Petersburg Adventist Church, a group of about 14 members, felt called to share God’s love and message around the world — a task that seemed daunting. However, it turned out to be less out of reach than it initially appeared. Sharing God’s love translated into many possibilities.
In their small community of Petersburg, Alaska, with a population of around 3,300, the church used small tokens of love and kindness to express God’s love. They understood that reaching someone’s heart didn’t always require a grand event; when actions were performed with sincerity, God could work wonders. Here are a few ways they showed God’s love and their love for others in their community.
In 2024, Petersburg Church members organized their second fall food drive to benefit the local Salvation Army. By partnering with them, the church not only helped meet the needs of the community, but also began building a bond with another organization that furthered God’s love and compassion. This simple act blessed everyone involved — the givers, collectors and receivers of the donated food.
Leading up to Thanksgiving, to celebrate the fall season, Petersburg Church members collected various items to create gift bags for the residents of their long-term care facility. This special gesture aimed to remind those who could not spend time with family that they were thought of and cared for by their neighbors.
Christmas provided yet another opportunity to bless the residents. Following the fall outreach ideas, the group gathered items from Petersburg, Juneau and all the way from Tennessee! The residents received socks, toiletries, handmade wooden ornaments, candies and homemade baked goods to brighten their days.
As they entered the new year, the focus shifted to February, the month known for love. The group engaged in two outreach activities centered on sharing God's love.
Gathering at a member’s house, members enjoyed a short devotional reading and then created handmade Valentine's cards to give to long-term care residents. The cards included poems and Bible verses that highlighted God’s love for them, with crafts and creativity adding a personal touch. They also included pocket-sized copies of Steps to Christ.
Later in the month, they baked a variety of homemade goods and delivered them to Petersburg public service workers, which included the local volunteer fire department, police station, harbor station and hospital.
What a true blessing it was for them to share God’s love with others!
From left to right: Lorie Sells, Keith Stathem and Alice Merrill prepare baked goods for Petersburg public service workers.
Petersburg Church members prepare gift bags.
Thanksgiving food donations are collected for the fall food drive with Salvation Army.
