Spring 2016
Participation Surpasses 100 at CYAK Young Adult Retreat More than 100 enthusiastic, God-seeking young adults, volunteers and families, representing more than 30 communities, converged at Maranatha Bible Camp in Willow for the annual CYAK young adult spring retreat. This recordsetting attendance included Alaska Christian College students, participants of Aarigaa ministries from Anchorage, Fairbanks and Soldotna, as well as individuals from Mountain Village and Bethel. Additionally, the diversity of indigenous groups was remarkable: Yupik, Inupiaq, Cup’ig, Cup’ik, Athabascan, and Navajo. “You could sense the hunger in students to receive and respond to the working of God’s power in their lives,” Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent said. “You could also sense that there is indeed a battle in the heavenlies taking place. What brought me joy was to see the many students respond to receive prayer so that God would break chains to bring freedom in life.” The theme for the weekend was “Stronger With God.” Lindsey Clise, the newest staff person of Aarigaa-UAA, shared Friday night on the armor of God described in Ephesians 6, emphasizing the “helmet of salvation”. On Saturday morning, Byron Bruckner, CYAK director, continued the focus on Ephesians 6, adding insight on the “breastplate of righteousness” and the connection between “head and heart” in growing in God’s strength. Curtis spoke the final two sessions focusing on Ephesians 6:10-11: “Be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power,” sharing also from two Old Testament passages. The young adult retreat has its beginnings back in 1994 when Curtis and
“God is raising up laborers sent out into His harvest field right before our eyes.” —Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent
Kristi Ivanoff, Byron Bruckner, one college student from Shaktoolik and one other met at camp Liowa in Fairbanks. “It was 50 below, that weekend,” Curtis remembers, “But God was gathering the kindling for a fire that would grow into a blaze of God’s spirit among our college-aged young adults.” The retreat was planned by a team of CYAK staff and student leaders, and is increasingly being run by Alaska Native emerging leaders. Positions of worship leader, program director, three testimonies, two emcees were all filled with Native leaders who are on staff of being discipled in CYAK ministries. “To see the number of young adults who were in roles of leadership brought me joy.” Curtis expressed. “God is raising up laborers sent out into His harvest field right before our eyes.” Shannon Alexie, one of the Mountain Village group who worked to raised more than $1000 to attend said, “The Lord spoke to me about providing a safe, fun place for the youth and young adults in Mountain Village. There's a lot of oppression and hurt in the community that only God can heal. I want our young adult group to be lights to our dark hurting community. They need to know the love and hope that is patiently waiting for them found in Christ.” Tricia Ivanoff, of Unalakleet, was called out and sent forth to serve as Director of Aarigaa-UAF at the retreat held in September. By January, her financial support was raised and she started serving there. Curtis shared, “At the end of our time, just as we had sent out Tricia at the last retreat, I exhorted the group that ‘we are sending each other’ to go in God’s strength.’”
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