Mekoryuk Celebrates New Church Dedication
Sunday, October 6, was a day of great rejoicing in Mekoryuk as the congregation gathered for the first time in the newly completed church building for Sunday morning worship and Sunday School, a dedication ceremony, and an evening worship service that went well past midnight. Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff had been in conversation with church leaders for the past several years regarding the needs. On a trip to Mekoryuk in 2022, Curtis was with Albert Williams, church member, and Albert showed him the site they had selected for a new church building. Curtis inquired if there were plans in the works that he did not know about. Albert explained that they were praying and believing that God would provide in time. Bea Kiokun, Sunday School leader, added later, “We have ‘faith like potatoes,’” referring to a Pure Flix movie based on a true story of a rugged South African farmer, Angus Buchan. Curtis was inspired by the faith of the believers, and joined in prayer with the congregation.
In June of 2023, Curtis was headed to Covenant Bible Camp, and while waiting in the Ravn Airlines terminal, crossed paths with Luther Harrison, Samaritan’s Purse North American Director. As they talked, Curtis shared the need for a new church with Luther, and he encouraged Curtis to have the Mekoryuk leadership submit a proposal. Within just a few weeks, the proposal was accepted, and conversations began for specifics of the project that would begin in June of 2024.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteer teams completed the 4,000square-foot facility in 16 weeks. Samaritan’s Purse Mission Aviation Services played a critical role from beginning to end, transporting supplies and staff/volunteers twice a week from their base in Soldotna. On dedication Sunday, two loads of Samaritan’s Purse staff, Alaska Conference staff, and several people who call Mekoryuk home or who served in ministry there, were able to attend the dedication. Anna Walters, who currently lives in Anchorage, served in Mekoryuk sixty years ago and was blessed to attend the dedication. Four college students who are currently attending the University of Alaska, surprised friends and family by attending the dedication as well. Ed Kiokun, who serves as the church chairman and serves on the Alaska Conference executive board
expressed that as youth, they were part of the prayer movement and offerings that were taken in Sunday School for the church project. It was important for them to be there
insulated church features a sanctuary, fellowship hall, kitchen, pastor’s office, three dedicated classrooms, ramp entry, and more. Built on a Triodetic foundation to withstand the yearly freeze and thaw, the church was built to last 100 years. More than 200 Samaritan’s Purse volunteers from 26 states, including Mekoryuk residents, built the church that lies at the edge of the Native Village of
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From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
Samson Westin, of Mekoryuk shares opening words and recounts Gods faithfulness.
Elder Esther Shavings and granddaughter Melanie Shavings enjoy the service together.
The Mekoryuk church is designed for versatility, in order to serve the congregation and community.
“AsyouthereforehavereceivedChristJesusthe Lord,continuetowalkinhim,rootedandbuiltupin himandestablishedinthefaith,justasyouwere taught,aboundinginthanksgiving.”
– Colossians2:6-7(NRSV)
Building in some places in Western Alaska provides unique challenges for carpenters.
Shifting ground is one of the dynamics that has to be considered when constructing a home or a bigger structure. Engineers have even designed a foundation, called Triodetic, that helps to keep a home level and straight despite the soil heaving or sinking due to frost or sinking. It is expensive, but so worth it, to avoid damage or other issues that develop from shifting of soil. It is important to build well, with a foundation that will not bend, break or waver.
Built Up in Christ
Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent
In recent years, there was an archaeological discovery that revealed that the city of Colossae had been destroyed by an earthquake about 2,000 years ago. It was at that time that Paul wrote a letter to the community of followers in that city that was rebuilding we call it the book of Colossians. Part of his message was to be mindful of how you build your lives, because there are forces all around that will shape how or what you build your life upon. In those days, there were many gods, and they were often accompanied with statues or temples. Paul wrote, “Watch out that no one takes you captive through philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental principles of the world, and not according to Christ.” He was clear to exhort those followers to build their lives upon that which is sure and firm, the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever. That is a good word for us now, even though we may not be facing the literal destruction of an earthquake. But we do encounter life shaping forces at work in this world every day. Some may not be as visible as the statues and shrines of old, but it requires us to be discerning about what is true to the way of Jesus. Paul said to “continue to walk in him.” Walking is movement and action, and he points our eyes to move in the ways of Jesus.
Board Joins ACC Gym Dedication
One such force that has been at work recently involves politics. The election season heightened differences around how we each believe what is the good and just way to govern our nation, states and communities. We witness deeply held convictions expressed in all kinds of ways, and often we see struggle to be at peace with one another in the midst of political differences. But one thing is for sure, kingdoms rise and kingdoms fall, but Christ’s word endures forever. We read the strong words of Jesus in the Sermon on the Mount things like, love your neighbor, love your enemy, pray for those who persecute you, among others. Jesus concluded that sermon with a parable of the foolish and wise builders. His message: wise builders are those who hear the words of Christ and obey them.
Paul wrote to the Colossians, “He himself is before all things, and in him all things hold together.” Brothers and sisters, let us be confident in knowing that Christ holds all things together. No matter how we see the election outcome, whatever “earthquakes” you have been facing, Christ holds our lives together. Jesus is our firm foundation. Let us fix our eyes on the one who will not fail. And let us “abound in thanksgiving” because of him.
Top to bottom: ACC’s new gym is completed and was dedicated in late September. Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff offered a prayer alongside ACC President Keith Hamilton. ACC students had the honor to cut the ribbon. Curtis captured several guests in attendance: Sarah Miller (Executive Board) and husband Dave with ACC student Summer Sheldon; Olga and Pastor Joel Oyoumick, of Soldotna, and Nora Nagaruk of Nome; Patrick McLean of Hooper Bay and Brian Nanninga, Anchorage; Christina (Executive Board) and Lloyd Perrigo of Nome; Dianne Krusemark, of Illinois (ACC board member); Heidi Ivanoff of Unalakleet (Executive Board), and Aune Carlson (CYAK).
Brian Nanninga Accepts new LMDJ Position at Denomination
Associate Superintendent Brain Nanninga has taken a new position as the Senior Director of Church Development and Evangelism for the Evangelical Covenant Church.
In this position on the Serve Locally team, he will lead and support areas of Love Mercy Do Justice, Make and Deepen Disciples, and Missional Vitality. He will serve alongside the Senior Director of Church Planting and the newly created Director of Equipping Servant Leaders.
“Brian’s experience, humility, enthusiasm, and passion for the local church will add value to our movement,” said Paul Robinson, Executive Minister of Serve Locally.
Brian’s journey has been profoundly shaped by his commitment to justice and his experiences ministering in various cultural settings. He says his exposure to racial and cultural challenges has led him to believe that compassion, mercy, and justice are not only integral to the gospel but also essential for fostering thriving faith communities. As a visionary leader and strategic thinker, with a heart open to the movement of the Holy Spirit, he is excited to lead and inspire others.
“With a deep passion for evangelism and discipleship, I view this role as an opportunity to usher in a new season of collaboration between conferences and ministry leaders, aligning with the core of who the Covenant Church strives to be,” he says. “I am eager to lead this talented team and inspire others toward a new season of flourishing ministry.”
Brian joined the Alaska Conference team in September of 2020, and has served both road-system and rural churches in the areas of congregational vitality and ministry support.
Curtis expressed, “I am grateful for Brian’s friendship and partnership as he has been a great mission friend in this season serving with us in Alaska.”
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White Mountain Parsonage Gets Needed Repairs Before Winter
Caring for pastors and resourcing churches are two of the three tenets of the Alaska Conference mission statement for shepherding leaders. In many cases, the needs involve very practical aspects of life. This was the case for Pastor Bonnie LaBore, who moved to White Mountain last fall to serve as lead pastor. It had been several years since the parsonage had been home to a pastor. Funds from the Covenant Women craft sale were used to purchase some new furnishings when she moved. On the outset, the modest 2-story house seemed adequate. However, it became clear to Bonnie after living in the home through the winter months, that some repairs and upgrades would be essential before another winter if she was to continue serving in White Mountain.
After a conversation with Bonnie in early fall, Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff asked then Associate Superintendent Brian Nanninga to identify a plan for remedying the situation. Brian reached out to his brotherin-law Scott Carroll, from Kansas, who had knowledge and skills needed and was available to volunteer for the urgent repairs. After a Zoom meeting with Bonnie, materials were purchased and freighted to White Mountain. Brian and Scott traveled to the Norton Sound Village for a 3-day blitz in late September.
A new stove pipe was installed and roof repairs were made to address multiple leaks. A new front door was installed to replace one that had large gaps where cold air entered. Rotten flooring was replaced in the arctic entry. Bonnie reports that the repairs have made a significant difference for her. “I’m very grateful for the two men who gave up their weekend to come fix my house and make it more comfortable for me,” Bonnie said.
Right: Scott Carroll and Brian Nanninga spent time repairing the White Mountain parsonage roof as part of their 3-day project to address problems in the house. The steep, slippery, metal roof required some creative safety measures to complete the leak repairs and stove pipe installation.
God Moving in Our Midst...
Brian’s Story
“Where is the work of the gospel flourishing among coastal Indigenous people, and who should we speak with to learn from what they are doing?” I asked while in a conversation with Grace Shim, Executive Minister of Serve Global, in seeking to discern how to encourage rural churches. We invited Paul De Neui from the Center for World Christian Studies at North Park Theological Seminary into our conversation. We asked him the same question. Paul invited us to look at the Philippines.
Research shows that the number of people who identify as an evangelical Christian in the Philippines is growing 400,000–600,000 new Christians a year. We began asking, how can we learn from them here in Alaska? Just a few weeks after we began praying about partnering with believers in the Philippines, I began to hear rumors that 44 teachers had been hired from the Philippines to work in many of the very communities where our churches are located. Could it be that instead of us going to the Philippines, God was bringing the Philippines to us?
A week later while I was visiting our church in the village of Elim, Kenny Takak, the church chair, told me I needed to meet Arniel Salinasal. Arniel had moved here with his entire family from the Philippines when his wife, Christine, accepted a position teaching at the local school.
As I talked with him, Arniel shared his heart for the gospel and his desire to use his background as a pastor while living in Elim. Arniel is a gifted, seminary-trained pastor, talented musician, and worship leader. And not only had God brought us a pastor he had brought an entire worship team! The other teachers who had also come to teach in Elim were also Christians, and together they formed a band to lead worship. None of them had known each other before
moving their families across the globe to serve in Elim. None of them had ever seen snow, and they certainly didn’t know that we had been praying that God would move a mountain on our behalf. They came with a willingness to be mission friends and a desire to use their gifts for the God’s kingdom. They came because in America there was an opportunity to provide financially for their families in ways that was unattainable at home. They came expecting to be teachers but quickly found that God was asking them to be missionaries as well. Since that time God has continued to move. Arniel was officially called to serve as pastor of Elim Covenant Church, and the Filipino worship band led the Alaska Conference annual meeting in worship. After the service, they came to me and said, “Now we know why God brought us to Alaska. None of us could comprehend why God would take Filipinos from tropical islands and transplant them to frozen tundra. Now we understand. God wanted us to serve our family here in the US.”
Brian Nanninga, Associate Superintendent
For the past four years of leading the administration building a new parsonage to accommodate and after much feedback on where to place
Once we received the lot from the family
With the help of Pastor & Mrs. Chip Swanson, with the hard work of doing a fund-drive Builders Supply in Anchorage to have it contractor and work team from the lower48, with having the building in place from the much to the amazement of many. It took volunteers, our parsonage was completed bed, linens, curtains and rods for the entire
Every Sunday over the years, the leadership corporate prayer or takes prayer requests. & worship team to come serve our church. When school started last fall, we had school. To our surprise, after a morning worship songs for us. One of the teachers pastor!" With surprise and gratefulness–noses, and we didn't know about it?"
And now looking back, I truly believe us, placed and planted a new pastor and are now faithfully pastoring and serving joy! "Wow, what a MIGHTY & AWESOME
Kenny Takak, Elim Covenant Church
Pastor Arniel and teacher Christine Salinasal are children and three other Filipino teachers, Prezzia Gumera and Joy Dagoc, who are now friends and the school and worship at he Covenant Church
Kenny’s Story
administration of our local church here in Elim, Alaska, it has been our leadership team’s priority to continue to work toward accommodate a new pastor and his family. The ground work began several years ago with selecting an area close to the church as possible, place the new location, one of our people agreed to pass on his inherited lease lot to our church for that purpose. family we moved forward to getting the transfer recorded, surveyed and conveyed to the Elim Evangelical Covenant Church. Swanson, Interim Pastor here in 2022, we were able to continue drive to reach our financial goal to purchase the building materials from Spenard shipped on the spring barge to Elim. With the help of Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff in Anchorage, who recruited a lower48, we had many Zoom Meetings with our contractor Doug Gerstad, of Minnesota. In time, we were able to move forward the ground up in the summer of 2022. The shell of the building, including the roof sheet metal, were completed within one week–took another summer for things to be finished, and with the help of our supervisor Lloyd Perrigo, of Nome, and other completed in the fall of 2023. Funds from the Covenant Women’s craft sales helped purchase items for the inside including a queen-sized entire house.
leadership team has been on a rotation schedule, where each person leads requests. Every Sunday there would be a prayer request for a pastor and a praise church.
new teachers come all the way from the Philippines to teach at our local service of sharing, our teachers from the Philippines shared a couple teachers attending the morning service told us afterwards, "My husband is a in my mind– I said, "What..?! We have a pastor? And right under our
GOD miraculously answered our corporate prayers and unbeknownst to and his family AND a gifted praise & worship team right in our midst. They our church and living in our completed parsonage much to our relief and AWESOME GOD we serve..!"
Church board chair
Pastor Arniel’s Story
When we arrived in Elim, we were looking for a church to attend. We asked some of the fellow Filipino teachers if there was a church nearby, and they said yes, inviting us to join their fellowship. During the service, someone asked if any of us could play the piano or sing a song, and we didn't hesitate to share. Before we performed, we introduced ourselves, and my wife mentioned that I am a pastor. Their response was, "That's exactly what we've been praying for." I had no idea that they didn’t have a pastor and had been praying for one.
Later, Sir Kenny asked me if I would preach, and I gladly accepted. He also introduced me to Pastor Brian and Pastor Curtis. In my heart, I’ve always believed that as long as the gospel is being preached, I am willing to serve, regardless of denominational differences. Whenever God calls me to share His message, I make myself available for His glory and honor. After being interviewed by the pastoral search committee, I was voted in and later installed as pastor on May 5, 2024, to serve the Elim community. I accepted this call because I felt God is leading me to help this church together with my family, to share His wonderful message of hope and to be a light in this community. Through prayer, encouragement, discipleship, and pastoral ministry, I feel blessed and thankful to work alongside the church board ministering in Elim
Their Pastor Found Each Other
Pastor Arniel Salinasal, Elim Covenant Church
Pastor Arniel stands with church leadership members Kenny and Grace Takak, Christine Amaktoolik, and Dean Giffin on Arniel's installation Sunday.
are joined by their two Prezzia Blas, Lovee and serve in Elim at Church together.
Taste & See: Soul-satisfying Food Draws Youth Together
In Koyuk
Mekoryuk Church Dedication Continued
, Grace Morris, beloved elder, church board member and Sunday School leader started off the youth Sunday School season with sourdough pancakes at her home to encourage the junior high and high school students.
“We had a good lesson before breakfast, and I sure enjoyed them all being here,” Grace shared. “Our lesson was about how because of sin, all creation as been messed up. We all go through brokenness in our lives and it is very important that we help each other climb back up again.”
In Anchorage, middle school and high school
youth gathered in late October for the second annual “Cheese Night.” First Covenant Church Director of Youth Ministry, Alex Tsakos, initiated the new tradition last fall after some of the students declared their love for cheese at a youth group hike, asking if they could have cheese as a solo snack at youth group sometime. Hence, “Cheese Night” was born. This year’s gathering included various cheeses, cheesy snacks, cheese trivia and cheesy décor (string cheese hanging from the ceiling), and even raclette (for sophisticated cheese lovers). Students invited their friends to the event who had not previously been to youth group. The previous year included an all-church mouse scavenger hunt and movie. So, if you’re looking for a way to draw in some youth, consider a food-themed gathering for some soul-satisfying fun.
Mekoryuk. Cup’ig speaking people have lived on Nunivak, the second largest island in the Bering Sea, for over 2,000 years. Thirty miles off the Alaska mainland, the remoteness and geography of who call themselves to keep hold of their traditional culture well into the 20th century. The Gospel first took root there in the mid1930s, with mass conversions taking place through the missionary Jacob Kenick. approximately 200 regularly has fifty children and youth involved in Sunday School or
“God can use that new building as space for the youth to learn more about the Word,” said Bea.
“It gives me so much joy to know how much the generous gift from Samaritan’s Purse is blessing Mekoryuk Covenant Church,” Curtis said. “They met such a great need with their resources and volunteers that will benefit the congregation and the
Pastor Lauren Thurston assists Genesis Williams as she reads Scripture.
Anna Walters, of Mountain Village shared memories from her first mission trip to Mekoryuk while in high school more than 60 years ago.
The new sanctuary has been designed for versatility. The front area can be closed off with sliding doors or opened for large groups like the dedication or community gatherings.
Youth and Children shared in song during the dedication, led by Beatrice Kiokun. The new building has four classrooms for a sizeable Sunday School attendance and other small group gatherings throughout the week.
Pastors, Leaders and Spouses Retreat to Enjoy God and Others
Big Lake’s Camp Maranatha was the place to be in early October as more than 40 pastors & leaders gathered to rest, enjoy time together, and learn from New Testament scholar and North Park Theological Seminary professor Dr. Max Lee, who taught through the book of Colossians. The retreat was momentous for several reasons. There was excellent representation as 15 of 19 churches sent leaders. The largest number of women attended to date, reflecting the increase in female pastoral presence in the conference, and Brian Nanninga, outgoing associate superintendent was honored as he prepared to make a transition to his new role.
Next-Gen Conference
You’re invited to gather with others from the Alaska Conference as we partner with the Lord in confidence, rejoicing in hope and grounded in faith...
“Journey Toward Wholeness” Women Gather for Worship, Encouragement, Fun
In September, women from all across Alaska, one from the Lower 48, and a plane load of nine women from Nunivak Island (more than 570 miles away) had the privilege of attending the Covenant Women’s Retreat held in Willow. What a time of refreshing it was! Faith, fellowship, fun, and food. Faith food for our “Journey toward Wholeness”, which was the theme. Something beautiful happens when God’s people gather together in His Name. Christ is exalted and His Church is strengthened. Women came alongside each other and shared their testimonies of faith so courageously. Each testimony pointing to the faithfulness of our Great God. reminding us that He does not leave us alone in our valleys, or mountain tops. Instead, He so lovingly walks with us through them. We gathered in His presence lifting voices together in worship and prayer, and shared in laughter and tears. Each activity brought a time of refreshing that my soul thirsted for. The theme verses were from1 Thes. 5:23 spirit, and soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” God has a perfect plan for each of us and He deeply cares about every detail of our lives. Remember that God is at work in our lives in very real and personal ways. Let us continue to run the race Christ has set out for us and, Lord will if next season comes, I hope that you and I are able to once again gather together to encourage and spur one another on.
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Office: 907-222-6348
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