Sinew Fall/Winter 2021

FALL/WINTER 2021

Alaskan Team Continues Work on Elim Parsonage An intergenerational, all–Alaskan team traveled to Elim during the last week of October to continue work on the Elim parsonage that had been started during the summer.

The team consisted of six men, identified on rather short notice, who traveled to Elim just days after the idea to send another team developed.

Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent, in conversations with James Ventress, Nome Covenant Church Youth Pastor, and Mike Alverts, Eagle River High School pastor, heard how Sam Cross had been stirred while in Elim on a youth outreach trip to help with the parsonage effort. Sam, who is serving as a youth leader in Eagle River, responded to Curtis’ follow-up call with enthusiasm and recruited friend Daniel Gallahorn, of Anchorage First Covenant Church, to travel to Elim.

Daniel, who currently works with Redeemed Construction in Anchorage, is an Alaska Christian College graduate and completed construction training at Amundsen Educational

“It has been encouraging to see the body of Christ respond to provide encouragement and support to the community and church of Elim.”

—Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff

Above: Top: Makayian Ivanoff, of Unalakleet; Daniel Gallahorn, of Anchorage First Covenant Church; Grant Gardner and Sam Cross of Eagle River Community Covenant Church/CYAK; Lloyd Perrigo, of Nome Covenant Church, and Luther Savetilik, of Anchorage First Covenant Church teamed up to continue work in October on the Elim parsonage that began earlier this summer.

Row 2: Luther Savetilik worked on ceiling insulation while blue skies served as a backdrop for exterior work. Row 3—Daniel works on ceiling sheet rocking. The team gathers with CYAK volunteers that arrived on day four to begin weekend youth outreach ministry.

Center (AEC) in Soldotna. Meanwhile, Curtis identified three others to join the team. Grant Gardener, Facilities Manager for Covenant Youth of Alaska, welcomed the opportunity to join the team. Lloyd Perrigo, of Nome Covenant Church ,and Luther Savetilik, of Anchorage First Covenant Church, who had worked on the project over the summer were also eager to join the 5-day project.

In a conversation with Unalakleet pastor Nick Bruckner about the trip, Nick suggested that Curtis reach out to Makayian Ivanoff, also a former construction student at AEC. Makayian works for Bering Straits School District and was able to join the team on his off-shift week.

Weather was favorable for the team enabling them to work on both interior and exterior needs including finishing the porch, working on roofing, sheetrock, insulation, painting and interior paneling.

On Thursday, a CYAK team arrived to provide crisis care for the Elim community in response to tragedies experienced (see page 5). Daniel and Lloyd stayed through the weekend to participate in that ministry as well.

“It has been encouraging to see the body of Christ respond to provide encouragement and support to the community and church of Elim,” Curtis expressed.

From Him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.

Ephesians 4:16

And he who was seated on the throne said, “Behold, I am making all things new.”

– Revelations 21:5 In fifth grade, my elbow became dislocated in a wrestling match in Stebbins. What made it one of the most painful things I experienced was the moment when it was put back into place. I will spare you the details, but without a hospital or painkillers, suffice to say, it was not pleasant. When I reflect on that event, the reality was that my elbow did not remain dislocated, but was able to be “re” located. It was made right and after a healing process, it was restored to normal function.

We certainly have been living in a season of dislocation in our lives. In addition to the

by Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent COVID-19 pandemic, we have struggled in the midst of tensions because of race, political polarization, masks or not, and so on. I have heard voices saying that we need to deconstruct our faith and dismantle systems that have been oppressive. Maybe you have too. One thing is for sure, it is a lot easier to tear down versus building up. In my work, I have been attuned to a great deal of pain as I have listened to pastors through this difficult season.

Something stirred in my heart recently as I was pondering some of these hard things. The scene from Revelation 21 came to mind, where Jesus made such a hopeful statement—the fulfillment of the hope we have in him. He is making all things new. The scene was the hope of a new Heaven and a new Earth, where there will be no more death, no more pain, no more tears, no more COVID. It gave my heart comfort and caused my spirit to focus on the nature of the work of Jesus. I realized that it is less about “de”—as in deconstruction, or “dis” as in dismantle— and more about “re” as in renewal, restoration, redemption, reconciliation, the rebuilding of a Temple. It all culminates in our rejoicing. Do you see the difference?

Jesus is the God of “RE”.

We just began the Advent season by focusing on hope. My pastor, Criss Mitchell, preached from Ezekiel 37 about the valley of the dry bones where the question was asked, “Can these bones live?” God told the prophet to speak, “Prophesy to these bones and say to them, ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the LORD!’ This is what the Sovereign LORD says to these bones: ‘I will make breath enter you, and you will come to life.’ ” And that is what happened. There was a rattling sound as those bones came together, and God breathed new life into them, enabling them to stand. Renewal. Restoration.

Be encouraged that by the power of the gospel of Jesus, we can experience what happens when God does a “RE” kind of work in our midst. May our hearts be lifted up to be able to “REjoice in the Lord always; again I will say, REjoice.”

Pastors, Leaders and Spouses Retreat and Recharge Together

Our God of “Re”

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Pictured above: Curtis Ivanoff presents an ulu to retreat speaker Kevin Butcher as a thank you for his words of encouragement and service to our leadership. First Covenant Pastor Criss Mitchell and Mat-Su Covenant Pastor Rick Millikin pray over Vince and Laura Eben as they prepared to go to Golovin for four months to pastor and serve the church there. Wednesday’s lunch out on the town offered a dining treat for pastors and their spouses. Unalakleet’s pastor Nick Bruckner prayed over Scammon Bay Pastor Jason Stromstad as he prepared to serve in his hometown of Roseau, MN, while construction is completed on the Scammon Bay Church.

Chip and Joanne Swanson, Nick and Curtis lead the group in “Praise Ye the Lord.”

Kristi Ivanoff, Laura Eben and Doris VanAmburg enjoy a time of prayer together.

Speaker Kevin Butcher prays over Steve Hickey as he prepared to leave for Seattle to await a lung transplant. Curtis, Nick, Patty Sue Nakazono, and AC Office Manager Jaime Nanninga enjoyed a brief outing to pick cranberries.

Mission Partnerships Meet Community Needs

By Pastor Rick Millikin, Mat-Su Covenant Church

As a church leader, have you ever experienced a big vision for your members and community but felt too small to make a big impact on the needs around you? You’re not alone! I believe God gives us big dreams and visions to serve others so that we learn to depend upon Him for the resources to accomplish the mission. I began to pray six years ago for God to send the resources needed for our church to be effective in serving those in need around us. He answered that prayer in an unexpected way.

About a year later, I accepted an invitation to meet with a mission organization that was visiting Alaska with a unique vision. The idea was to partner churches with other churches, combine resources and help meet needs around us. Since that chance meeting, Mat-Su Covenant Church has been partnering with this organization called Praying Pelican Missions. This partnership has brought a wonderful collaboration between churches and local agencies that serve our community.

Throughout the world, local churches are engaging their communities and working to share the love of Christ. Praying Pelican Missions (PPM) believes that these local churches are the catalyst to spreading the Gospel across the nations. PPM exist to stand behind these ministries, supporting them with time, resources, and efforts. This is the ministry your church or organization is invited into as you serve with PPM. Three key ministry “pillars” help to further define these efforts: (from the PPM mission statement) • Genuine Partnerships We believe in the local Church. THIS is our mission base. Each of our teams are partnered alongside local ministries to encourage and assist them in serving their communities.

• Long-Term Relationships Our heart is to be wholly invested in the communities we serve.

Your team will have the opportunity to build lasting relationships with local churches and ministries by serving alongside them throughout the week.

• Sustainable Ministry We remain under the authority and direction of the local Church to ensure each mission trip has a lasting impact. Our fully customized approach aligns your team's gifts with the needs and initiatives of local ministries.

What does that look like for our church? If you’re like me, it’s easy to stay busy with ministry duties. The idea of having to organize a mission team to come to Alaska, find transportation, provide food, lodging, arrange projects and visits with local agencies just seems daunting to most of us. I’ve had to do that and it really limits the amount of time I was able to actually spend on mission. Enter PPM. When a church in the lower-48 prepares to send a team, they contact PPM to handle all their arrangements, including flights, vans, food, where to stay, and whom to partner with. As one of those partner churches here in Alaska, PPM arranges all the details so our church can focus on the ministry aspects of the trip: VBS, basketball camp, serving our local food pantry, soup kitchen, etc. PPM has relationships with all our local help agencies and arranges for the days/times for the visiting team and our church to serve together there. If there are projects around our campus

that needs help, PPM can help partner a team with us that has skills to assist. Even more, the visiting team covers all the expenses for food, lodging, and transportation.

Along with our new partner churches we have been able to serve the needs in our community in ways never thought possible. If this sounds like something your church could benefit from, contact me at rick@matsucovenant.org for more info and answers to questions. You could have a team come this Spring or Summer!

Members of Mat-Su Covenant Church and an Indiana Youth Group from First Church of God, served together at a local soup kitchen through a cooperative mission outreach facilitated by Praying Pelican Missions.

FALL/WINTER 2021/ 3

years

“I have experienced what it means to learn that God is faithfu

By Kristi Ivanoff, Editor

work and I wasn’t. He has been faithful to this little school, fig — Keith Ham

Rev. Dr. Keith Hamilton, president of Alaska Christian College, has chronicled in seven bound journals, the details of two decades of ministry with the primarily Native-student-serving, two-year Bible College in Soldotna. While on his current 3-month sabbatical, Keith has been reviewing the recently digitized volumes, as plans for a book about the college’s beginnings, development and mission is in the works for publication for the 25th anniversary of the school. In a conversation with Keith, we reminisced about the early days of the school, how God assembled the first team of staff, how he has sustained the mission, and has expanded the vision of the one-year Bible college that opened its doors initially to 22 students in September of 2001. Since that time more than 750 students from more than 100 communities throughout Alaska and beyond have attended ACC. As the founding president of the school, Keith was 38 years old when he began implementing the idea pitched to him by then ECCAK Field Director Paul Wilson. Since that time, Keith has shared the story of how ACC came to be hundreds of times in his travels around the country or to inspire on -campus volunteers and summer work teams. Keith recognizes freely that the idea for ACC was not his own; rather; it began as a dream of youth ministry workers and elders in village churches. Alaska students had been attending Covenant Bible College (CBC) in Canada and Colorado. However, for students from rural Alaska, the already difficult transition from high school to college that additionally required being transplanted into a completely different cultural context served to challenge and complicate learning. A desire to start an Alaskan school, designed around the CBC model grew.

As an experienced youth pastor, Keith had a desire to eventually serve in a cross-cultural discipleship ministry. When it was decided to open a CBC in Ecuador, he enthusiastically submitted his resume for the lead position. Keith remembers the disappointment that he felt when, in the Spring of 2000, he was not selected for the position. Keith sees now, though at the time unaware, the alternate plan God was initiating and would start unfolding just a few months later.

Keith recalls three significant events as he remembers how God prepared him for the call to ACC. While speaking at Covenant Bible Camp in Unalakleet, a pastor shared with Keith his sense that God was leading Keith to move to Alaska, and later that week, a village youth worker shared he had a dream that involved a conversation with Keith about starting a Bible college in Alaska. Weeks later, Keith received word of the tragic death of a missionary bush pilot who had been serving in Unalakleet. His deep emotional response to that loss made him aware that God had planted the

people and ministry of Alaska firmly in his heart.

Later that summer at the national Covenant High i Wilson first asked Keith if he would consider leading before Keith traveled to Alaska to interview with the with the news that the interview was “off.” The deno about the idea, and a key funding source fell through salary for Keith. After a conversation with his wife D to raise their support for the initial startup as they fel The confirmation of God’s work came quickly. Th God provided pledges through some close friends an this call. $12,000 was committed to Keith--should th --which was quite an affirmation of God’s leading. K committed to our support before I even got on the p to become the president of nothing.”

The Council did indeed vote to call Keith to launch eventually be named Alaska Christian College. In a se ACC story, he correlates his call to the story of Jonah would be calling me North, to Alaska.”

God’s amazing provision would continue through following month. A 5-year $485,000 Murdock Found facility was identified and purchased. Its close proxim benefit the ministry and students in coming years. M Admissions, recruited 22 students to move to Soldot filled out the staff with people willing to also raise fu Curtis and Kristi Ivanoff, serving in Unalakleet; Mark Sharron Finifrock, teaching in Toksook Bay; Jeff Sie Mickelson, and Eva Oyoumick (Harrell), of Unalakle living in the Anchorage area also agreed to serve as a Cheryl Davis (Siemers), Paul Wilson, and David Dah

ACC’s First Students

ul. I have experienced dozens of times that it was clear that God was at ghting above its weight class for 20 years. “ milton, President, Alaska Christian College

full-time faculty. Of the original staff, Keith, Jeff and Scott are still serving in full-time capacities at the school.

Debbie Hamilton, Keith’s wife, a licensed counselor partnered with Kristi Ivanoff, who had village youth ministry and teaching experience, to offer counseling and mentoring to students who were struggling with trauma, grief, addictions or difficulty adjusting to life outside of the village.

Eventually, the counseling ministry would be formalized as New Hope Counseling Center would be opened on the campus property offering counseling to students and staff at no charge.

After year one, it became clear to the staff that it would be beneficial to have a second- or third-year option for students desiring an additional year or two of biblical discipleship, emotional and academic support in a Christ-centered community. The early form of that option was called the “Encore Program.” Students would live on campus, participate in spiritual formation and discipleship, and simultaneously take courses at KPC next door.

Keith sought ways to develop financial sustainability while responding to student concerns related to transferring credits and qualifying for Native Corporation scholarship funds. He and the ACC h the Alaskan version of CBC that would board decided that pursuing accreditation was in the best interest of the students and the college. In ermon that Keith preaches often to share the May of 2003, just two years after opening its doors, ACC began the 10-year process to become h. “I wanted to go South to Ecuador, but God accredited with the Association for Biblical Higher Education (ABHE).

The growth of the campus, expanding programs, and establishment of New Hope Counseling unexpected and “miraculous” ways in the Center are measurable accomplishments. However, it is evident that Keith is most proud of the way dation grant was secured, Additionally, a suitable students have been impacted spiritually as well as academically in their time at ACC. mity to Kenai Peninsula college would prove to “I think of a student who came to us believing that they had no academic capacity, who didn’t Most importantly, Mark Hill, Director of graduate from high school until he was 21, who has a 4.0 GPA today,” Keith expressed. “Then there tna for one year of “whole-life discipleship.” God are the students who have been on the edge of making a decision to hurt themselves or end their life ull ministry support in order to serve at ACC. who got support from New Hope Counseling Center on our campus, and I see them flourishing k and Joanna Hill, serving in Nome; Al and today. I think of the life changes in students that have gone on to pursue master’s degrees. A number mers, serving in Hooper Bay; Bob and Phyllis of our students have gone into the villages as schoolteachers and are using what we have equipped eet, would round out the staff. Other people them with to be a Christian school teacher, not just a teacher who happens to be a Christian. Then adjunct teaching staff, including Scott Pitsch, there are the students that I have knelt and prayed with in my office as they received Christ as their hms. Scott and Cheryl would eventually join the (Continued on page 7)

in Christ (CHIC) event in Knoxville, TN, Paul g the effort to establish a CBC Alaska. Just a week e ECCAK General Council, Paul called Keith ominational leadership was having reservations h. This meant that there was no money for a Debbie that night, the couple presented the idea lt that “God’s call was so strong.” he day before Keith would travel for his interview, nd colleagues who were praying with Keith about he General Council call Keith to launch the school Keith winsomely remarked, “ I had $12,000 plane to go interview with people I didn’t know—

and Staff—2001

Over 20 years, 750 students from more than 100 communities throughout Alaska and beyond have attended ACC.

Elim Welcomes CYAK Fall Care Teams

Two intergenerational teams traveled to Elim in late September and October in response to three tragic deaths within the community. The Alaska Conference partnered with CYAK and Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC) in planning and funding for the trips. Teams worked under the guidance of the Elim community, school and church to provide care in ways that fit within the community’s COVID protocols and concerns. Kenny Takak, of Elim, served as the Elim coordinator. Local community members and Covenant Youth of Alaska Team members encircled Elim youth in prayer as they journeyed through a season of grief. Hospitality and welcome were experienced by the team members as God strengthened them as they ministered to in-crisis young people and adults.

Women’s In-person and Online “RefresHER” Event Planned A “RefresHER” event will be held on Saturday, April 9, at Community Covenant Church in Eagle River designed to encourage and strengthen faith and connection for women across the conference. Speaking and worship will be focused around the theme “Bounce Back,” based on the theme verse from Phil 4:13 which says, “I know how to be brought low, and I know how to abound. In any and every circumstance, I have learned the secret to facing plenty and hunger, abundance and need. I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

The one-day event will be held in person, with plans to live-stream two worship services and some workshop sessions for women to attend virtually who are not able to

6 // the Sinew

attend in person. For those gathering in person, there will be afternoon craft opportunities, spaces to gather, pray and reconnect, as well as break-out sessions on various topics.

The Covenant Women’s retreat, usually held in September, was postponed due to COVID concerns. After completing a survey among women throughout the Conference, it was determined to hold a one-day event in the Spring, and resume planning for the usual three-day fall event in September of 2022 to be held at North Star Bible Camp. The planning committee has discussed expanding the state-wide retreat ministry to include a Spring event over the past few years. This event may help lead in that direction.

Tr a n s i t i o n s Jason Battiest, of Kenai, is serving Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) as the Statewide Young Adult director. He formerly served Alaska Christian College in the admissions department.

Vince (Laura) Eben, Associate Pastor at Anchorage First Covenant Church, is serving in a 4-month interim pastor position in Golovin, AK through the month of February.

Jason Stromstad, Pastor of Scammon Bay Covenant Church, is currently serving an interim position as lead pastor in Roseau, MN, while the Scammon Bay church and parsonage buildings are being rebuilt. He plans to return to Scammon Bay subsequently.

Caleb Szczepanski, of Grand Rapids, MI, has relocated to Alaska to serve CYAK as an executive assistant.

Chugach Covenant Church in Anchorage is seeking a full-time Children’s Ministry Director. For more information, call (907) 7643123 or send an inquiry via email to churchlady@c3anchorage.org.

Chip (Joanne) Swanson, of Unalakleet, will be serving as interim pastor in White Mountain beginning in January.

Justus (Tia) Eben, is serving as the Mat-Su Young adult leader.

PRAYER MATTERS

Take Hold, Lift Strong, Raise High

Churches Seeking Pastors

Elim & Parsonage Project Pray for remaining needs for skilled workers for parsonage completion. Pray that God would call a pastor or youth pastor to live in the home once it is ready. Continue to pray for Elim as they grieve several losses.

• Golovin Covenant Church • Shaktoolik Covenant Church • White Mountain Covenant Church • Mekoryuk Covenant Church • Elim Covenant Church • Hooper Bay Covenant Church

Presidential & Key Leader Searches

Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17

Pray for the ECC Presidential Nomination Committee as it is seeking a candidate for the president of the denomination. There are also other searches for Executive ministers for Develop Leaders and Serve Globally in process.

20 Years Faithful (Continued from page 5)

savior, and were baptized, who are still walking faithfully with Christ today, even though life has been very tough in many ways.”

In reflecting on some of biggest challenges that Keith has faced in the life of the school, there were plenty of events that could have easily been deemed the most difficult. The school’s opening day came just five days after the 9/11 attacks. He recounted two lawsuits that the college has weathered that were exhausting, prolonged conflicts. And yet, Keith asserted that 2019 and the COVID-19 shutdown was the toughest year by far: “The day when we had to tell our students that they had three hours to pack and be ready to load the vans to head to Anchorage to go home was awful,” Keith lamented.

“The crying response of the students, and the anger they felt—it was a bad, bad experience for us all.” Ongoing COVID concerns and mitigation efforts has hampered community life in some ways, limited recruiting opportunities, and challenged staff morale in recent days.

However, Keith relies on the confidence he has in God’s faithfulness that has been proven year after year.

“If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it is to Jeff Siemers (left) and Scott Pitsch (right) have trust God. I’ve trusted God when we have been with ACC since year one. Jeff initially had difficult scenarios. I have just had to served as Dean of Men, and currently serves as stop and say to God, ‘This is your school Executive Vice President. Scott began as an not mine.’ God has always been faithful. I adjunct faculty and now serves as the Christian Ministry Faculty Chair. can trust what he’s doing.”

Scammon Bay Covenant Church Samaritan’s Purse is in the process of building a new parsonage and church building in Scammon Bay. Pray for the process and the church through the winter, as the current church building has been torn down.

THEN…2001  10.5 acres with one 8,400 sq ft. house  Opened with 22 students from four states, seven ethnic groups, 80% AK Native  16 self-supporting faculty and staff  One year, non-accredited, Bible college for Alaska Native young people

NOW…

2021

 29.5 acres with 20 buildings including two 36-bed dorms, three cabins, four apartment buildings, New Hope Counseling Center, Peninsula Conference Center, a small prayer chapel, a six-classroom building, shop, six-car garage and a yurt; gym under construction to be open September 2023  55 full-time, part-time, volunteer and self-supported staff and faculty  Four Associate in Arts degrees: Behavioral Health, Christian Ministry, General Studies, and Para-professional Education  Life-changing education to prepare Alaska Native students for a four year college degree, entering the workforce and/ or ministry opportunities

Conference-wide Upcoming Events & Dates January 24-28

ECC Midwinter Conference (Chicago, IL)

February 11-13

CYAK Young Adult Retreat (TBA)

March 30-April 2

Annual Meeting (Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church)

April 9

Women’s RefresHER (Community Covenant Church, Eagle River)

June 22-25

ECC Annual Meeting (Kansas City, MO)

May 1

ACC Commencement (Soldotna)

July 18-23

Unite West Youth Conference (Biola University, Los Angeles, CA) FALL/WINTER 2021/ 7

Fishers of People...and Fish Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff and Brian Nanninga, Associate Superintendent, exercised their love for pastors and ministry leaders AND their love for fishing during the July Sockeye Salmon dip-netting season in Kenai.

For one very full week, they hosted several fishing outings to help fill freezers with fish and hearts with encouragement as they fellowshipped on the boat and the shore. This was the first year an organized effort was coordinated through the conference office to host several groups of people on day-trip fishing outings.

Alaska Christian College and staff, as well as Amundsen Educational Center, provided space for processing fish, picnics and lodging. Plans are in the works to repeat this fun, fishfilled time of fellowship in July of 2022. Consider encouraging your pastor(s) and their family to participate in July of 2022.

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 Brian Nanninga brian@alaskacovenant.org Office Manager Jaime Nanninga info@alaskacovenant.org Financial Assistant Rebecca Gramm Sinew Editor Kristi Ivanoff kristi@alaskacovenant.org P.O. Box 200446 Anchorage, AK 99520 Office: 907-222-6348 e-mail info@alaskacovenant.org website www.alaskacovenant.org

Pictured above (left to right): Row 1—ACC President Keith Hamilton and daughter Megan Hamilton; Lori Michero, of Eagle River; Eric Johnson, ACC Vice President of Development and CYAK Program Director, Marc Lantz; Jason Battiest, CYAK Statewide Young Adult Ministry Director. Row 2—Ruth Johnson, of Mat-Su Covenant Church and Angela Lantz, CYAK, with ACC student Buff Brink. Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff, with pastor Rick Millikin of Mat-Su Covenant Church and Associate Superintendent Brian Nanninga; James Barefoot of Mat-Su Covenant Church and Brian. Row 3—Mountain View Covenant Church Pastor Phil Cannon with his daughter Madeline. Brian with ACC Vice President Jeff Siemers and his daughters Charlotte and Ella; Community Covenant Eagle River Pastor Todd Michero with Brian. Row 4: Curtis and Brian with Jess Mute, of Mat-Su, and Cheryl Siemers of Soldotna; glorious Red Salmon vacuum packed and ready to fill freezers; Bethel Pastor Adam London with

Donations to the Alaska Conference are tax-deductible and may be made online or mailed to the office directly.