Alaskan Leadership Fund Partnering with ALF
Volume 18 | Issue 1 February 2022
By Byron Bruckner
I
It is always inspiring to hear hometown Olympic Bible Camp where he grew more in his faith, developed stories. There were a handful of competitors from as a student leader, and went on to live in the Aarigaa Alaska in the recent winter Olympics. Hannah Discipleship House. Now, Justus is a bi-vocational leader as Halverson didn’t earn a medal but she has an he serves at the Alaska Native Clinic and with CYAK as a site amazing story. After being hit by a Jeep, she had a two-year leader for the young adult ministry in the Mat Su Valley. journey and still made it to the Olympics. What a triumph Marlene Katchek is the newest CYAK staff member. She for her. is from the village of Stebbins. Marlene will be providing Similarly, there are many young emerging Christian leaders administrative support for Bible Camp and village youth here in Alaska with triumph stories. They have had very outreach. She has a big heart to serve youth and is thankful tough and traumatic journeys, but they move forward with for the Alaskan Leadership Fund providing her the grit. They are resilient and through it all, they still have a opportunity to join the CYAK team. desire and passion to share Christ with others. Some young “Covenant Youth of Alaska’s work to help young adults like adults desire to serve on CYAK staff as interns or site leaders. these young adults is rewarding and can be somewhat an Others are indigenous leaders that have grown up in the exorbitant task.” Jason shares “Yet, we who are benefited by ministry and now desire to give back and serve in their the ALF, are moved when you give us the tools to reach out communities. Most come from small villages where they to the Youth and Young Adults of Alaska! These are the tools don’t have the financial network to raise needed support. to help shape the next generation of Alaska Native youth and This is why the Alaskan Leader Fund (ALF) was created and young adults for God.” exists. ALF is a wonderful opportunity to help invest and All of the funds from develop local Alaskan Leaders to be champions for the ALF go to support Kingdom of God. “Yet, we who are benefited by the the and training resources “I feel like I finally have a direction in my life.” Jason ALF, are moved when you give us to help bring local Battiest (currently part of the ALF) heard and wrote the tools to reach out to the Youth leaders like Justus “This was a quote from an Alaska Native young adult Marlene onto the and Young Adults of Alaska!” and that I get to mentor monthly in the village. He had a CYAK team. The very hard life and recently lost his mother as she was a reality here in Alaska health aide in the village on the front line during the is that most communities cannot afford a youth leader to COVID-19 pandemic. He is very close to breaking through reach out to youth or young adults. This is why CYAK and in his life as a young adult, in his relationship with Jesus, and the Alaskan Leader Fund are needed and why we value your now becoming a new father.” partnership. Thank you so much for investing in outreach, Justus Eben is one of these young leaders. Justus grew discipleship, and the development of young Christians here up attending the First Covenant Church youth group in in Alaska through Covenant Youth of Alaska. Anchorage. Through that experience, he attended Covenant We are grateful.
MINISTRY HIGHLIGHTS
YAR Winter Retreat
Bible Camp
UNITE West
Praise God for the first in-person Retreat. What a blessing to be together again! Please Pray for those who attended as they go home!
Praise God for in-person camp dates on the calendar! Please pray for the planning and execution of a successful summer back together after 2 years!
Praise God for a partnered multi-conference event happening this summer. Please Pray for the planning team and registration.
COVENANT YOUTH OF ALASKA PO Box 203356 Anchorage, AK 99520 To read more, visit: www.cyak.org/ministry-updates
Thank you for your partnership!
When you give to the ALF Fund, you make it possible for us to mentor and partner with more Alaskan Leaders. Please consider partnering with us through ALF! Jason Battiest
Justus Eben
Marlene Katchek
Quyana, thank you. www.cyak.org/alf
A relational outreach, discipleship and leadership ministry for Alaska youth and young adults A ministry of the Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Website www.cyak.org Email info@cyak.org Phone 907-222-1432