Bethel Arctic Mission Adventure workers Joy Anderson and Colette Reahl are examples of how God is using believers to touch unreached villages in Alaska. Reahl relates how this has happened in Kasigluk, 25 miles from Bethel, where she travels to at least four times a year.
One day, Reahl treated a child in the Bethel clinic that was from Kasigluk, staying late to address her medical condition. Later in the month, when visiting in the village of Kasigluk, Reahl went for a walk when the child she had treated in Bethel recognized her and was very excited to see her. She introduced Reahl to her friend and told her mom she was in the village. Her mother made a follow-up appointment for her child which provided an opportunity for Reahl to share the AMA ministry and the wish to have programs in villages. The girl’s mom thought it would be well-received in Kasigluk and volunteered to help.
The mother arranged everything for the AMA visit, so a group started out by boat, but Satan was at work and the boat ended up stuck on a sandbar for three hours. Although delayed, God impressed the crew to continue. Due to the late arrival, the program had to be shortened and focused primarily on the kids’ program. Announcements were made on the VHF radio, but only a few kids showed up. Fifteen minutes later, there were 50 kids waiting for the program to start! A few parents attended, and three adults filled out contact cards wanting prayer or to connect with the workers.
“We pray that with introducing ourselves to Kasigluk through our programs, we will build lasting relationships with those we meet there and plant churches as opportunities arise and God leads,” said Reahl.
AMA is an outreach ministry of the Alaska Conference. Currently, pastors and/or volunteers live in Alaska Native Bush communities, with the goal of integrating into village life and building relationships through ministries that meet the needs of both old and young. Their sole priority is to present Jesus through transformative evangelism.
The goal of AMA is to develop Centers of Influence in the nine Alaska Native hubs like Bethel that would include hub-to-outlying village support through radio; dedicated Bible workers; parsonages; day camps, food and clothing programs; and sound spiritual support.
The Bethel Outreach team prepares materials for the children's program.
Kasigluk child plays with VBS puppet
The VBS program was well attended
The Village of Kasigluk
