCAK General Council At the ECCAK 2010 Annual Meeting, the following were selected as General Council members: 1. 2. 3.
Donna Erickson from Unalakleet Carl Elwood from Mountain Village [second term] Jane Atak from Anchorage y arve e H u o av Members continuing: nk y and D n the a h T eaux ng o i 1. Nathan Nagaruk from Nome Fisk or serv ears! y f 6 e 2. Lynda Bekoalok from Shaktoolik Ros C for G 3. Nelson Davies from Bethel 4. John Uttereyuk from Scammon Bay 5. James Barefoot from Wasilla 6. Cheryl Seimers from Soldotna 7
2010 Daniel Savetilik Recipients! By the Nome Covenant Church
Wetting the Appetite to Read Quotes from the book WHEN HELPING HURTS [by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert] “Forty percent of the earth’s inhabitants eke out an existence on less than two dollars per day.” “Sociologist Rodney Stark documents that the early church’s engagement with suffering people was crucial to its explosive growth.” “At the core, the health and wealth gospel teaches that God rewards increasing levels of faith with greater amounts of wealth. When stated this way, the health and wealth gospel is easy to reject on a host of biblical grounds. Take the case of Job… He had enormous faith and lived a godly life, but he went from riches to poverty because he was righteous and God wanted to prove this to Satan.” “The goal [poverty alleviation] is not to make the materially poor all over the world into middle-to-upper-class North Americans, a group characterized by high rates of divorce, sexual addiction, substance abuse, and mental illness...Rather the goal is to restore people to a full expression of humanness, to being what God created us all to be, people who glorify God by living in right relationship with God, with self, with others and with the rest of creation.” “Ultimately, the profound reconciliation of the key relationships that comprise poverty alleviation cannot be done without people accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.” “...as recent research has demonstrated, Caucasian evangelicals in the United States, for whom the systems have worked well, are particularly blind to the systemic causes of poverty and are quick to blame the poor for their plight.” 8
Christina Perrigo is our “Soup appearance of the apartments, but Kitchen” ministry team leader, resolved many of the long overdue responsible for leading the team maintenance problems. His pereffort in feeding an average popusonal sacrifice and hard work relation of 20-25 homeless people sulted in keeping all three aparteach Friday (September through ments rented throughout the year, May). Her love and devotion for and allowed for a $10,000 contrithe needy is evident in the manner bution to the church general fund. in which she tirelessly strives to This added contribution enabled us do whatever it takes, including to end our 2009 budget year in the finding warm clothes if necessary, black. Lloyd leads church service to help them survive another cold on occasion, participates when night outside. She demonstrates called upon as a presenter, teaches the love of Jesus through her walk Bible studies on behalf of Chrisand shares His message of love tian Ministries at the local correcand eternal life to all who gather Christina and Lloyd Perrigo tion facility “Halfway House” and to eat each Friday. She also serves has recently applied for memberas “Youth” team leader, Sunday school teacher, ship in the Gideon International to become a disand volunteers every year her services at the antributor. nual Covenant Bible Camp in Unalakleet. Over the years both Lloyd and Christina are reLloyd Perrigo is a Youth Team Leader, serves on the Church council, Mission Team Leader, committee chairperson and operations manager of CPN properties, and heads the committee on planning the future status of our church parsonage. Both committees assume a huge responsibility vital to the future of the church body. As CPN manager, Lloyd spent many hours of his personal time over the past summer renovating the apartments and preparing the structure for winter. His untiring efforts not only improved the o v e r a l l
sponsible for assisting hundreds of youth in attending the annual Covenant Bible camps in Unalakleet. They are the local contact persons for camp registration, transportation and oversee fund raisers to help offset camp cost through scholarships for those in need. We are convinced that Lloyd and Christina Perrigo have reached many lives for Christ over the many years they have given in service to our Lord Jesus Christ through our church in Nome and the Bering Strait Region.
Is someone trying to clone Chris Perrigo? It seemed like it to many at this year’s annual meeting. The one on the left is Kim Erickson and gets mistaken for Chris often. If we begin to see a Lloyd look-alike running around the church, an investigation will be forthcoming!
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WANTED… OLD PICTURES! Picture provided by:
Mad Moose Mishap What happens when you encounter a moose being attacked by a wolf? A couple of Alaskan tourists from Ohio found out. You get one mad bad moose.
Betty Segock of Elim
According to the front page story in the Anchorage Dailey News [2010 Apr. 3 edition], two tourists were innocently snowboarding on a Kenai Peninsula trail when suddenly from out of nowhere, a wolf and a moose exploded from the thick timber on one side of the trail. As they got out of the way, they observed a wolf hanging on to a moose in an attempt to kill it. After a few moments, the wolf gave up its dinner plans because it became aware of the two uninvited “dinner guests” with snowboards. The two tourists soon found out that the moose was not a happy camper. When they began to move away, it charged. One tourist climbed a tree while the other headed for the security of a large fallen tree. But the wounded moose stood his ground. The two men heard a wolf pack in the background howling. This went on for four long cold hours. Neither of the men had a weapon, but apparently they did have a cell phone, so they called for help. When the troopers finally came on the scene, both men were cold, shivering and perhaps on the verge of hypothermia. The moose still stood its ground, even after a few warning shots, so the troopers had no choice but to shoot it. The meat went to charity and the mad moose mishap came to an end.
(“Nome” Continued from page 1)
were none-the-less blessed. The Calhoun Family from Fairbanks also shared the stage as did the Shavings from Mekoryuk.
Perhaps you have some old pictures from the “good old days” that you would like to share with us.
We hope that many of you are enjoying your 2010 ECCAK calendar!
Please send them to: ECCAK—PO Box 770749 Eagle River, AK 99577
If you did not receive one in the mail, please contact our office and we will be glad to send you one.
We will scan them and return them to you. Be sure to provide us with your return address.
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SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Field Director, Rodney Sawyer announced that he and his wife, Nancy, have felt led not to seek a third term. “I strongly believe that we who are older need to step aside to pass the baton on to those who are younger,” says Sawyer. “Jesus turned His ministry over to the Twelve, many of which could have been in their early 20’s.” Therefore, the ECCAK General Council will be forming a search committee believing the Lord will reveal a candidate for the ECCAK Annual Meeting in 2011, at which time the delegates will cast their votes. 9
Guardian Angels: Saving a Village
Our Readers...
By Ryan Maughan
The theology of angels is interpreted differently throughout the world. In many places, angels are mystical or spiritual. In Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island in Alaska, these guardian angels are high school students and young adults. There is nothing mystical about these courageous people. What has been realized by the teens of Mekoryuk, is that the harsh conditions in which they live in are also nothing mystical and it is a reality that something needs to be done to save as many lives as possible.
Photos of some readers of the “Chilling News”
Above is one of the many encouraging letters and notes we receive at the ECCAK office. How we thank God for those who fulfill the N. T. command to “encourage one another!” The handwritten copy above comes from Lurlene M. Anderson from Spring Valley , CA , who lives at the Mount Miguel Covenant Village retirement center.
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An average teen lives a nonchalant life; video games, movies; allocating the majority of their time on juvenile, superfluous activities. On the island, there are limited resources and services, and having only two hundred residents, it was vital for Mekoryuk to develop a system, not only to save lives, but to preserve their own culture. In a casual discussion, these teens collaborated and eventually decided to call themselves “The Guardian Angels”; a fitting name for the deeds they perform. Sacrificing their own earnings, and by holding fundraisers, they save money to fill the snow machines with gas in the case of a search and rescue. The Guardian Angels have such a striking presence and passion for their mission. Even at the ages they are at, they have already developed higher-than-usual maturity levels. Yes, they need the fuel for the snow machines, but they also fuel each other through encouragement, support, and allowing God into their missions. In a recent accident, the Guardian Angels were called to action. The accident involved one death, but with the presence of the Guardian Angels, the life of the second man involved was saved by the
Some of the Guardian Angels in Mekoryuk team. God’s presence is prominent in cases like this, and that alone is a motive for completing the mission of the Angels. While speaking to one of the members of the search and rescue team, I asked if there is one significant leader. I expected one of the older males to take responsibility, but instead I was told God was their leader. This young man stated that “God is the leader of Guardian Angels, but also of my life. Trust in God is the key to saving victims’ lives, and mine too.” He later said that “God gives him the mental strength to continue on in search and rescue missions.” As an outsider, looking at the Guardian angels from an exterior view, it is easy to be guilty of assumptions and judgments. These teens are courageous young adults who are filling the needed position of search and rescue members. But after hearing individuals speak of their duties they became more than that. I was personally moved. They have realized their mission that God has asked them to fulfill; something I envy. Members of the team are not teens, they are not (“Guardian” Continued on page 18)
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Reviving the Stories of Grandpa Ost Special Book Offer with donations of $200.00 or more!
A Baptism! Eagle River Covenant Church recently held a baptism for several people in their church.
In 1979, Jan-Olov Schroder wrote a biography on L. E. Ost, better known as “Grandpa” here in Alaska. The book was named Alaska: A Mission in Alaska.
Here is a glimpse of one young man who was baptized.
Unfortunately, for non-Swedish speakers, Schroder wrote the book in Swedish. But English-speakers-only were not to be denied the stories of Grandpa Ost. Sometime later, the late and long-time Covenant missionary and North Park Prof. Sigurd Westberg translated the book into English. Copies of his translation have been floating around for several years. Now, a few lucky people can read stories like: “The Wedding in a Sleeping Bag”or“Grandpa Killed a Grizzly With One Shot Through the Wall.” There is so much of Alaskan history woven throughout the book.
ECCAK is making a special offer for those who donate $200 or more to the ministry. The English translated version has been digitized, reformatted and fitted into a beautiful hard bound handcrafted wooden cover. For your treasured copy of this limited supply, please fill out the enclosed envelope right away. Copies will be manufactured and mailed to donors on a first come basis.
Nathaniel Swanberg (son of Scott and Pam) baptized by Pastor Keith Bergstrom Nathaniel’s testimony:
We are so thankful for your financial support!
I’ve grown up in a Christian home and have gone to church all my life. About 3rd grade I started to understand what a Christian is and does. When I was 11, I accepted the Lord into my heart. My teachers have been talking about being a Christian and getting baptized. My baptism is showing my desire to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior and to show my faith to my family and friends. I am thankful that I have known God’s love my whole life.
Quote from Oswald Chambers: “The deadliest Pharisaism today is not hypocrisy, but unconscious unreality” [from March 16 reading in My Utmost for His Highest} Is Suzanne Alioto of Kenai reading about the time “Grandpa” shot a bear through the wall of his cabin? It’s really hard to put down! 14
Riddle: I start with the letter e. I end with the letter e. I contain only one letter, Yet I am not the letter e! What am I?
Answer on page: 18
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SUN
MON
June 2010
May 2010
DAILY PRAYER by NAME and by PICTURE Caleb, Gail, Jacob and Tacey Caldwell {Soldotna}
James Engwall { California }
Alan & Sharon Finifrock
DAILY PRAYER by NAME and by PICTURE
SUN
MON
{ Soldotna }
TUES
ECCAK PRAYER CALENDAR
ECCAK PRAYER CALENDAR
Dorothy Bekoalok
TUE
{ Anchorage }
Nathan & Isabella Toots
Ethel Takak {Elim}
{Anchorage}
Rob Hall {Chicago)
Heidi and Herb Ivanoff {Unalakleet}
Sam & Lydia Weston { Mekoryuk }
Jeff Kysler {Eagle River}
WED
Rick & Cindy Hinkey
WED
{ NPTS }
TJ & Polly Smith {Anchorage)
Don and Fei Cross with children
THU
Steve & Bev McKinley
{Elim}
THU
Ted & Kimberly Pullen { Eagle River }
{ Soldotna }
FRI
Betty Jackson
FRI
{ Shaktoolik }
Jamie & Erica Rose
SAT
MaryAnn, Kira and Kevin Andrew {Kevin is a student at ACC}
Luther Harrison { Samaritan Purse }
Barney Funk
{ NPTS }
Donna Erickson
SAT
i
Kena
{ Hooper Bay }
{Unalakleet} 12
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