COULD GOD BE CALLING YOU TO SERVE WITH US? Alaska Short-term, Long-term Ministry Opportunities Abound At a recent pastor-leader retreat, Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff shared with urgency the growing need in many rural churches for pastors. “Our churches need shepherds. We must pray.” Subsequently, Curtis and his office staff have begun to pray daily that God would raise up laborers from within our churches, as well as from other places. Currently there are pastoral openings in more than half of our village churches. Although finding a permanent pastor to fill a position is the desire of these communities, interim and short-term placements can help bring encouragement and spiritual nourishment as the church waits. Retired pastors, pastors on sabbatical, lay-persons with a heart to serve, worship leaders, youth workers, lay ministers, families, seminary interns, seminary graduates waiting for a permanent call can all be a blessing to these villages. In turn, they will be spurred on, equipped and encouraged as they experience the beauty unique to the people, culture and land of Alaska. When recently retired Pastor Joan Hill and her husband, Jay, went to Mountain Village for three months in the summer of 2016, they found that even the smallest idea for ministry became an encouragement to the church. Joan shared, “As we began to pray for blessing on the businesses and organizations that support the village, people began expressing their thankfulness to others. Some who were blessed came to church. Making pancakes for the men on Saturdays became another blessing, as we opened God’s Word together.” For more information about serving a village church, contact Curtis Joan Hill enjoys precious Mtn. Village children. Ivanoff at curtis@alaskacovenant.org.

Tr a n s i t i o n s Phil (Kate) Cannon completed 12 years of service with Anchorage First Covenant Church and will be serving as the planting pastor for the new Mountain View Hope Covenant Church (see story on page 1). Criss (Alyssa) Mitchell is now serving Anchorage First Covenant Church as associate pastor of youth and family ministries. Criss formerly served Eagle River Community Covenant as the middle school coordinator. Hugh (Lanette) Forbes will be serving as a part-time, bi-vocational associate pastor for Anchorage First Covenant Church. The Forbes are in transition as they move their home to Anchorage from Bethel where Hugh has served as a bi-vocational senior pastor for 11 years. Bob (Rachelle) White is serving as interim pastor for Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church. Wass (Jean) Mute completed his service as interim pastor for Shaktoolik Covenant Church. They are living in Bethel and enjoying visiting grandchildren in the Mat-Su Valley often. Ken (Sandy) Moore of Fairbanks Community Covenant Church announced that he will conclude his service there on December 31. The Moores have served in Fairbanks for eight years. They will transition to serving in international missions including with the Covenant through Serve Globally. They will reside in the lower-48. Dan (Kelli) Krause will complete his service as pastor for Chugach Covenant Church in November. Ben (Martha) Schoffman will be serving as interim pastor for Chugach Covenant Church.

Upcoming Events & Dates September 29-Oct.1 October 30-Nov. 3 November 9-12 November 9-12 January 19-21, 2018 January 22-26, 2018 April 26-28, 2018 July 15-20, 2018

CYAK Young Adult Retreat (Big Lake) Western Alaska Ministry Training (Unalakleet) Would Jesus Eat Fry Bread Conference (Anchorage, AK) Journey to Mosaic (Pacific Northwest Conference, Seattle) Youth Workers Connection (Chicago) Midwinter Conference (Chicago) Alaska Conference Annual Meeting (Nome) CHIC (Knoxville, TN)

NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 537

Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church

Ministry Priorities Start & strengthen churches Make & deepen disciples Develop leaders Love mercy, do justice Serve globally Superintendent: Curtis Ivanoff curtis@alaskacovenant.org Associate Superintendent James Barefoot james@alaskacovenant.org Ministry Associate Aune Carlson aune@alaskacovenant.org Financial Assistant Cory Alverts cory@alaskacovenant.net

Sinew Editor

Kristi Ivanoff kristi@alaskacovenant.org P.O. Box 200446 Anchorage, AK 99520 Office: 907-222-6348 Fax: 907-222-6390 e-mail info@alaskacovenant.org website www.alaskacovenant.org Donations to the Alaska Conference are tax-deductible and may be made online or mailed to the office directly.