Fall Sinew 2016

Fall 2016

Alaska Churches Read New Testament Together With Larger Covenant Family Four conference churches will participate in a denomination-wide, 8-week initiative to read the New Testament together. September 25 is the first of two “kick-off” dates whereby groups throughout the larger Covenant Church will read, engage and discuss the New Testament collectively. Mat-Su Covenant, Eagle River Community Covenant, C3 Fairbanks, and the River Covenant Church in Soldotna, are all participating.

“We plan is to focus our attention on the CBE project by encouraging 100% participation in our church, including children and youth, reading the powerful word of God,” explained Mat-Su Covenant Pastor Rick

According to Biblica research findings, “People are hungry to hear God speak. But, fewer of us are reading the Bible or engaging it deeply. Biblica is helping churches reignite their passion for the Bible, so they can read and live God’s Word together. If we can reverse the declining trend of Bible reading, it could ignite a spiritual renewal in churches around the globe.”

Statistics show that four out of five churchgoers are hungry to engage the Bible in-depth. But only one in five says their churches help them do so.

Aune Carlson, Alaska Conference Ministry Associate said, “We are thrilled by the enthusiasm of these churches as they plan to engage the Bible together through the CBE material. Our prayer is that as the Word speaks through these experiences, disciples would grow in maturity.”

Great effort has been made to provide everything needed for anyone who wants to participate.

“The denomination is truly on the ball as the books are ready and all the downloadable resources are ready and waiting,” Pastor Rick explained. “We’re blessed to see that there are resources for all ages.

Mat-Su Covenant’s Mike Swanson, Pastor Rick Millikin, Pastor There are even age-appropriate Tom Mute and Makana Hoffman compare a copy of The Books of suggestions for parents to read with the Bible to a traditional Bible. Mat-Su Covenant Church will be their children throughout the one of three Alaska churches participating in the 8-week “Community Bible Experience beginning in September. CBE week.” participants will read through The Books of the Bible, which Since the thrust of the campaign organizes the books of the New Testament in historical order Chapter breaks and verse numbers have been removed to read is about revolutionizing the way we engage the Bible, a unique arrangemore like a story, rather than a reference book. ment of the Bible has been develMillikin. “We are excited about the opporoped by Biblica entitled The Books of the Bible. tunity to partner in ministry and discipleship The New Testament books are arranged in with Covenant churches around the world historical order, so that the events read more by reading the New Testament together.” like a story. Chapter and verse numbers that The ECC Department of Make and Deep- were added in the 15th century have been en Disciples has partnered with Biblica, the removed from the text so it feels less like a organization that originally produced the reference book. The text is presented in a New International Version, to address the single column, so that it reads more clearly silent crisis that many churches face of deand naturally, and to avoid disrupting the clining Bible engagement.

(Continued on page 6)

Join this Covenant-wide effort to be “people of the book” together. 

Read the entire New Testament together in a historical, understandable order



Engage in conversation about the Bible in a book club atmosphere



Connect with friends and reignite a passion for Scripture together Two campaigns are scheduled for the larger Covenant family.

The Alaska Conference is focusing on the spring dates, during Lent, beginning Feb. 19.

For more information visit:

http://cbe.covchurch.org

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

In the Covenant in Alaska, we have set aside a specific day for prayer and fasting. Just over six years ago, God broke the hearts of some of our leaders in the Covenant Church of Alaska, compelling them to establish an annual day of prayer and fasting to ask God for deliverance from suicide.

Many in Alaska, and throughout the country, poured out their hearts to God on September 8th. I trust God has heard our prayers.

It reminds me of the story of Moses praying for victory in Exodus 17: “As long as Moses held up his hands, the Israelites were winning, but whenever he lowered his hands, the Amalekites were winning. When Moses’ hands grew tired, they took a stone and put it under him and he sat on it. Aaron and Hur held his hands up— one on one side, Pray Like This... one on the othby Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent er—so that his hands remained steady till sunset.” The result was that Joshua and the Israelite army was able to overcome the opposition.

We long for change in many places of brokenness. The task is too large without God breaking into our realities. The Exodus story illustrates that our prayers do make a difference, not just on September 8th, but each day in each battle.

God responds to the cries of his people. I urge you to pray diligently, daily, without ceasing.

Jesus taught his disciples to pray “…your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” That, of course, is only a portion of what he taught. But I want to focus on that phrase, for I am becoming more convinced that the church often makes the gospel message of Jesus too narrow. He did not come to make bad people good or for sin management. Mark recorded, “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” Time and again we read about his kingdom having come, and also, to pray for it to come. We can be witnesses to the power of God’s kingdom in our midst.

In his book Kingdom Conspiracy, Scot McKnight says “To the same degree that the kingdom has been inaugurated in Jesus, the kingdom can be realized among us. To the degree that the kingdom has not yet been realized, it cannot be lived out in the present.” And so we pray.

Jesus has come to establish his rule, and the location is very earthy. It is here and now, though only in part. With the resurrection, he did indeed conquer sin and death. New life can be experienced—hope, righteousness, reconciliation, peace, healing—because of this kingdom power. I am not aiming to unpack the meaning of the kingdom of God in a short column like this, but I do hope that as we lift up our prayers of deliverance and healing, that we will humbly and earnestly pray for—and expect—the kingdom of Jesus to break through all the more and overcome the epidemic of suicide in our land.

McKnight says, “Kingdom mission forms a kingdom people and that kingdom people in the present world is the church.” That means us. In other words, our prayers are about the mission of Jesus in the world, and our participation in what Christ is doing. So keep praying, not just on September 8th, and may the kingdom of God come, his will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.

2 // the Sinew

• 367 campers • 30 Alaskan communities • $1,706.35 camper offering • • largest camper offering in five years for a Bible Camp in Appalachia • • 42 first-time commitments to Christ • 84 lives recommitted to Christ •

Healing Prayer Team Adds Ministry Care Depth

by Nick Bruckner, Bible Camp Director

Prayer has always been a core component of the ministry that happens at Bible Camp. Every year, people cover the ministry in prayer locally and also from around the state and throughout the nation, but this year we had a special prayer team present whose sole purpose was to intercede for the campers and staff. This group was a partnership of individuals from Community Covenant Church in Eagle River and First Covenant Church in Anchorage.

Most prayer team members had served on staff at Bible Camp one or several summers before joining the prayer team. The prayer team met as long as they needed to with each staff person and camper who wanted to receive prayer. Well over 100 hours were spent in focused prayer time with individuals.

Teaching on healing prayer was led by Heather Smith, and God did amazing work among the staff and campers. Our staff was more effective in ministry after receiving healing prayer because they were able to bring their burdens to Jesus along with brothers and sisters in Christ who care. This freed people to share the comfort that they themselves had received from the Lord. People were equipped with tools they will share in their home churches and communities. It is awesome to see the Kingdom of God at work as gifts and resources are shared between generations of believers young and old for the glory of our Savior.

The verses 2 Corinthians 1:3-5 come to mind as I reflect on the impact of the prayer team at Bible Camp this summer, "Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of compassion and the God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our troubles, so that we can comfort those in any trouble with the comfort we ourselves receive from God. For just as we share abundantly in the sufferings of Christ, so also our comfort abounds through Christ."

Sandy Gold of Community Covenant said, “It was a delight and joy to get to pray with the students of Western Alaska. They were open and bold as they moved in prayer to heal deep areas in their lives.”

Reflections of a Summer of Ministry in Mountain Village

by Joan and Jay Hill, Mountain Village Covenant Church

We have been blessed! In the past three months, serving as the interim pastor at Mtn. Village Covenant Church, we have seen beautiful skies; shared coffee and conversation with warm, very real people; laughed at silly children with rubber snow geese on their heads; wept for their hardships, laughed at their playful natures; learned some of the amazing things God has done in the past and prayed for their dreams for the future.

The summer got off to a roaring start with an incredible week of vacation Bible school thanks to a visiting team from Big Lake, AK, and Driggs, Idaho. Within just a few weeks there were three deaths and we were learning about our cultural similarities and differences. In the midst of that, there was an early morning house fire, and fire jumpers were dropped in by helicopter to fight the fire on the other side of the mountain!

While we were not bored, the children were, so we started a peanut butter sandwich ministry in the morning and Kids Kamp (KK) every afternoon. With God’s blessing and guidance from my home church, we opened the doors. Children’s programs are not my gifting, but God honored my love for the children and for Him. At the end of five weeks, nine children and youth accepted Christ!

My husband, meanwhile, started a men’s breakfast on Saturday mornings featuring blueberry/banana pancakes. They studied 1 Timothy,

with the men taking turns leading. Word got out, even to the local AC Store, and it has become an outreach to the village. The women also gather weekly for Bible study, and once a month have a “pot bless” as an outreach. There, the women share personal testimonies, receive prayer, and fellowship with one another.

Also, much to our surprise, we met a long distance swimmer at the AC store who was swimming the Yukon. After sharing with us, he extended his stay to share with the men’s breakfast and some twenty of us went to the river to see him off. Another friendship!

We’ve learned about village life, going to the spring, runs to the dump, how to clean fish, eat moose barbecue, pick berries, eat native foods, and pick up the mail with the help of numerous children. Almost weekly, our doorbell rings with someone needing to talk and receive prayer. It may rain, but the sun always comes out again!

There is a “sweet aroma of His presence” here and God has etched the people of Alaska on our hearts!

Pastor Joan Hill and her husband Jay served in Mountain Village as an interim pastor for three months this summer. Would you be interested in serving one of our villages that is currently without a pastor? Contact the Alaska Conference office for more information about how to serve.

Top Row: 1) Eager learners gather around Pastor Joan during Kids Kamp, a VBS-like meeting, that was held once a week for five weeks. Nine children accepted Christ during the five-weeks. 2) Pastor Joan served Maria Koutchak communion in her home and then gifted her with a John 3:16 wall hanging. 3) Eugene Landlord and Marie Koutchak share their musical gifts in a duet of “I Love to Tell the Story” and “In the Sweet By and By.” Bottom Row: 1) Aaliyah Rivers prays with Pastor Joan and gives her heart and life to Jesus on July 24. 2) A faithful crew of mail carriers helps Pastor Joan and Jay with their packages. 3) Eugene Peterson and Pastor Joan head out on a village prayer walk on a rainy day.

Fall 2016/ 3

Alaska Christian Co Celebrates Alaska Christian College students, staff, alumni and partners will gather in Soldotna on September 16 to celebrate its 15th

sacrificially to love and educate every student that walks through ACC’s doors.

The real story is in the outcome of lives

anniversary—on the exact date of its dedication changed of the students fulfilling Christ’s to the Lord on Sept. 16, 2001. The

mission. With great thanks to God, there are

homecoming gathering will also celebrate the

graduates that are school teachers, youth

ground-breaking of the new Taikuu Residence

pastors, ordained pastors, education assistants,

Hall.

tribal workers, hospital workers, emergency

The dream of Alaskan elders, pastors, and

medical workers, businesspeople, mental health

leaders to see a one-year discipleship program

workers, commercial fishermen, office workers,

has morphed, by God’s provision and grace,

and great mothers and fathers to children.

into a fully accredited, two-year Associate of

For 15 years, God has cast a vision and

Arts, degree-granting institution.

From the first class of 22 students, ACC has

provided for the mission of ACC with the support of thousands of prayer warriors and

topped its largest attendance in its history of 75

donors. All thanks go to the Lord for his

young people. From 16 original missionaries

indescribable gifts of students, servants, and the

that served in 2001, now more than 45

physical building of this campus for the present

volunteer, part-time, and full-time staff give

and future.

The Taikuu Residence Hall addition will mirror the Quayana Residence Hall and increase the capacity for residential students to 100.

15 Ye

ollege

ears

“I remember our first commencement in May 2002. As each student filed by to get their diploma, they each handed me a paperclip! Why? I had mentioned earlier in the year that ACC had started without even a paperclip to its name…and they thought it was time that I had 18 paperclips. We have grown from those first paperclips to 15 buildings on 27 acres and over 500 alumni that have been educated and formed through Life-Changing Education.”

— President Keith Hamilton

Each blue dot on the map above represents a community from which students have come to ACC to further their education. Over the past 15 years, many students from the lower-48, Canada and around the world have also found ACC a place to grow deeper in their walk with Christ.

Community Bible Experience Begins (Continued from page 1)

intended line breaks in poetry. Footnotes, section headings and other additional materials have been removed, so reading is more fluid and focused more on the original message written.

Copies of The Books of the Bible are available to groups for $5 a copy and can be ordered ahead of time. Payment is made later on after the books are purchased by individuals. Any extra copies can be returned, postage paid by the ECC. An audio-version and e-reader version are available as well. Pastors can choose to preach alongside the larger effort, or let the small groups stand alone. Daily videos, a children’s transcript, parent guide, as well as planning and publicity tools are just some of the resources available online at cbe.covchurch.org.

“I’m working on a message series that can coincide with the scope of the project and incorporate the foundational idea that we are truly ‘people of the book,’” Pastor Rick shared.

Although four churches will begin the initiative on Sept. 25, the Alaska Conference is encouraging a larger scale effort that begins Feb. 19 during the season of Lent. Both fall and spring dates will coincide with hundreds of groups meeting across the country. The hope is that every church will participate in some way over the next year with CBE. “I encourage other pastors and churches to be involved in the Spring reading event. I can think of nothing that can shrink the thousands of miles that separate us more than to study the word of God together,” Pastor Rick said.

CBE got an impromptu test run last fall when Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff challenged young adults attending the Aarigaa fall retreat to consider reading the New Testament as a Community Bible Experience.

Alaska Conference Photo Search

A group of young adults met on Saturday mornings for eight weeks and used the group discussion model presented by Biblica.

Jamie Rose, Aarigaa-UAA director said, “ Sharing the Community Bible Experience with some of our young adults allowed us to enter into reading scripture together and really listen to what God's Word might have to say to us.”

Would you be interested in hosting a group at your church, in your family or in your neighborhood as an outreach? Read more about CBE at http://cbe.covchurch.org and ask your pastor or contact the conference office for ideas or for help with ordering copies of The Books of the Bible. The conference website and Facebook Page will also have ideas and reminders as the spring dates approach.

“I can hardly encourage your participation enough,” Curtis expressed.

“Community Bible Experience is not some new fad, but helps us to read and gain understanding of the big picture of what God is doing in the world and in our lives in a most significant way–together.”

Transitions Brenda Dock, of Kipnuk, AK, is serving Covenant Youth of Alaska as office manager.

Aunie Benson, of Minneapolis, MN, is serving Covenant Youth of Alaska with Aarigaa-UAA. Tom (Jessica) Mute, of Nome, AK, is now serving Mat-Su Covenant Church as the Associate Pastor for Youth Ministry.

Bob (Grace) Okerson, of El Cajon, CA, is serving as interim pastor of Unalakleet Covenant Church for August and September.

Frank (Suzanne) Alioto has completed service as pastor of the River Covenant Church. The Alioto family will remain in Soldotna.

We are always looking for photos that uniquely capture life in Alaska, the beauty of God’s creation, and photos related to the life and ministry of the church throughout the Alaska Conference. If you have photos that you are willing to share for possible use in the Sinew, promotional materials, on the website or other Alaska Conference materials, email them to kristi@alaskacovenant.org or share on the Alaska Conference Facebook page. Please include the photographer’s name, what community they are from, a brief description of where the photo was taken, and any names of people in the photo. Photo credit will be given if the photo is used. This photo was taken by Curtis Ivanoff on a recent trip to Camp Hope in Bethel.

6 // the Sinew

On October 1, the former domain for email addresses at the Alaska Conference ending

@eccak.org

WILL NO LONGER BE ACTIVE and we will not receive emails sent to that domain. Be sure to add our current domain addresses ending in

@alaskacovenant.org

to your email address book so there is not interruption in communication. See page 8 for complete listing of staff addresses.

Fall Prayer Calendar In recognition of Alaska’s deep need for healing and deliverance from the peril of suicide, the fall calendar includes scriptures and a prayer focus to pray over the entire state of Alaska

September Monday

Tuesday

Wednesday

Thursday

Friday

God is our Refuge

The LORD is good, a stronghold in the day of trouble, And He knows those who take refuge in Him. Nahum 1:7 Pray for a hunger for God, his Word and his Kingdom to burn in our land.

Fear Will Have No Place Here

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love. 1 Jn. 4:18 Prayer focus: Pray that people’s hearts would be open to receive his love.

Strengthen Victims of Abuse

My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word. Ps. 119:28 Prayer focus: Pray for children and young people who have suffered abuse or who are growing up without a parent.

Forgive our Sin, Heal our Land

“When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.” Psalm 34:17 Prayer focus: Pray that the land would be cleansed of generational sins of exploitation, abuse, and greed.

Our Wounds are Deep

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was on him, and by his wounds we are healed. Is. 53:5 Prayer focus: Forgiveness would be given and received for needed healing.

October God is Our Rock and Savior “The LORD lives! Praise be to my Rock!

Exalted be my God, the Rock, my Savior! 2 Samuel 22:47 Prayer focus: Pray for God to be exalted through his followers’ lives as they live in truth.

Our Lament Comes Before You God

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them; he delivers them from all their troubles. The LORD is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. Ps. 34:17-18 Prayer focus: Plead for God’s presence in the pain of death, loss and sickness.

May We Know Your Enduring Love

He remembered us in our low estate

His love endures forever.

and freed us from our enemies.

His love endures forever.

Prayer focus: Worship God, declaring his enduring love over Alaska.

God is Our Hope for Deliverance

Help us, God our Savior, for the glory of your name; deliver us and forgive our sins for your name’s sake. Ps. 79:9 Prayer focus: Ask God for deliverance and forgiveness for His name’s sake.

God Delivers Us From Our Enemies

“Have I not you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9 Prayer focus: Pray for freedom from fear for God’s people and for healing from grave loss from suicide.

November God, Sustain Us

Cast your burden on the Lord, and he will sustain you;. Psalm 55:22 Prayer focus: Pray for the burden of untimely death and loss. Proclaim God’s sustaining peace through the storm for many who suffer grief and loss in Alaska.

God is Our Hope for Healing

Forgive us our sins, for we also forgive everyone who sins against us. And lead us not into temptation. Luke 11:4 Prayer focus: Ask that God’s spirit of reconciliation would restore relationships.

In Christ’s Resurrection Power The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world. On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds. 2 Cor. 10:3-4 Prayer Focus: Pray for deliverance from addictions of all kinds.

We Resist and Stand Firm

Take up the full armor of God, so that you will be able to resist in the evil day, and having done everything, to stand firm. Eph. 6:13 Prayer focus: Ask God for discernment of the devil’s schemes and deception among our people.

Renew Our Strength

But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Is. 40:31 Prayer focus: Worship the Lord for the victory is sure.

Upcoming Events & Dates September 8 September 16 September 16-18 September 23-25 September 30 - October 2 October 4-6 November 4 November 10-13 November 14-18

Day of Prayer and Fasting for LIFE ACC Homecoming & Ground-Breaking Dedication, Soldotna, 4-6 p.m.

Women's Retreat, North Star Bible Camp CYAK Norton Sound Fall Blast Retreat, Nome CYAK Young Adult Retreat, Camp Maranatha, Big Lake Pastor/Leader Retreat, Camp Maranatha, Big Lake ACC 15th Anniversary Dinner at Changepoint, Anchorage, 6:30-8:00 p.m.

Journey to Mosaic, PNW Conference WAMT: Vocational Excellence, Bethel

Fall 2016/ 7

Scammon Bay Parsonage Renovation Volunteers from Harbor Covenant Church and the Pacific Northwest Conference, as well as Wisconsin, North Dakota and within the Alaska Conference worked on remodeling the Scammon Bay Parsonage. Not only was the entire structure made level, the renovation included a two-room addition. Major insulation and heating upgrades were also completed. Old copper plumbing was replaced , and the arctic entry and living room were enlarged. A new kitchen stove, hood and refrigerator are scheduled to be installed later in September.

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

Eagle River Community Covenant VBS & Prayer Ministry Team in Elim

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

A ministry team from Community Covenant Church traveled to Elim in June to hold Vacation Bible School for children and teaching on healing prayer for the church. Want to hear more about this? Check out a video of the Ministry Team Report at:

http://communitycovenant.net/sermon/western-alaska-mission-teams-report

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