Alaska Ministry Network of the Assemblies of God

New Pastors at Jubilee Worship Center!

2012-02-08T17:26:00.000-08:00

We are very excited that Pastor Jeremy and Charee Davis are the new Pastors at Jubilee Worship Center in Fairbanks. They were elected this past Sunday. We are excited for both the Davis' and the church, as they follow after God's plan. We are looking forward to hearing good reports.

Register now for the Men's Retreat!

2012-02-08T17:20:00.000-08:00

This was an excellent event last year, and we would encourage all men to attend. Pastor Jim Duncan does a great job planning this retreat. Note that the early preregistration price ends on February 15th.

ANA Feeding the Hungry in Anchorage

2012-01-30T16:53:00.000-08:00

Pastor Eldon and Gloria Hicks and Anchorage Native Assembly have been feeding the homeless and hungry on Sundays since 2003. It is an incredible ministry, and they have fed up to 300 at one time. Lucas Dawson created a moving pictorial video displayed below that captures the spirit of the ministry that is occurring.

AK Women Around the State

2012-01-30T16:43:00.000-08:00

Alaska Women are unlimited in the many ways they help others. The Homer A/G ladies group found a unique way to assist our village churches. Karen Newell and her ladies caught a vision that was cast at a AKWU event last year and had fun doing it. They prepared a “ Conference in a box” using the 2011 AKWU theme “Thrive”. This CIAB has everything you need as a church to offer a small women’s conference in your community. These women gathered and produced, with the help of Terry Hull, teaching DVD’s, crafts, prizes, and so much more, to reach the women of the villages and bless them. Each box provides detail instruction of how to have a “Thrive” Conference in your community. There are only a few Conference in a Box Kits available and it will be first come first served. They are mailed free of charge to a church willing to use it. We ask that if you request and receive one of these Conference in a box kits, that you document your conference and send pictures and comments to vreneeduncan@gmail.com & gnewell@ideafamilies.org

Renee Duncan
Ak Women Unlimited
PO Box 646
Soldotna, AK 99669
"Every Woman, Every Day, Every Where!

Holy Spirit Conference

2012-01-28T15:08:00.000-08:00

The Holy Spirit Conference was excellent this year. The speakers were Dr. Joseph Castleberry, Dr. RT Kendall, Pastor Edgardo Montano, and several Pastors from El Salvador who came to participate in the services. Special thanks to Pastor Kent and Pastor Fay for helping to host this event.

There were several themes that the Holy Spirit wove together through this conference. Dr. Kendall spoke of the need to marry the power of God with the Word of God in the church today. He dealt primarily with the moving of the Holy Spirit in the Old Testament. Dr. Castleberry spoke about generosity and how generous the Spirit is. Pastor Montano and other El Salvadorian Pastors dealt with several of the spiritual gifts listed in the Bible.

There was a weighty stirring in the Spirit that God is doing something in our midst. The El Salvadorian Pastors are excited about the opportunity to partner together to reach the many Hispanics living in Anchorage.

Interim Pastors in Sitka

2012-01-28T14:50:00.000-08:00

I was in Sitka last weekend to preach and assist with some bookkeeping items. After Pastor Steve left to accept a pastorate in Kansas, Pastor Dale and Beth Parker agreed to be interim Pastors in Sitka as the church conducts their pastoral search. They are being a tremendous blessing to the church in Sitka and are being very well received. It was his birthday while I was there, and we got to help celebrate.

Pastoral Installation

2012-01-09T23:40:00.000-08:00

Pastor Shannon and Lindsey Alarid were installed as the Pastors of Matanuska Assembly of God in Palmer yesterday. They were elected as Pastors on October 30. Pastor Bill Welch conducted the installation service, and his wife Dori was present as well. Pastor Bill preached from the text 1 Peter 5 about the job description of the Pastor. We are very excited for the future of this congregation as we see what the Lord will do. It is a great body of believers. I(Brad) am very proud of Pastor Shannon and Lindsey and know they will do very well in Palmer.

AKSOM

2012-01-08T22:18:00.000-08:00

AKSOM classes went great yesterday. We had two classes at King's Way Ministry Center in Eagle River and one class in Fairbanks. I (Brad) taught Church Administration, Law, and Finance, and Ed Ash produced the class. This is a fun class to teach.

Pastor Jack Aiken taught the Ephesians class, and Susan Cogan produced the class, assisted by Lattis Campbell. Pastor Jack wrote the book for this class, and it was received very well by the students. We are very excited to have this book available. You can purchase the book either as a hard copy or an electronic download. We recommend this book to you.

Sheri Buller taught the Missions class in Fairbanks, produced by Wade Cogan. The class went very well, and Sheri did a great job.

Video Christmas Greeting from Pastor Bill and Dori

2011-12-21T18:39:00.000-08:00

For Optimal viewing, make sure your sound is turned up.

Winter Edition of "The Journey"

2011-12-16T16:55:00.000-08:00

The Winter Edition of "The Journey", the quarterly publication of the Alaska Ministry Network, is now available for download here. Excellent articles and information about coming events.

Central Region Christmas Party

2011-12-15T13:57:00.000-08:00

Pastor Fay did an incredible job hosting the Central Region Christmas Party on Tuesday night. MCA had the place decked out with a beautiful manger scene that you can see in the background of the pictures, and the room was very classy. As always, the event was well planned and was a hit. The food was excellent!

Pastor Shannon Alarid, the new Pastor at Matanuska AG in Palmer, led us skillfully in some Christmas songs.

Pastor Ryan Gluth gave a superb talk that directed our thinking on how we can lead others in adoring the Savior this Christmas season.

Pastor Bill led us in prayer as we prayed for each other and for others who may be facing difficult situations this Christmas season. It was a moving season of prayer together.

Staff Meeting

2011-12-15T12:59:00.000-08:00

We had a great team meeting on Tuesday at Starbucks. We are blessed with a staff who cares about the Network and do their work with excellence. We are currently going through the book "The 17 Essential Qualities of a Team Player" by John Maxwell. We are already working on Network Conference and getting excited about it.

Steal of a Deal on a Great Book

2011-12-13T17:45:00.000-08:00

If you like to read books in an E-book format, Dr. Wood's newest book, "Road Trip Leadership" is on sale for 99 cents. You can find out more here. I have read this book and found it to be excellent and highly recommend it to you. Dr. Wood gives great insight about leadership, life, and ministry.

Christmas Gifts!

2011-12-09T16:46:00.000-08:00

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at the Network Office. Christmas decorations are up. Christmas gifts were mailed today to all AMN credentialed ministers. Be watching for it in the mail. We hope you are enjoying the Christmas season.

PK/MK Retreat

2011-12-06T14:29:00.000-08:00

The 2011 PKMK Retreat last weekend at Little Beaver Camp was a huge success. We had 50 PK/MKs from around the state join us for a fun filled weekend of activities, good food, and spiritual refreshing. The PK/MKs were the first to get to use the new sledding hill and inner tubes and they had lots of fun flying down the hill. We had a rousing broomball tournament as well as plenty of indoor board games for those who wanted to stay warm. The youth pastors, Ben & Kayla Bridgewater, from Homer were able to join us for the weekend and Ben did a great job sharing on Saturday evening about not compromising anything and being above reproach as a leader in all things.

We want to give a big thank you to the Presbytery for partnering with us to be able to make this event free to all of our Pastors and Missionary Kids around the state. Getting to invest in these young leaders during the retreat is one of the highlights for us in Youth Ministries. We look forward to next year’s PK/MK Retreat!

Baptisms in Kodiak

2011-12-06T13:34:00.000-08:00

Pastor Tracy and Pam Hodges in Kodiak are very excited to report that they baptized 21 people on Sunday night! That includes 4 kids, 7 adults, and 10 teens. God is up to something in Kodiak!

Help Needed for AKSOM

2011-11-30T11:03:00.000-08:00

We are very excited about how the AKSOM simulcast system is working. It is allowing us to be more effective in how we conduct the classes and has also allowed us to expand our base of teachers. However, one area in which we need help is in producing the classes. We are looking for people who enjoy working with video and computers. This is an excellent way for you to contribute to what God is doing through AKSOM in training leaders for Alaska.

The producer is responsible for making sure the simulcast system operates properly and monitoring the chat function to ask questions of the Professor when students ask questions on the internet. It would involve giving a Saturday (usually from 9 until around 4) once every two or three months. If you are interested in volunteering for this, please contact Dr. Cogan at the office or by email (coganministries@yahoo.com)

Dillingham

2011-11-30T10:35:00.000-08:00

Wade and Susan Cogan spent Thanksgiving with Pastor Debbie and Dave Milligan, Pastors of Anchor of Hope AG in Dillingham. Wade also had the opportunity to preach and to teach the Personal Evangelism AKSOM class.

This is Pastor Debbie Milligan.

Pictures of the Anchor of Hope Congregation.

Togiak

2011-11-30T10:28:00.000-08:00

Wade Cogan was in Togiak teaching two classes: Introduction to Pentecostal Doctrine and How to Interpret the Bible. They had a wonderful time visiting with Pastor Joseph and Lucy Andrews and getting to know the students. Wade also got to preach at the Sunday services.

This is Pastor Joseph and Lucy Andrews. They were recently appointed by the Presbytery as Pastors of Togiak Assembly of God.

There were five students attending both classes.

Holy Spirit Conference

2011-11-28T10:27:00.000-08:00

We are very excited about the Holy Spirit Conference this year. We would encourage you to make plans to attend if possible. If you can't make the trip, it will be live streamed again by Voice to the Village. This event is sponsored by Muldoon Community Assembly, the Central Region, and the Alaska Ministry Network. I love partnerships!

Thanksgiving Greeting from Pastor Bill and Dori

2011-11-23T12:38:00.000-08:00

The following proclamation was made by Governor Bradford in 1623, 3 years after the Pilgrims settled at Plymouth:

To all ye Pilgrims, Inasmuch as the Great Father has given us this year an abundant harvest of Indian corn, wheat, peas, squashes and garden vegetables, and has made the forests to abound with game and the sea with fish and clams, and inasmuch as he has spared us from pestilence and disease, has granted us freedom to worship God according to the dictates of our own conscience; now I, your magistrate, do proclaim that all ye Pilgrims, with your wives and ye little ones, do gather at ye meeting house, on ye hill, between the hours of 9 and 12 in the day time, on Thursday November ye 29th of the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred and twenty three, and the third year since ye Pilgrims landed on ye Plymouth rock, there to listen to ye pastor and render thanksgiving to ye Almighty God for all His blessings.

Ephesians 5:19, 20 encourages Christians everywhere, "Speak to one another with psalms, hymns and spiritual songs. Sing and make music in your heart to the Lord, ALWAYS giving thanks to God the Father for everything, in the Name of our Lord Jesus Christ."

1 Thessalonians 5:16-18 says, "Be joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus."

Dori and I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! As we enter into the holiday season, we are very thankful for the Alaska Assemblies of God and the wonderful opportunity you have given us to serve you and represent our Network. We are very mindful of the outpouring of God’s grace over our lives. We want to express gratitude for each of you and the wonderful blessing we have experienced because of you and the goodness of our Heavenly Father. This will be our 26^th Thanksgiving in Alaska. As I reflect on the years past, my heart is full of gratitude. We are very excited for what the Lord has planned for all our families and friends in the years to come.

My prayer is that your families and ministries will be blessed beyond comprehension. We love you and are praying you will have a wonderful Thanksgiving and that you will experience the 2011 holiday season in a fresh new way, as Jesus manifests His grace and love.

^“I thank my God every time I remember you. In all my prayers for all of you, I always pray with joy because of your partnership in the gospel from the first day until now, being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. It is right for me to feel this way about all of you, since I have you in my heart . . . all of you share in God’s grace with me . . . And this is my prayer: that your love may abound more and more in knowledge and depth of insight, so that you may be able to discern what is best and may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruit of righteousness that comes through Jesus Christ—to the glory and praise of God.” Philippians 1:3-11, NIV

You are loved,

Bill and Dori

North Pole AG

2011-11-22T13:44:00.000-08:00

I had a great time in North Pole this weekend with Pastor Billy and Aubrey Welch and North Pole Assembly of God. This is a historically strong church and continues to thrive under the leadership of Pastors Billy and Aubrey. Left to right above is Pastor Aubrey, Pastor Billy, Sheila (bookkeeper) Pastor Todd (Youth Pastor), and Pastor Kory (Children's Pastor). It is exciting to see what God is doing here. They work together very well as a team.

The temperature was around 35 below zero.

One of the Pastoral tasks is to stoke the fire twice a day to keep the church heated. Fortunately, the pastoral staff helps out.

The Santa Claus at the Santa Claus House of North Pole is a believer and a member of North Pole AG. He is a very nice guy. Wow! THE Santa Claus calls Billy "Pastor".

Riggs Scholarship for High School Seniors

2011-11-18T17:56:00.001-08:00

A high school senior that plans to attend one of the 17 undergraduate Assemblies of God endorsed colleges or universities (www.colleges.ag.org) may be eligible to apply for a Ralph Riggs Scholarship. This scholarship fund is made available by the Assemblies of God Trust in partnership with The Alliance for Assemblies of God Higher Education.

Two Riggs scholarships (The General Superintendent’s Scholarships) of up to $30,000 each will be awarded (over a 4-year period) to one male and one female high school senior. Eight one-time scholarships of $5,000 each will be awarded to high school seniors (and distributed over the student’s first two semesters).

To be considered for a scholarship, an applicant must have a minimum of a 3.7 GPA; an ACT score of 28 or SAT score of 1870; be active in an Assemblies of God church; and plan to attend an endorsed AG university directly following high school. Scholarship recipients will be chosen based on these qualifications: academics, extracurricular involvement, Christian service, Christian life, financial need, personal essay and references.

The Riggs Scholarship Fund is one of three scholarship programs sponsored by AGTrust in its efforts to train young leaders and empower future generations. The AGTrust is under the leadership of Chairman Dr. George O. Wood, general superintendent of the Assemblies of God.

Since 2009, AGTrust has awarded a total of $310,000 to 32 high school graduates chosen as Riggs Scholarship recipients. The 2012 Riggs scholarship winners will be named in April 2012.

To download the Riggs Scholarship application form, go to www.agtrust.org. The application submission deadline is February 15, 2012.

Bethel

2011-11-16T16:21:00.000-08:00

Pastor Jack and I had the chance to visit Pastor Dale and Pattie Jollotta in Bethel this Monday and Tuesday. We enjoyed our fellowship with them and are excited about what the Lord has in store there. They were called to Alaska from the New England Area, and have been serving as Pastors at Bethel Community AG since July. Pastor Jack was planning on conducting a pastoral installation on Sunday, but the weather delayed travel. Former Pastor Bob and Rachelle White continue to serve and be a blessing in the church as they look to develop a camp in the Bethel area.

The church facility is very nice and well taken care of.

The Kuskokwim River flows by Bethel, and is frozen now. Here you can see a barge that isn't going anywhere until Spring.

Kotzebue

2011-11-16T15:58:00.000-08:00

I (Brad) was in Kotzebue this past Sunday filling in for Pastor Randy and Sandy Wren, who were attending their son's wedding. I was excited to be there, as it was my first time in Kotzebue. Thanks to Pastor Randy and Sandy for flying me up and letting me stay in their apartment while they were out.

Matt is a young man who is from Emmonak and was helping Pastor Austin. He has moved to Kotzebue and is now helping Pastor Randy. He did a great job leading worship on Sunday.

Darvin picked me up at the airport. He has grown up in Kotzebue and has been a leader in the church for decades. It was fun to hear Darvin and his wife tell fond stories of the ministry of the Mercers and the Westdahls.

The Carters Receive Their STL Vehicle

2011-11-16T15:19:00.000-08:00

The Carters just received their brand new Speed the Light vehicle! It is pictured above behind the family. They would like to thank the youth of Alaska for giving to make this possible. Continue to pray for the Carters as they pursue God's call on their lives and minister in Japan.

First Hispanic AKSOM Venue!

2011-11-16T15:11:00.000-08:00

We conducted our first AKSOM venue in Spanish this past Saturday. I (Brad) taught the Life of Christ, and Pastor Gil Nantes interpreted. There were four students, and they were sharp and hungry to learn more about God and ministry. It was exciting to experience what God is doing. Special thanks to Pastor Gil for working hard on fixing my PowerPoint translations and also to the New York School of Ministry for providing us with the text overview and tests in Spanish.

Dr. Cogan participated in the class and also recorded it on video. We now have this class on DVD for future use. We are very excited about what God is planning with the Hispanics in Alaska.

Pray for Western Alaska

2011-11-09T17:46:00.000-08:00

The pictures above were taken by Pastor Jimmy Okitkin today and are shots of Kotlik and the AG church in Kotlik underwater. This scene is playing out in many of the locations in Western Alaska. Pastor Jimmy spoke with Pastor Marvin in Alakanuk, and they are taking on water as well.

Pastor Mike Christian of Nome reports that all roads heading out of Nome are closed except for towards Anvil Mountain. Water is over the road heading to the airport, and the ocean is very high. Waves are breaking over the roads, and they are expecting high winds tonight. We have been unable to reach Pt. Hope. However, Pastor Mike was able to speak with State Troopers who informed him that Pt. Hope has been without power all day. The people are evacuated to the school building. Pastor Mike was also able to reach Kotzebue, who reported that things are going ok there.

Pastor Caleb has been in contact with Shaktoolik, and they were not yet flooded, but anxiously awaiting the evening to see if they would flood during the high tide. Winds are strong.

Pastor Linda Staub reports that her family is safe in St. Michael and assisting in evacuations. We spoke with a person at the church in Unalakleet and she reported that people were seeking safe shelter. Missionary Terry Hull has been trying to reach the Covlasky's in Emmonak, but has not been able to reach them for a report. He will continue to try.

Please be praying for the people in the villages and communities of Western Alaska this evening as they continue to ride out this storm.

Online Credential Renewals Available NOW!

2011-11-09T17:02:00.000-08:00

Credentialed Ministers, you can submit your annual credential renewals online at this site. It is available right now, and I would encourage you to take care of this as soon as possible! The online process is very easy, I just submitted my renewal. You will need your AG Passport login info, and you should have received that via email from General Council. Hard copy renewal forms will be mailed out by November 15th. The deadline is December 31.

Consulting Resource for Churches

2011-11-09T11:58:00.000-08:00

Pastors and Church Leaders, Dick Hardy of the Hardy Group is offering a new resource designed for churches in the 100-500 person size range. It is called "Lead Pastor Tele-Consulting Networks." Dick Hardy comes highly recommended as a consultant by these people, and you can find out more information about this valuable resource here.

Youth Conference 2011, Report from Mark

2011-11-07T17:35:00.000-08:00

This year was a great year for us! We had almost 1100 students and leaders from the road and off the road system. Almost 1/3 of our students came from villages and from the South East which means that they had to fly to Anchorage (some had to take a ferry to get to the airport!).

Highlights:
1100 in Attendance - on location
3564 individual computers logged on to watch our live production streamed
43 States!
41 Countries!

Speakers:
Banning Liebscher / Jesus Culture, Redding, CA

Banning did a great job. He spoke on holiness and intimacy. Banning did a great job connecting with the students and leaders. I love his passion for revival, however, what I loved even more was his clear and compelling call to live holy. He was very clear that without holiness, we will never see the supernatural that many of us desire. Banning will be back to Alaska!

Jay Mooney – National Youth Director
Jay spoke our Speed the Light service and a leaders session for us. Jay hit it out of the park! He spoke a powerful, compelling word on Jesus’ challenge to Peter about “taking” care of my little ones! He set the stage for our STL offering. We had just over $26,000.00 come in for our offering at the conference. There are several things we did that I think will help us with sustaining STL giving!

We printed self-addressed, postage paid remittance envelopes that students/leaders could use, and take home with them.

The envelopes gave people 3 options to give:
1. Cash
2. Credit/Debit cards ($11,000 worth of the giving)

3. Recurring automatic debit ( we have almost $1,000.00 of recurring [monthly] giving now)

We also asked students to make a 30 day STL goal and to send their offering in with the envelopes! We are excited about what that will do long-term for STL awareness!

Jay also spoke to our leaders concerning campus ministry. Many of my youth pastors came up and said..."WOW" Jay painted a picture for campus ministry that everyone in this room can get involved in. Thanks Jay for your leadership!

We also recorded a live worship CD this year with a 60 voice youth choir! It was epic! Our worship leader was Adam Barta (www.iclv.com) who is on staff as the Worship/Creative Arts pastor at the International Church of Las Vegas! He is super easy to work with and I believe is one of the top worship leaders in North America! Super humble and amazingly anointed! Our producer was from Seattle - Brandon Bee (brandonbeemusic.com).

Lastly -- we launched a 30day Push manual that is a workbook companion to or Alaska Youth Ministries App (iTunes & Android). It is a growth manual designed to help students deepen core spiritual habits 30 days following conference. You can download this manual for free @ www.akyouth.org.

Blessings,

Mark

MCA baptisms

2011-11-07T17:28:00.000-08:00

Exciting night at MCA last night, as 13 people were baptized! Many of them were from the new MCA site "Island Revival", led by Pastor Moe. Praise the Lord!

www.MinistryDirect.com

2011-11-03T14:18:00.000-07:00

Have you discovered the value of Ministry Direct, produced by the General Council? They produce many videos that help in areas such
as legal issues, ministry, preaching, etc. Below I have
embedded two examples.

The first is a roundtable discussion of Children's Ministry, and
the second is a discussion by Dick Hardy about working with Church
Boards, part 1. You can see many, many more excellent resources at www.MinistryDirect.com.

Youth and Children's Ministry Training Resources

2011-11-03T14:03:00.000-07:00

The children's and youth specialists from Valley Forge Christian College presented some excellent resources at the DSOM Summit for people desiring to grow in their gifts of ministering to children and youth. Essentially, Valley Forge is offering internet classes that are fully accredited for $99 per credit hour. This type of class would work very well for either full-time or lay leaders who want to be trained in their giftings but can't afford to leave their location.

The Youth track includes classes such as Youth Ministry Leadership, Youth Culture, Introduction to Youth Ministry, etc. More information on the Youth Ministry track can be found at www.youthstudiesonline.com.

The Children's Ministry track includes classes such as Pastoring Children, Early Childhood Ministry, Ministry to Children with Disabilities, Child Evangelism, etc. More information can be found at www.cmuo.com.

DSOM Summit

2011-11-03T13:52:00.000-07:00

Dr. Wade and Susan Cogan and I (Brad) are attending the annual District School of Ministry summit in Columbus, Ohio. This is a time when the School of Ministry leaders get together to learn from each other and look ahead to future improvements. The 27th DSOM has just recently been approved, it is exciting to see this movement growing.

One thing I am really excited about is that Alaska is giving back! We are currently the only DSOM doing the Simulcast Venue. Today, we demonstrated the Simulcast system to the rest of the DSOM leaders. Dr. Campbell was in Anchorage at the Network Office, and he and Dr. Cogan demonstrated how the system works. It was received very favorably, and many saw possibilities for how their District could utilize this technology.

Dr. Cogan leading the Discussion

Another way Alaska is contributing is with textbooks. Pastor Jack Aiken of Eagle River saw a need for a good Ephesians textbook. So he wrote and published one! He gave us a copy to distribute free to each of the District Schools of Ministry today.

The New York District School of Ministry has developed Hispanic curriculum for the entire CM level. They have blessed each DSOM by providing us with a copy of this. That is the beauty of the DSOM movement and why the cost is so low....everything is shared. Alaska is already taking advantage of this curriculum, and the first AKSOM Hispanic venue will be taking place on November 12th. I (Brad) will be teaching Life of Christ, and Pastor Gil Nantes will be translating.

Supt. Dave Dillon, the Superintendent of the Appalachian District and pictured below, is the President of DSOM, and this event was hosted by the Ohio Ministry Network. It was a great time of sharing and fellowship. We are grateful for what the Lord is doing to equip the called throughout our fellowship, whether it be through DSOMs, Bible Colleges, or Church Based Schools. I am excited about how God will use AKSOM to continue to develop people for ministry in Alaska. Dr. Wade Cogan is doing an excellent job as Director. His wife, Susan, does a great job doing the administrative tasks. Thanks also to Dr. Campbell for serving on the leadership team, and to the professors, Voice to the Village, the students, and all the technical support staff who help make AKSOM possible.

As a reminder, you can tune in this Saturday at 9:30am at www.aksom.net to view the Simulcast.

LBC Natural Gas is ON!

2011-10-21T15:59:00.000-07:00

Mark just called 2 minutes ago to inform me that the natural gas at LBC is in operation! All buildings at Little Beaver except the bathrooms are now being heated by natural gas. The bathrooms will be on soon, just waiting for a part. Praise the Lord!

Newly Approved US Missionaries Jeremiah & Sharnay Niemuth

2011-10-21T15:09:00.000-07:00

Youth Conference Apparel!

2011-10-21T14:40:00.000-07:00

Youth Conference apparel recently arrived to our office and will be on sale at Youth Conference! T-shirts will be $10, Hoodies will be $25 and Zipup Hoodies will be $30. There are several colors available, Bethany and her friend above are modeling only two of the colors.

Finance Team

2011-10-21T14:35:00.000-07:00

We conducted our finance team meeting yesterday. We are blessed to have these qualified individuals giving input and accountability to our financial processes. I am thankful for the time and energy they give. Our finance team is chaired by our Treasurer, Pastor Jack Aiken. Other members of the team include Supt. Bill Welch, Pastor Gary Morton, Pastor Randy Jones, Dale Fick, Mike Cluff, and Brad Kesler. The finance team examines AMN financial statements, recommends budgets for all our funds and ministries to the Presbytery, and makes other financial recommendations to the Presbytery.

Pt. Hope Building Dedication

2011-10-21T14:25:00.000-07:00

Pt. Hope held a celebration to dedicate their new church facility. They have worked hard and paid for the entire building as they went. That is very impressive and something to celebrate. Pastor Roy Welch and Pt. Hope AG hosted Superintendent Bill Welch, NAF Chief John Maracle, Missionary Terry Hull, and Missionary Pastor Randy Wren. It was quite a celebration, and the church did a wonderful job of hosting. Here are some pictures.

The Pt. Hope Congregation

Pastor Roy Welch

Superintendent Bill Welch, Pastor Roy Welch, and Chief John Maracle

The Pt. Hope Church Choir

The Church Praying Together

Missionary Terry Hull

There was a baptism time in which 14 people were baptized.

Pt. Hope Building Dedication

2011-10-04T17:26:00.000-07:00

There is a Celebration occuring in Pt. Hope to dedicate their new church building. Reports with pictures will follow, but you can watch the live stream provided through Voice to the Village here. Services go through October 5th.

Alaska Youth Conference

2011-10-04T17:17:00.000-07:00

Alaska Youth Conference is coming up soon! We want to invite you to partner with us and invest in a generation. The Conference will be October 27-29th and is held at Changepoint Church in Anchorage. You can register online at http://www.akyouthconference.com/ – student registration is $75 and leader’s registration is $45.

Looking for a place to stay in Anchorage during AKYC? We have negotiated special conference rates with several hotels in town – the Crowne Plaza, Fairfield Inn & Suites, and Motel 6 have each given us a code to access lower rates during AKYC. Check out our website for the codes and more details about each rate at http://www.akyouthconference.com/.

We are excited about the line-up of speakers and artists this year for AKYC. Adam Barta will lead worship again this year, with recording artist Brandon Bee putting together a live worship CD with a youth choir made up of students from all around Alaska. Jay Mooney, our National Youth Director for the Assemblies of God, and Banning Liebscher, from Jesus Culture, will be speaking during Alaska Youth Conference.

If you have any questions about AKYC, please feel free to email us at youthadmin@alaskaag.org or give us a call at 907-562-2247. We look forward to hearing from you.

LBC Natural Gas -- Report from Mark Zweifel

2011-10-04T17:08:00.000-07:00

It's a miracle - Little Beaver Camp natural gas install is in full swing. We have the gas line buried and the conversion of the boilers and hot water heaters will start this Friday. By November 1st Little Beaver should be completely converted over to natural gas.

The project will be done on time and under budget thanks to the dedicated staff and some amazing volunteers. Thanks Barry Orzalli (Assistant Camp Manager) for your expertise and commitment to excellence. We could not have done it without you.

Thank you Gordon Bartel of BC Excavating for your generous donation of time and resources to not only coach us and help us with the needed permits, but to volunteer your services, machinery, manpower and time to excavate and bury the gas lines.)

Rendezvous 2011 -- Report from Renee Duncan

2011-09-30T14:35:00.000-07:00

Rendezvous 2011 "Thrive" at Little Beaver Camp was a powerful and fun time for the women of Alaska. Women ages 16-80 came together to be encouraged, built up, and enjoy each other. Speakers Aubrey Welch and Keeley Kaveolook brought awesome words of edification and teaching. Heather Gluth brought the camp into intense times of worship. We are excited that next year we have booked Beth Grant to teach at this event.

Farewell to McDonalds

2011-09-29T17:47:00.000-07:00

There was a Celebration of the ministry of Pastor Paul and Cindy McDonald in Fairbanks, as they leave to embrace their new future in Northern Missouri. We deeply appreciate their ministry at Fairbanks First Assembly. They have also touched so many people in Alaska, and they leave behind a great legacy of ministry. Pastor Paul and Cindy have been a blessing to us.

Joy Christian Center 10 Year Celebration

2011-09-29T17:13:00.000-07:00

Joy Christian Center recently celebrated 10 years of ministering in Anchorage. We appreciate Pastor Marlan and Ruth Schoenleben for their hard work and dedication in serving this church. Here are some pictures from the Celebration Service.

Kodiak New Beginnings Samoan AG

2011-09-29T16:12:00.000-07:00

A new church was recently birthed in Kodiak: Kodiak New Beginnings Samoan AG. Pastor Bill installed Pastor Ben Motu and his wife Vau as Pastors of this new church. We are looking forward to hearing good reports.

Pastor Ben

Pastor Bill & Dori and Pastor Ben & Vau Motu

The Congregation

Kodiak AG Pastoral Installation

2011-09-29T15:59:00.000-07:00

Pastor Bill recently installed Pastor Tracy and Pam Hodges as Pastors at Kodiak Assembly. We are excited for their ministry there!

Pastor Tracy and Pam

Pastor Bill praying over the new Pastors

The congregation praying

Fall Issue of The Journey

2011-09-19T14:51:00.000-07:00

The Fall edition of The Journey is now available! Click on the link below to download it.

More Summertime pics

2011-09-19T14:33:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures of Pastor Billy Starkweather and his wife, Brittany, enjoying a Labor Day picnic with Crossroads AG at Little Beaver Camp.

Summertime pics

2011-09-02T17:13:00.000-07:00

Labor Day weekend is upon us, and we all know what that means....summer is behind us and winter in Alaska is staring us down. I hope you had opportunity to get outside this summer and experience Alaska. I thought it would be fun if we could share some pictures of our Alaska fun this summer. E-mail me a picture of you enjoying the Alaska summer. It can be fishing, camping, hunting, ministry outside, hiking, a BBQ, whatever. If you get me your picture by Wednesday evening, I will post them all on Thursday. If you send me a picture with minors in it, please make sure they belong to you and that you approve me posting it on this blog.

E-mail your pictures to bradkesler@alaskaag.org. I will go first. This is a picture of me with a king in Salisbury Sound out of Sitka. Take advantage of the Labor Day weekend and spend time with your friends and family.

Ladies, Don't Miss this Upcoming Event!

2011-09-02T17:04:00.000-07:00

New Team Member!

2011-09-01T17:23:00.000-07:00

Today we welcomed Jennifer Parker as our new receptionist. We are very excited to have her as part of the team. She has experience working in a front desk environment and has a heart for ministry. When you call the office, she will probably be the one answering the phone, so give her a warm welcome! Jennifer is a sister to Autumn, our bookkeeper.

Annual Ministries Forum

2011-09-01T17:15:00.000-07:00

The Annual Ministries Forum was held this Tuesday. This is when Pastor Bill and Dori host the Alaska Ministry Network directors and assistant directors. We did something a little different this year and invited Dr. Sam Hemby to come and share a seminar entitled "Lead Like Jesus." Dr. Hemby is a Professor at Southeastern University and has been the interim Pastor at Matanuska AG for the summer. Dr. Sam and Rita have been a tremendous blessing to the congregation in Palmer during this difficult time. They are headed back to Florida this next week.

This year we invited the Executive Presbytery, Regional Representatives, and also the MCA Pastoral staff, as MCA hosted this event at their North Campus. They were a tremendous blessing in facilitating the event, and we could not have done it without them. Dr. Hemby's teaching was a huge blessing, and it was a time of great fellowship and learning together as a team. We deeply appreciate the contributions of all the ministry leaders to the ministers and churches in Alaska.

Native American Fellowship

2011-09-01T13:45:00.000-07:00

Dr. Wood and the National Office in Springfield are challenging Districts and Networks to adopt an ethnic/language fellowship. At the recent Superintendent's Forum, Pastor Bill pledged that the Alaska Ministry Network would support the Native American Fellowship by "adopting" them. This includes financial support, networking, and partnership. Be in prayer that the Lord will abundantly bless the Native American Fellowship across our land and that God would be glorified in the lives of many Native Americans!

We are excited to partner with NAF, as Native Americans and ministry to Native Americans has played a very important role in the Assemblies of God in Alaska. As we sow this seed, we are believing God for a harvest of Native Americans being won to the Lord in Alaska.

Judi's New STL Vehicle

2011-08-24T16:05:00.001-07:00

This past May we presented the keys to Judi Ballweber for her Speed the Light vehicle to enhance her ministry in Ukraine. Judi has been on the field for a number of years without a vehicle and is thrilled to be able to expand her ministry opportunities with her STL vehicle.

Through Speed the Light offerings, students from all over Alaska raised money for this car for Judi. Their sacrifice has not gone unnoticed. For every $100 a student gave to Speed the Light, their name was placed in a hat and the individual whose name was drawn was given the opportunity to fly to Ukraine and present the keys to Judi.

Hannah Lockwood, a longtime member of First Assembly in Anchorage, was the student whose name was drawn to present the keys to the car to Judi. She was accompanied by Bethany Veater, our DYD Admin, on this adventure to Ukraine. They spent the week with Judi and got to experience first-hand the different ministry opportunities that Judi encounters on a daily basis now that she has private transportation. While the girls were in Ukraine, Judi was presented with the opportunity to establish a connection with and speak into the lives of young women at a rehabilitation center about an hour outside of Kiev for the first time. This ministry opportunity had previously not be a possibility because the center is located outside of public transportation lines.

The youth of Alaska are a huge blessing to our missionaries through Speed the Light.

General Council Services

2011-08-23T16:14:00.000-07:00

I would strongly encourage you to go to http://www.agtv.ag.org/gc11, where you can view all the services at General Council, along with the Influence Conference. These are messages that will bless and challenge you in your ministry. Here was one of my favorites, a great message from Dr. Bradford, our General Secretary.

Superintendent Wood in SE Alaska!

2011-08-22T15:07:00.000-07:00

General Superintendent George Wood and his family were in Southeast Alaska this past week on a cruise. They were able to connect with some Pastors in the area. We have pictures of Dr. Wood with Pastor John and Becky Braten in Ketchikan and Pastor Mike Rose in Juneau. Pastor Mike was able to introduce Dr. Wood to Governor Parnell.

Although they were planning on going to Sitka and connecting with Pastor Steve Trimble, that portion was cancelled due to weather. However, they did stop in Wrangell and visited with Pastor Kem and Susan Haggard. Here are some pictures.

Manai Fou AG Building Dedication

2011-08-22T13:37:00.000-07:00

The building dedication for Manai Fou (Fresh Manna) AG occurred on Saturday. They recently purchased a building and then renovated it. We are excited about what God is doing in this ministry!

After Superintendent Bill Welch prayed to open the ceremony, and Dori cut the ribbon, Pastor Frank Tanuvasa opened the door and let the congregation into their new house of worship.

The Manai Fou AG Worship Team

Pastor Ua, the Vice-President of the Alaska Samoan Fellowship, led the Celebration Service.

The Manai Fou congregation and invited guests.

Pastor Savini, Secretary of the Alaska Samoan Fellowship, led in offering worship.

Pastor Vanilau, President of the Alaska Samoan Fellowship, read Scripture and led in responsive readings.

Afterwards, as is customary for Samoan Celebrations, a Feast!

Norman and Judy Lindsay

2011-08-22T12:59:00.000-07:00

Norman and Judy pull out of Alaska this week, beginning the next stage of their journey. I (Brad) came to know Norman and Judy when they were my Pastors during my high school years in Sitka. In fact, after I graduated from college, Pastor Norman took a chance on a young guy with no Bible School training or ministry experience, by hiring me to be his Youth Pastor. After that, Norman moved to the Network Office (ok, it was the District Office back then) as the Secretary-Treasurer and Business Administrator. As one who sits behind that desk now, I can tell you that his imprint is still in this office. As you go through the files at the office, you see his name on so many documents. He managed the affairs of the Network with diligence and excellence. In fact, I still hear stories from people of how he helped them in ministry and went the extra mile.

Pastor Norman and Judy went on to serve as Pastors of South Anchorage AG and did a great job there. Norman has also had a big part in the Alaska School of Ministry, being on the Executive Leadership Team and also teaching several classes. The students have benefitted greatly from his teaching and mentorship.

Judy served in the Network Office for the past three years. She has served with distinction and we appreciate all the contributions she has made. We are going to miss her laugh and her heart to serve in ministry. She truly viewed serving in the Network Office as ministry.

The theme for this year's General Council was "Make Your Mark on Our Movement." Pastor Norman and Judy, thanks for leaving a mark on the Alaska Ministry Network, and also on me. You are a blessing! We look forward to keeping in touch.

We had a couple going away parties. The staff had a lunch for Judy, and the Central Region and AKSOM sponsored a reception. Here are some pictures.

AG Trust Scholarship Information from General Council

2011-08-17T10:08:00.000-07:00

Deadline approaching for AG Next Generation Fund Scholarships
September 15 is the deadline for application filing. If you graduated from an Assemblies of God (AG) college, university or seminary no earlier than May 2007 and no later than June 2010 and need assistance with sizeable school debts in order to enter ministry more quickly, you can apply now for an AG Next Generation Fund grant.

The Assemblies of God Trust and the Alliance for AG Higher Education, located at Assemblies of God Headquarters in Springfield, Mo., are working together to provide this crucial financial assistance for as many qualifying AG college alumni as possible.

The application for AG Next Generation Fund grants is posted online at www.agtrust.org. All applicants must submit their completed application forms electronically or by mail no later than September 15, 2011.

Grants are awarded on a case-by-case basis, vary in amount, and are only available to graduates who agree to provide at least five years of full-time service in ministry.

This is the third year the AGTrust has offered the grants with 45 grants awarded over the past two years. Among the recipients were Steve and Rachel Campbell, now missionaries-in-training assigned to a sensitive country. Their grant enabled them to enter full-time missionary service much quicker than they thought possible.

“We are extremely grateful to AGTrust that the 45 AG Next Generation recipients have received grants and will continue to receive assistance with their college loans, while even more funding will be made available to help a new list of AG college graduates this year,” says Dr. Bob Cook, Alliance for AG Higher Education president. “This endeavor sends a strong message to our Fellowship regarding our commitment to invest in the next generation.”

AG Next Generation Fund grants are disbursed in the form of monthly payments to school debt loan holders on behalf of the grant recipient.

“We are making the choice to do everything we can to make sure our Fellowship is strong and healthy for future generations,” says Dr. George O. Wood, Assemblies of God general superintendent. “It is our choice. But it is their future.”

General Council Update

2011-08-04T08:01:00.000-07:00

General Council is going great! The services have been very meaningful. The services will all be archived on AGTV, so you will be able to watch them. General Council is rolling out many new, helpful resources that you will be hearing about if you haven't already. I will feature them in the blog when I get back to the office.

As far as business, we have returned Alton Garrison as Asst. Superintendent and Dr. Jim Bradford as Secretary. John Bueno retired as AGWM director, and Greg Mundis was elected for this position. We also changed the name of "Headquarters" to be the "National Leadership and Resource Center."

Influence and General Council

2011-08-01T13:59:00.000-07:00

Couldn't get to General Council? It will be streamed live at http://generalcouncil.ag.org/. The Influence Conference begins tonight and goes through tomorrow. The first General Council service will be Tuesday evening. We encourage you to participate by watching the services.

Pastor Jim Mercer

2011-05-31T17:10:00.000-07:00

Pastor Jim Mercer recently passed away. Pastor Jim and Nancy served as Pastors in Kotzebue and have been involved at Muldoon Community Assembly since Jim's retirement. Pastor Jim was a blessing to the Alaska Ministry Network, and he will be missed. The funeral will be Friday, June 3rd at 12:00 at Muldoon Community Assembly. Terry Hull will also be streaming the service live at http://www.voicetothevillage.net/.

Please be in prayer for Nancy and the family during this time. Also, please be praying for the Muldoon church family, as they have experienced multiple deaths in the church recently and will be holding several funerals this week. Pray for the comfort and peace that only God can bring.

Tornado Disaster Relief Information

2011-05-26T17:47:00.000-07:00

Recently, tornadoes created terrible devastation in Joplin, Missouri, and other areas of the Midwest. Over 8,000 buildings in Joplin were destroyed or damaged. The Faith Assembly church facility in Joplin was destroyed, and two other AG churches were damaged. A nine year old boy from one of our churches in Galena, Kansas, was among those killed. Entire neighborhoods in Joplin were wiped out, and the infrastructure of the city is largely gone.

Convoy of Hope, our partner in compassion, has been on the ground since Monday getting food and supplies to people in the devastated areas. There is so much to be done, and they need our help. Superintendent George Wood has created a video clip outlining how we can help in this disaster. You can download this clip at http://www.ag.org/. There is also a button on the site where you can donate to Convoy of Hope. Pastors, we would encourage you to inform people in your church of this opportunity to be a blessing.

Please pray and encourage your churches to pray for the people affected by this disaster. Pray that God will minister to those who have lost loved ones and property, and also that people would be drawn to the Lord through this tragedy.

Credentialing Deadline Reminder from Melanya

2011-05-26T17:45:00.000-07:00

The credential upgrade application deadline (Certified to Licensed or Licensed to Ordained) is September 1, 2011. The deadline includes all fees, course work, references, notarized authorization forms, background screening, and credential exam.

The credential application for new credentials (Certified and Licensed) is December 1, 2011. The deadline includes all fees, course work, references, notarized authorization forms, background screening, and credential exam.

If you have any questions, please contact:

Melanya Berg
Credentialing Assistant
Alaska Ministry Network AG
907-562-22 47
credential@alaskaag.org
Office hours: Monday – Wednesday; 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

All Sessions of AK Ministry Network Conference Now Online!

2011-05-18T17:27:00.001-07:00

Bjerken Memorial Service is Posted Online

2011-05-16T13:44:00.000-07:00

Terry Hull has posted a video of the Memorial Service for Pastor Randy and Doris Bjerken on the Voice to the Village website. It can be viewed at this link: http://www.voicetothevillage.net/?sms_ss=blogger&at_xt=4dd18cb8c6b98d87%2C0.

Live Streaming of Memorial Service

2011-05-12T10:11:00.000-07:00

Terry Hull and Voice to the Village will be streaming the Bjerken Memorial Service live at this site: http://www.voicetothevillage.net/Webcast/Memorial/Bjerken.html It will begin at 3:00pm this Friday.

Memorial Service for Bjerkens

2011-05-11T15:31:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your continued prayers for the Bjerken family as we mourn with them over the loss of Randy and Doris Bjerken.

The Memorial Service is scheduled for Friday, May 13th, at 3:00pm at Colony High School (9550 E Colony Schools Dr, Palmer). This Memorial Service is open to the public. There will also be a private vigil for members of the Bjerken family and the Matanuska Assembly of God church family at 7:00pm on Thursday night to be held at Matanuska AG. The Alaska Ministry Network office will be closed all day on Friday as we attend the service and honor the Bjerkens.

We are thankful for the words of Jesus, as He said, “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.”

Donations for Funeral

2011-05-10T12:31:00.000-07:00

If you would like to assist the Bjerken family with donations to help offset the funeral costs, an account has been established at AlaskaUSA Federal Credit Union. The account is named "Bjerken Donation Account" and the number is 1600348.

The family would be very appreciative of any assistance you can give.

KTUU Coverage of Bjerken Prayer Service

2011-05-10T11:11:00.001-07:00

Tragic News from Superintendent

2011-05-09T12:12:00.000-07:00

Dear Network Family:

It’s with a sad and heavy heart that I write this email.

Yesterday afternoon our beloved Pastor Randy Bjerken and his wife Doris, of Matanuska Assembly in Palmer, were walking on the street when a motorist lost control of the vehicle and ran them over. They were out of State when the accident occurred. Please remember their children Christopher, Corey, Courtney and Kenzie. Also, we need to uphold the Matanuska church family in prayer while they process this loss and minister to the Bjerken children.

The church has asked us to organize a prayer service at Matanuska Assembly for this evening at 7 PM. If you are in Southcentral Alaska please feel free to join us for this time of reflection and prayer.

This is a great loss for the Bjerken family, Matanuska Assembly and the Alaska Ministry Network. Human words are not sufficient to bring understanding in an hour of such tragic loss. So, let me remind us of the words of the Psalmist: “God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble.” Psalm 46:1; and the words of Christ: “Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.” Matt 5:4.

We will communicate with you as we have further information.

You are loved,

Bill Welch

Superintendent

Superintendent and Assistant Superintendent Video Reports

2011-05-05T17:34:00.001-07:00

Regional Presbyter Video Reports

2011-05-05T17:18:00.001-07:00

Credentialing Service

2011-05-04T10:08:00.000-07:00

Michael Roux and the worship team from MCA led worship.

Those being recognized for a Certified Minister credential.

Those being recognized for a License to Minister credential.

Warren Bullock gave a phenomenal message on what it means to be a Pastor. He used three images to help us understand: a shepherd's staff, a sword, and a prayer shawl.

Pastor Bill Welch praying over Shannon Alarid as he receives his ordination, with his wife, Lindsey.

Pastor Gary Morton praying over Dr. Chris Carter, with his wife, Lindsey, as he receives his Ordination.

Pastor Mike Rose praying over Charee Davis as she receives her ordination.

Pastor JR Markle praying over Jeremy Davis as he is ordained.

Pastor Jim Duncan praying over Floyd Graham, along with his wife, Katrina, as he gets ordained.

Pastor Stephen Brown praying over Jason and Heidi Houston, as Jason receives his ordination.

Pastor Fay Niemann prays over Blaine and Robin Schmidt, as Blaine is ordained.

We rejoice and celebrate with all those who received ministry credentials this year and are excited to see what the Lord will do in their lives as they continue to pursue the call of God on their lives. Special thanks to Lattis and Sharlotte Campbell for taking all the pictures at Network Conference, some of which are included in this blog.

US Missions Luncheon

2011-05-04T09:39:00.000-07:00

Pastor Bill and Dori Welch hosted the US Missionaries Luncheon on Thursday afternoon. We are blessed with a top notch group of US Missionaries serving in Alaska. We are thankful for each one of them and everything they do for the Kingdom of God in Alaska. We are praying for more just like them that none should perish in Alaska.

AGWM Luncheon

2011-05-04T09:38:00.000-07:00

Pastor Gary and Alice Morton hosted a luncheon for the AGWM Missionaries. We sincerely appreciate our missionaries and everything they do for Jesus around the world!

Memorial Service

2011-05-04T09:29:00.000-07:00

The Memorial Service on Thursday morning is when we honor and remember those ministers in the Alaska Ministry Network who have went to be with the Lord in the past year. We are thankful for their lives and faithful ministry to the Lord and His church.

Giving flowers to the families.

Gina Jones sang a special song. Randell and Gina Jones pastor at Gateway Fellowship in Chugiak.

Pastor Jim Schulz of Crossroads AG presented the memorial for Rev. Doris Fellows. Sister Doris went to be with the Lord on September 6, 2010. She served in Point Hope, Emmonak, Nuiqsut, Wainwright, Teen Challenge, Far North Bible College, Camp AN, and Crossroads.

Something new we did this year was to present a Christian flag to the families in honor of their loved one who was a faithful soldier of Christ.

Pastor Eldon Hicks of Native AG presented the memorial for Rev. Annie Brandon. Sister Brandon went to be with the Lord on November 22, 2010. She was born in Klikitarik, Alaska, and graduated from Far North Bible College in her 70s. Annie worked as a nurse in several locations.

Pastor Jack Aiken of King's Way AG presented the memorial for Rev. James Flascher. Rev. Flascher pastored Sultan, Washington for ten years before moving to Alaska. He then pastored in Cordova for two years and then was on staff at King's Way. He moved to Valdez in 1997.

Thursday Morning Service

2011-05-04T08:40:00.000-07:00

Nick Higgins, Youth Pastor at Kenai New Life AG, led worship on Thursday morning.

Pastor Jack Aiken, Pastor of King's Way AG of Eagle River and Treasurer for the Alaska Ministry Network, gave a great message on Experiencing the Impossible.

We then had a Communion Service and prayer time together.

Wednesday Evening Service

2011-05-04T08:20:00.000-07:00

Pastor Gary and Alice Morton and the Anchorage First Assembly of God choir led worship on Wednesday night.

Pastor Fay Niemann opened with a prayer and Scripture reading.

Missionary Shawn Gordon, a missionary to the deaf, was recognized tonight. Shawn attends MCA.

The fundraising emphasis for World Missions was twofold: to raise money for the Carters to get to Japan and for a building project for a young church in Kyrgyzstan. Pastor Artiom, representing the second project, is pictured below.

Pastor Glen Berteau brought a powerful word encouraging us to pray for salvations of people we know. We wrote down names of people on red pieces of paper, and then hung them on the cross (pictured below). We then prayed over all the names.

Luncheons

2011-05-04T08:15:00.000-07:00

Next Generation Luncheon

Mark and his team presented Speed the Light awards, highlighted upcoming events, and celebrated recent events, such as Fine Arts.

Pam presented BGMC awards, highlighted upcoming events, and spoke of the need for children's ministry and the importance of worker screening.

Women's Luncheon

Art in Worship

Speaker Heidi Thomasen

Men's Luncheon

Pastor JD handed out Light for the Lost awards.

Comedian Justin was hilarious! Many laughs were had.

Seminars

2011-05-03T16:34:00.000-07:00

Pastor Kent Redfearn gave an excellent and needed seminar on Communicating with Technology. Although it is very beneficial to use current technology to enhance our ministry, there are some pitfalls to avoid. Kent's good friend Mel Williams, who is an expert on ethical issues, assisted with the seminar. He is pictured below.

Pastor Max Wiltshire gave two seminars on Cross Cultural Ministry. His teachings were very relevant to ministry in Alaska. He taught how not to offend other cultures and how to change a person's primary allegiance to Christ.

Wednesday Morning Business

2011-05-03T16:19:00.000-07:00

Dr. Lattis Campbell briefed the Network on exciting developments in the Alaska School of Ministry, including the Simulcast Venues and a possible partnership with Global University to facilitate graduate level courses in Alaska.

Although Dr. Campbell is stepping down as the Director of AKSOM, he will continue to be on the executive leadership team and teach courses. Dr. Wade Cogan is the new director of AKSOM, and we are excited about the continued ministry of AKSOM.

Pastor Bill and Pastor Gary recognized the top three giving churches in the categories of Network Partners (2% Giving), Total Network Ministres/AK Missions Giving, World Missions Giving, and Total World Ministries Giving. Thanks to all the churches for your sacrifical giving to the Kingdom.

We heard from the AGWM Missionaries who were present at the Network Conference. Dr. Chris Carter is on his way to Japan, which is very timely, given the recent disastrous events in Japan. We are praying that his support will be raised so he can get there quickly. Jim Stem has spent many years in Mongolia. He is currently at Global University, but is also making frequent trips to Mongolia. Jason Wilson is going to be a Missionary Associate to Rwanda. We are proud of our Missionaries and excited to hear the reports of what the Lord will do.

Randy McNeil, a representative from Christians United for Israel, gave an informative briefing on current views on Israel, and why we should support Israel.

Wednesday Morning Devotions

2011-05-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

Al Vanilau and the worship team from Anchorage Samoan led us in worship.

Pastor Vanilau gave a strong word on Experiencing the Impossible, expounding on the narrative of David and Goliath.

Tuesday Business

2011-05-03T15:45:00.000-07:00

We were able to get the majority of the business completed on Tuesday.

Congratulations to Pastor Jim Duncan, who was returned to office as the Secretary of the Alaska Ministry Network! Also, Presbyter Mike Rose, Presbyter Steve Brown, and Presbyter Austin Jones were returned as Regional Presbyters. We also passed several resolutions.

Thanks to the Parlamentarians for keeping us in line.

Tuesday Night Celebration Service

2011-05-03T15:32:00.000-07:00

Pastor Ben and Heather Rose from Juneau led us in worship. We also were blessed with two songs from students who received a superior with invitation at Fine Arts Festival. They did an incredible job.

Presbyter Mike Rose of Juneau received the offering.

Pastor Glen Berteau challenged and encouraged us that God can redeem our shattered dreams, and that we should not give up.

Tuesday Morning Service

2011-05-03T15:30:00.000-07:00

Pastor Billy Welch led worship, assisted by Dori Welch.

Pastor Bill gave the devotions, encouraging us to Experience the Impossible in our ministries.

Missions Banquet

2011-05-03T14:37:00.000-07:00

We kicked off the Alaska Ministry Network Conference in 2011 with the Alaska Missions Celebration Banquet at the Egan Center on Monday night. It was an exciting event that focused on Alaska Missions and raising money for a new church facility in Kotlik.

The jazz band from Muldoon Community Assembly blessed us with great music during the event.

Pastor Austin Jones of Emmonak stirred our hearts with faith and encouraged us that there is indeed fruit in the land!

Pastor Max Wiltshire, of Australian Aboriginal Outreach Ministries, was the keynote speaker and delivered a fantastic message. He spoke of the important need to reach the Alaska Natives with the Gospel of Christ, and that it is our responsibility.

Pastor Kent Redfearn of Muldoon Community Assembly led the charge in gathering pledges and receiving the offering for the new building in Kotlik. He challenged us to be "All In" with our giving and pledges. He presented greetings and encouragement from Superintendent George Wood, Governor Sean Parnell, and former Alaska District Superintendents Roland Peretti and Jack Bransford. Several churches presented pledges of financial support for this project, a couple of which are pictured below. Thanks Pastor Kent for all your help and for helping make this a success. We were amazed at the over $50,000 cash offering and $134,000 that was pledged. What an amazing display of faith and obedience on the part of the Pastors and churches of the Alaska Ministry Network. Thanks for being All In!!!

Pastor Jimmy and Maggie Okitkun are the Pastors of Kotlik Assembly of God and are doing a very good job there. They spoke and also led us in a song.

Pt. Hope Choir

2011-05-03T11:32:00.001-07:00

Unable to display content. Adobe Flash is required.

Dedication of the Samoan Building

2011-04-24T18:22:00.001-07:00

Yesterday was an exciting day of dedicating the new addition of the Anchorage Samoan Assembly of God building. It was a large event with many Pastors in attendance. The event began with a word of prayer and ribbon cutting outside. Then, we moved inside for the service. Afterwords, we experienced a feast that was awesome! We rejoice with Anchorage Samoan Assembly of God at the completion of this project and look forward to hearing more stories of God moving in this place. Thanks to Odis Ganey for being the project manager and also to Marlan Schoenlaben for his assistance. It was certainly a team effort. Thanks to Terry Hull for taking all these pictures.

Pastor Fay leading us in prayer.

Dori Welch was given the honor of cutting the ribbon to the new addition, and Superintendent Welch was asked to be the first to walk through the door.

Pastor Vanilau came to Alaska in 1990 to begin a work to reach the Samoans for Jesus. There are now 10 Samoan Assembly of God churches in Anchorage, and Pastor Vanilau leads the fellowship of Samoan churches. We are thankful for his leadership and faithfulness.

Assistant Superintendent Gary Morton led a tremendous prayer of dedication for the new building. He recalled the prayer of dedication of the new temple of Solomon, with the glory of God's presence filling the place.

The Alaska Ministry Network presented a gift of a new flat screen TV to Anchorage Samoan Assembly of God to commemorate the occasion. They will be able to use it in their overflow area.

Pastor Bill brought an excellent message about dedicating the building. He noted the faithfulness of the Samoans, and also challenged them to continue on in reaching the thousands of Samoans in Anchorage.

One of the leaders in the Hawaii District was present to honor the occasion and was the Master of Ceremonies.

The worship was excellent, and we could sense the presence of the Lord with us.

After the service, we had a feast! The guests were honored and given gifts. The Samoans excel at blessing people and are some of the most generous and gracious people that I have encountered.

Presbytery

2011-04-24T18:22:00.000-07:00

The April Presbytery occurred last week, and it went very well. One of the highlights was Pastor Vanilau giving the devotions on Tuesday morning and his son Al translating. Pastor Vanilau was a tremendous blessing to the Presbytery, and we appreciate him very much. Melanya brought a very good word on Wednesday that inspired us to consider God's mission for each of our lives.

One of the important decisions that was made is the adoption of a new ministry in the Alaska Ministry Network . . . Missions! Missions is now an official department/ministry of the Network. This will allow us to appoint a Missions Secretary who can really give attention to the missions needs in Alaska and help us gain ground in this area.

Pastor Fay's birthday happened right after Presbytery, so we took a little time to celebrate that! She is a blessing to us.

Anchor Point & Ninilchik

2011-04-16T21:54:00.000-07:00

This past weekend, our Superintendent had an opportunity to minister at Anchor Point. Pastor Milt and Melinda Michener are the Pastors of this great church. They have been Pastors there for 4 years and are doing a great job.

They have built a new sanctuary (outside pictured above, inside pictured below) and are nearing completion. The church is excited about moving into the new sanctuary soon.

These are the Youth Pastors of Anchor Point.

Ninilchik is a Parent Affiliated Church (PAC) of Anchor Point. This newly adopted church status category allows a Parent Church to give life to and be a blessing to another church. The parent church, Anchor Point in this case, is responsible for all aspects of ministry and governance of the PAC, Ninilchik. It is a great system and it is working out really well in Anchor Point and Ninilchik. Pastor Milt's parents, Hap and Paulette are the leaders of Ninilchik.

The Ninilchik church building.

After ministering at Lighthouse Community in Anchor Point on Sunday morning, Pastor Bill and Dori went over to Rivers of Life in Ninilchik to join the congregation for a lunch.

Pt Hope Building Celebration!

2011-04-07T13:05:00.000-07:00

Superintendent Bill Welch and Missionary Terry Hull were honored to take a trip to Point Hope to celebrate with Interim Pastor Roy Welch and the Assembly of God congregation. Pt. Hope AG recently finished their new building and was able to move in and occupy the church. They started the project in the summer of 2003. With the help of Missionary Odis Ganey and a crew of 12 from Idaho, in 2004, they set the floor and framed the building. The congregation made the decision to pay for the project as the money came in, doing rest of the work on their own, receiving some electrical help from former Pastor Dale Crandall who made several trips to Pt. Hope. After 9 years they are rejoicing that the building is finished and paid for. They give God all the glory and praise for their new building. Gordon Omnik said, “They would not have been able to finish the building if it had not been for all the encouragement they received from Interim Pastor Roy Welch.

The church has ordered 125 pew chairs, which will arrive on the barge in late August. They are planning a special building dedication ceremony for early next fall. Please pray that the Lord of the harvest will raise up a full time pastor for this wonderful congregation.

The new church building was built next door to old church. In 2003, Gordon Omnik and Tommy Frankson were the key church leaders in moving the old church building and setting the pads in place for the new church building.

In the Sunday morning service there were 38 in attendance. There was a very sweet presence of the Holy Spirit.

Brother Roy Welch has been serving as the Interim Pastor since February 2002. He has faithfully served as his health would allow him for 9 years. Currently he is spending about 8 – 12 weeks in Pt. Hope and then he will come into Anchorage and rest for 3 – 4 weeks before he returns. He loves the Pt. Hope people very much. Brother Roy will be 80 years old in July. His ministry to this village has been a tremendous blessing.

Superintendent Bill Welch was honored to speak in the morning and evening services. He commended the congregation for all the dedicated work and being faithful in their service unto the Lord. In the morning he encouraged them to remain strong during the storms of life. On Sunday night he challenged them to be vessels of service and to have a righteous impact on their village.

On Sunday afternoon there was a potbless to celebrate moving into the new building. The potbless took place in the old church building. There were 48 in attendance, the fellowship was grand, and there was a lot of food. Several pots of caribou stew were brought in and the berries and cake were wonderful. Pastor Bill’s favorite was the stew and sheefish.

Sunday evening there were 50 in attendance. Gordon Omnik led worship and did a fantastic job. People entered in and worshiped. The building was filled with lively praises and sincere worship unto the Lord.

U.S. Missionary Terry Hull accompanied Pastor Bill on the trip. He was a tremendous blessing in many different ways. He had the opportunity to share with the people, prayed in the altar, encouraged people, took pictures and video and was a major support for Pastor Bill. On Sunday morning during the altar service the Lord spoke to Terry there was a specific man that had the call of God on his life. As Terry ministered to him he confirmed he was feeling a call into the ministry. Please pray that he will answer God’s Call. Oh, that many would be raised up in our villages and answer the call to ministry.

Sunday evening most of the people responded to the altar call to receive prayer. Pastor Bill first asked for those who needed a healing touch. Many others came forward with different types of needs. God was moving in such a special way that nobody wanted to go home. The evening finally came to a close around 11:45. It had been a long day, but hearts were encouraged. Pastor Bill and Terry told Interim Pastor Roy Welch that the real blessing was the one received in ministering to the people of Pt. Hope.

Rev. James Flascher Funeral

2011-03-31T17:47:00.000-07:00

Rev. James Flascher passed away on March 16, 2011. Pastor Gary Morton and Pastor Jack Aiken were able to represent the Alaska Ministry Network at the funeral, and Pastor Jack gave the eulogy. The service was held in Valdez (pictured above) and was well attended.

Rev. Flascher was an ordained minister in the Alaska Ministry Network. He was ordained with the Northwest Ministry Network in 1973 and served as a Senior Pastor in Washington from 1971 to 1983. He served as Senior Pastor in Cordova fromn 1981 to 1983, and then served in an Associate Pastor role at King's Way Ministry Center in Eagle River from 1983 to 1997, also teaching at Far North Bible College from 1990 to 1997. He then served in various roles at Valdez Assembly of God.from 1998-2000.

Continue to pray for his wife Peggy, and the rest of the family as they grieve the loss of their loved one. Although the earth has lost a valued servant of the Lord, we know He is now rejoicing in God's presence.

Fairbanks

2011-03-21T16:27:00.000-07:00

We had a great AKSOM trip to Fairbanks this past weekend. Thanks to Fairbanks 1st and staff for hosting us again, they always excel in hospitality! I also got a chance to hang out with Pastor Scott Mensch, of Intercultural AG (pictured above). It was a blessing to see him, along with many of the ministers in the Region. It is exciting to hear what the Lord is doing in the Fairbanks area.

Communion Stands

2011-03-21T16:20:00.000-07:00

Pastor Steve Brown of Kenai New Life wants to share a resource that I think is a pretty neat idea. He has a man in the church who makes communion holders that can be attached to music stands. He makes them in many different types of wood and the design can change with each order. For example, you could have a hole drilled in the bottom and mount on an empty microphone stand. For more information, you can contact Carl Glick at 398-7782.

Crisis in Japan

2011-03-15T18:14:00.000-07:00

In Alaska, we have been gripped with the unfolding crisis in Japan. First the earthquakes, then the Tsunamis, then the ensuing nuclear emergencies and ongoing rescue efforts. Please pray for the humanitarian efforts in Japan, as well as the spiritual condition of the people. Convoy of Hope is being mobilized, and you can find out how to give here. Lord, have mercy!

Central Region Luncheon

2011-03-15T18:09:00.000-07:00

The Central Region luncheon was hosted by Joy Christian Center today. Pastor Fay led us in a discussion over the state of the Spirit in the Alaska Ministry Network. Is there a new wave of the Spirit coming, or has it passed? We heard some great testimonies of recent miracles at MCA, recent baptisms at Joy Christian Center (11), and evidence of the moving of God's Spirit in many churches. Gil Nantes gave an update of the new Hispanic Church Plant, Puerto del Cielo. They have been meeting for prayer and Bible Study, and will be having their first baptism soon. It is so good to meet together and be mutually encouraged by testimonies of God's grace in our lives.

Alaska Missions Team

2011-03-15T17:39:00.000-07:00

We held an Alaska Missions Team meeting yesterday at the office. It is exciting to think of the daunting challenges and opportunities before us in Alaska Missions. There are so many villages in Alaska that need the Gospel and so many works that must be strengthened. Be in prayer that the Lord of the harvest would send forth laborers into the harvest fields of Alaska! The updated open church list can be found here, but the needs go beyond this list. Alaska Missions will be the fundraising focus of the banquet at Network Conference this year.