2010 cn may june
DESCRIPTION
Newspaper publicationTRANSCRIPT
Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska
P.O. Box 770749
Eagle River, Alaska 99577-0749
Ph: 907-694-6348 Fax: 907-694-6378
e-mail : [email protected]
NONPROFIT ORG
U.S. POSTAGE PAID
ANCHORAGE, AK
PERMIT NO. 500
Mail to “IN-IT TOGETHER” recipient:
ECCAK!
that W A R M SW A R M S
the heart!
Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska
Annual Mtg Clips 22
The Glory and Dark... 33
Chickaloon 44
White Mt. Rabbit 55
CMJ Grants... 66
Fondells Honored 77
Wetting the Appetite 88
Mad Moose 99
Our Readers... 1010
A Baptism! 1111
Prayer Calendar 1212--1313
Grandpa Ost 1414
Guardian Angels 1515
Old Pictures... 1616
Daniel Savetilik... 1717
Compassion (cont.) 1818
What’s Happening
1919
Reaching People for Christ’s Sake from near the North Pole !
May/June 2010
ECCAK Annual Meeting in NOME Inside This Issue:
Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska (ECCAK)
1887 – Present
A record of God’s faithfulness to the Covenant Church in Alaska
CHILLING NEWS. . .…
SPEAKERS: Alaska was blessed by
many who came from the “outside”
as we gathered in Nome for, what
Chip Swanson thought was the 91st
ECCAK Annual Meeting! Distin-
guished guests President Gary Walter
and Executive Minister of CG&E,
Dave Olson [above] preached and
taught the Word of God. Noel and
Kyle Becchetti shared about the work
God is doing in India. Others who
shared the pulpit were Dorothy Be-
koalok from Anchorage, Hugh
Forbes from Bethel and Nome’s own,
Harvey Fiskeaux.
KICY: It was a great week because
we also had a special gathering to
celebrate the 50th Anniversary of
KICY. Many more distinguished
guests attended the special Saturday
night dinner hosted by KICY with
Rob Hall as the Master of Ceremony.
HONORED COLLABORATORS:
Erik Mayer from Arctic Barnabas
Ministry, Andy Cizek from Samari-
tan’s Purse and Bob Whidman from
MARC were all given special recog-
nition for their invaluable services to
ECCAK. Each received a painting to
hang in their “shop” to remember
how much we appreciate them and
thank God for their much labor on
our behalf.
MUSIC: It was not possible to cram
all the planned music from each vil-
lage into the tight schedule, but we
(“Nome”Continued on page 9)
President, Gary Walter CG&E Executive Minister, Dave Olson
Websites... 2020
Just Stuff... 2121
More Annual Mtg CLips
2323
2
The “Van Mute” Family Singers were not mute! By praising God in song they kept the rocks
from crying out! Many others also praised God in song.
In the 4-picture collage [below left] are Pastor Harvey Fiskeaux from
Nome, Dorothy Bekoalok from Anchorage, Hugh Forbes from Be-
thel and Noel and Kyle Becchetti, missionaries serving in India, all
speakers at the 2010 ECCAK Annual Meeting in Nome.
Jack Brown ministers in music to the 425
plus people gathered to celebrate the 50th
Anniversary of KICY
2010 Annual Meeting Clips
More clips pg. 23...
23
More 2010 Annual Meeting Clips
Erik Mayer from ABM finishing up some de-
tails before the mad
rush to Nome. Jim Hansen of Nome serves
along his side.
Gary Walter and Dave Olson pre-
sent KICY Manager Dennis Weidler
with a check for $5000 to continue
the Lord’s work across the airways.
Eula David of Bethel honors Chip
Swanson with a gift and testimony
of his meaningful KICY ministry
of long ago.
Hilma and Henry Shavings b
ring the joy of
the Lord to the worshipers t
hroughout the
festive week in Nome. T
hey are originally
from M
ekoryuk, a village on Nunivak Isl
and.
Pastor Harvey sings to
Francis Johnson of Nome
on her 100th birthday!
Like many other church families in Nome, the Fiskeaux’s exercise their gift of hospitality.
ECCAK extends a HUGE THANK YOU to the Covenant Church of Nome and KICY staff!
22
Pray
Our newsletter, “Chilling News”, is full
of stories about the people and the ministry
of ECCAK throughout Alaska. If you would
like to be added to our mailing list, please
let us know.
Encouragement
Writing and/or calling those who serve in
the bush is a great ministry. Want to adopt
a church or a pastor? Ask for a prayer card
of a pastor.
Mission Teams
Often times we have need for teams of
people to come and join with a local church,
camp, college, youth group, etc. for a con-
struction project or outreach event. You can
connect through Alaska Merge Ministry at
http://akmerge.com/how-it-works
Financial
God often calls people to give to ECCAK
beyond the normal local church tithe or
churches to place ECCAK in their mission
budget. Some are led to leave a gift through
estate planning for work in Alaska into the
future.
Credit Card Donations
ECCAK can receive donations via credit
cards. You can contact the ECCAK office
(907) 694-6348 and Sara or Yvonne will be
happy to assist you.
Teachers or Nurses
Christian teachers and nurses often
come to bush Alaska to serve in the local
Covenant church during off hours. Also,
some villages have no one reaching out to
the youth. Call the ECCAK office 694-6348.
ECCAK mission: To make disciples of Christ through a diverse
culturally relevant witness by healthy mis-
sional churches and their supporting organiza-
tions.
ECCAK Vision:
To challenge and assist every local church to
become one that GROWS…
G = God’s Word
R = Relationships
O = Outreach
W = Worship
S = Service
The Evangelical Covenant Church of
Alaska [ECCAK] is a non-conference “field” of the
Covenant Church of America.
Dependent on the gifts from churches and people
to carry out our mission for Christ’s sake in
Alaska.
Field Director: Rodney J. Sawyer
Associate Field Director: Nathan Toots
Office Manager: Sara Scoles
Assistant Manager: Yvonne Edmonson
Ways Your
Hands and Heart
Can Help!
Pastors/Youth Workers
Often we have empty pulpits and are in
need of pastors, short and long-term. Some
villages have no one reaching out to the
youth.
Donate Air Miles
If you accumulate free air miles, please
consider donating to help a bush pastor and
family get away for some respite.
Give
Through the ECCAK office, you can do-
nate money to help send a child or young
person to summer camp!
3
The Glory and the Darkness of our Cultures By James Bruckner, Professor at North Park Theological Seminary
will not endure. (They will be consumed like an old boot in
a hot maq’ii fire.) When we take on another culture’s bad
values and practices, we share in Christ’s judgment ahead
of time.
What parts of white and what parts of Eskimo culture are
its “honor and glory”? What traditions can be carried with
joy into Christ’s kingdom? Let us begin now to walk in the
light of the Lamb (Rev. 21:23) and to recognize what
“glory” in our cultures will be carried with us into the new
creation at Christ’s return.
When Christ returns and God creates a new
heavens and a new earth (Rev. 21:1-2),
Christians will bring the glory and honor of
their indigenous cultures into the New Je-
rusalem. Revelation 21:26 says, Peoples
(=cultures) will bring into it the glory and
honor of the nations (=ethnicities). The
word for “nations” in the original language
of Scripture (indigenous Greek) is “ethnos”
meaning “ethnic cultures”. Whenever you
see the word “nations” in an English Bible,
you can translate it “ethnic cultures.”
What does this mean for us?
Every culture in the world has “glory and
honor”; beautiful and strong values and
traditions that God calls “the glory” of the
ethnic cultures. God’s word says that these
wonderful parts of our cultures will be
carried by us into the new creation, to be
shared with all peoples. When we share the
best of our cultures with each other as
Christians, we are beginning a fellow-
ship that will be fully realized in
heaven. On the other hand, each cul-
ture has its dark and deadly habits and
traditions that will be burned in the purifying fire of God’s judgment. They
Rev. 21:26-27 The glory and honor of the na-
tions will be brought into the city. Nothing im-
pure will ever enter it, nor will anyone who does
what is shameful, but only those whose names
are written in the Lamb’s book of life.
4
Chickaloon Fire Department to the Rescue
We are sill looking for volunteer groups to come and help
with the Chickaloon Cabins.
We are still in need of funds to purchase kitchen cabinets, flooring and furniture.
To give, please use enclosed envelope.
Several years ago, a chimney fire in the former home of Don and Effie Graham caused the house to burn
down. The family staying there at the time escaped without loss of life, of which we still thank God.
A couple of years ago, Erik Feige, fire chief of an independent fire department at Chickaloon, approached
ECCAK about the possibility of leasing a small portion of our property to build a fire house close to the
lake. It was a no-brainer decision for the ECCAK General Council. The location on the lake would allow
for them to pump water from the lake to help put out the next fire.
The “next fire” happened on March 24, 2010. Excerpts from an email explain it all…
chimney stack and had slowly worked it's
way into the rafters and wall adjacent to the
stove. Once we got the metal siding pulled
away off the exterior wall we attacked the
fire and extinguished i t com-
pletely. Everyone headed home by
0630. Water and smoke damage was mini-
mal but Herb has some cleaning up and
reconstruction to do. Herb Fey was very
grateful for the efforts of the volunteers to
save his shop. As his livelihood is carpentry
and his shop contains a life's worth of tools
and equipment one can only imagine his
relief when the fire department showed up.”
“It's never good when the phone rings at
0515 in the morning. This time it was
Herb Fey, in a reasonably calm yet fo-
cused tone, calling to say his shop was on
fire. Out the door we went. By 0530 Eric
Feige showed up at Herb's at Mile 80 of
the Glen Highway with Engine 2 and,
working with Herb, got a line deployed to
attack the fire. Power was shut down to
the structure. Firefighter Marita Lawler
was next, followed by Firefighter Mark
Cowley, and Firefighter Bob Kreft with
the tanker. Dispatcher Sam Brummet was
standing by at the Chickaloon Store. The
fire had started around the woodstove
We are thankful to the Lord for those who are called to serve the public in this way. We are also thankful
that the fire truck is only a few hundred feet from the two new cabins we plan to complete this summer.
21
Daffy-nition:
Sweat is nothing more than a
"workman's condensation."
While the teams have left VancouverWhile the teams have left Vancouver with their medals and gone home,with their medals and gone home,
we can't forget the other Gameswe can't forget the other Games and the teams that mush for Nome .and the teams that mush for Nome .
I mean those teams who pull a sledI mean those teams who pull a sled along a windswept trail,along a windswept trail,
those on a "gold rush" of their ownthose on a "gold rush" of their own in blinding snow and hail.in blinding snow and hail.
They test their mettle in the coldThey test their mettle in the cold beneath a silvery moonbeneath a silvery moon
while bronzewhile bronze--furred parkas warm the bonesfurred parkas warm the bones of mushers night and noon.of mushers night and noon.
These teams do not give interviewsThese teams do not give interviews or weep when anthems play.or weep when anthems play.
They simply race to reach their goalThey simply race to reach their goal and hear their master say,and hear their master say,
"Well done!""Well done!"
by Greg Asimakoupoulosby Greg Asimakoupoulos
author of "The Ptarmigan Telegraph"author of "The Ptarmigan Telegraph"
former Iditarod correspondent for SRN Newsformer Iditarod correspondent for SRN News
www.partialobserver.comwww.partialobserver.com
And you thought the trip to the
outhouse was far in Alaska!
Can you identify
identity theft?
Gallagher opened the
morning newspaper and
was dumbfounded to read
in the obituary column that he
had died. He quickly phoned his
best friend, Finney.
"Did you see the paper?" asked
Gallagher. "They say I died!!"
"Yes, I saw it!" replied Finney.
"Where are ye callin' from?"
At a popu
lar coff
ee chai
n
someone
wrote on
the wall
above th
e sink:
"What Wo
uld Jesu
s Do?"
Another
person w
rote dir
ectly
undernea
th:
"Wash Hi
s hands.
"
Yet a t
hird pe
rson to
ok the
time to
write:
"And you
r feet."
20
Covenant Websites to Explore...
Merge staff listens to your team ministry goals.
helps you find ways to cut costs.
leads your team through an orientation to fit your ministry.
accompanies your team for a smooth and effective week of ministry. encourages and facilitates continued communication and long term relationships.
James Barefoot
Trip Facilitator
Village Churches
907-304-1617
Learn more at:
akmerge.com/how-it-works
Kate Cannon
Trip Facilitator
Road System Churches
907-227-3420
Covenant Newswire Service: www.covchurch.org—click on the Newswire button
Covenant Bible Camp (CBC): http://www.cyak.org/bible-camp.html
Advocacy for Victims of Abuse: www.covchurch.org/women/ava
Evangelical Covenant Church of Alaska: www.eccak.org
Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK): www.cyak.org
New Hope Counseling Center: www.nhccak.org
Alaska Christian College: www.akcc.org
Amundsen Educational Center: aecak.org
Legacy is both the values and valuables that we
pass down to those who follow us. Building your
legacy is a life work that takes careful thought and
planning. It goes hand in hand with the steward-
ship of everything that God has entrusted to you.
Legacy outlasts life. Our heirs are not just children
and family; but society as a whole, ministries we
support and the people whose lives we touch.
What is your legacy?
How can we help you build it?
Alaska Representative is Bill Hickman
from Snowqualmie, Washington
He can be reached at 1-888-494-0663 or
5
White Mountain Rabbit To Make Debut From McElwee’s newsletter:
Honey, What’s For Dinner?
A man feared his wife wasn't hearing as well as she used to and he thought she might need a hearing
aid. Not quite sure how to approach her about it, he called the family doctor to discuss the problem.
The doctor told him there was a simple, informal test he could perform to give the doctor a better idea
about her hearing loss.
"Here's what you do," said the doctor, "Stand about 40 feet away from her and in a normal conversa-
tional speaking tone see if she hears you. If not, go to 30 feet, then 20 feet, and so on until you get a
response."
That evening his wife was in the kitchen cooking dinner and he was in the den. He says to himself, "I'm
about 40 feet away, let's see what happens."
Then in a normal tone he asks, "Honey, what's for dinner?" No response.
So he moves closer to the kitchen, about 30 feet from his wife and repeats, "Honey, what's for dinner?"
Still no response.
Next he moves into the dining room where he is about 20 feet from his wife and asks, "Honey, what's
for dinner?" Again he gets no response.
So, he walks up to the kitchen door, about 10 feet away. "Honey, what's for dinner?" Again, no re-
sponse.
So he walks right up behind her.
"Honey, what's for dinner?"
"Ralph, for the fifth time, chicken!"
[forwarded by JR Whitby]
Pastor Ross has been teaching Rachel Joy photog-
raphy and recently encouraged her to enter a con-
test for the TelAlaska phonebook cover for 2010-
2011. We are absolutely thrilled to let you know
that she won the competition and that her photo
will appear on the new telephone books through-
out certain regions across Alaska . She was quiv-
ering and couldn't believe that she actually won.
We are all praising God for His gift to her.
Thank you for all your prayers for her. It is
through photography that she has come to love
living in White Mountain .
Rachel Joy is not only a photographer
but also a seamstress who uses Musk Ox Hair.
6
Compassion, Mercy and Justice Grants Approved
Several years ago, Pastor Max Lopez at Anchor-
age First Covenant worked within ECC’s
Churches Planting Ministries departments. One of
his responsibilities was to help conferences and
local churches to look beyond themselves to help
those who are on the “outside” and are hurting.
ECCAK churches received his message eagerly
and have been active in reaching out in new ways.
So far for the 2010 year, three matching grants
have been approved: 1) $10,000 for the Me-
koryuk Youth Center [used to be their parsonage],
2) $6,000 to Eagle River Community Covenant
for the Neighborhood Gift Program, and 3)
$10,000 to CYAK for Greif and Loss training in
Western Alaska. A brief description of each fol-
lows:
MEKORYUK YOUTH CENTER
The Covenant church in Mekoryuk has one of the
most effective outreaches to their young people
than probably anywhere in the United States. On
any given Sunday, probably about 85% of the
youth and children in the entire community attend
Sunday School or related youth outreach! Pastor
Nathan and Sandra Hanna own their house, so the
“parsonage” has been receiving an “extreme
makeover” the last couple years (largely due to
the ministry of Arctic Barnabas Ministries) to
make it available for the young. The one thing
that was lacking is furnishings. Up until this
grant, eager young participants sat on the floor at
their gatherings. Lack of kitchen appliances di-
minish the ability to serve. Not any more. Pastor
Nathan is working with Arctic Barnabas Minis-
tries to ship out furnishings to make the place
more hospitality friendly.
NEIGHBORHOOD GIFTS PROGRAM
Alliance Christian Fellowship and Eagle River
Community Covenant are teaming together un-
der the leadership of Stacey Pratt to provide the
residents of Eagle River and Chugiak and possi-
bly the Mat-Su region with a close-to-home dis-
tribution point for the Neighborhood Gift Pro-
gram. This program is a combined effort of
Toys for Tots, Salvation Army, the Food Bank,
and local churches and synagogues. The event,
held right before Christmas, provides food and
toys for families who are unable to provide for
themselves due to financial challenges.
(“Compassion” continued on page 18)
Stacy Pratt—Local
Missions Coordinator at
Eagle River Community
Covenant
The late worm misses the early bird.
19
2010
COS Mtg May 16-21 East Coast
ECC Annual Mtg Jun 24-27 St. Paul
The “In it together...” ECCAK Ministry Team
Nome Covenant , White Mountain Covenant, Golovin Covenant, Elim Covenant,
Koyuk Covenant, Shaktoolik Covenant, Unalakleet Covenant, Fairbanks Covenant,
Mat-Su Covenant, Eagle River Covenant, Korean Hope Covenant, New Song Covenant,
Anchorage First, Bethel Covenant, Mekoryuk Covenant, Hooper Bay Covenant,
Scammon Bay Covenant, Mountain Village Covenant, Kalskag Bible Chapel,
The River Covenant Church
Our Supporting Organizations
New Hope Counseling Center (NHCC)
Campus Christian Fellowship (CCF)
Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK)
Alaska Christian College (ACC)
Covenant Bible Camp (CBC)
KICY Radio
Leadership Camp June 2nd - 7th
High School Camp June 7th - 14th
Junior High Camp June 14th - 21st
Trailblazers June 21st - 26th
Pathfinders June 26th - July 1st
Covenant
Bible Camps
SUMMER 2010
ECCAK Churches in need of staff:
Shaktoolik Covenant:
Pastor
Kalskag Bible Chapel:
Pastor
No Name Church
of Anchorage:
Church Plant to be
www.cyak.org/bible-camp
18
Compassion, Justice and Mercy Grants Approved (cont.)
GRIEF AND LOSS SEMINARS
At the 2009 ECCAK Pastor/Leader
Retreat, Dorothy Bekoalok, origi-
nally from Shaktoolik, provided the
leaders with a workshop on grief and
loss. Her workshop was very well
received by the pastors. Pastor Har-
vey Fiskeaux is quoted as saying
something to the effect, “We need to
get Dorothy to come to Nome to give
this workshop.” Pastor Mary Putera heard the cry
of bush pastors and submitted a grant that will
allow the Evangelical Covenant Churches in Bush
Alaska to receive concrete help and support in
helping village communities recover from grief
and loss experienced generationally, systemically
and persistently. The workshops will help to re-
(“Compassion” Continued from page 6)
duce life draining
reactions to grief in
village communities
that came through
high rates of sub-
stance abuse, domes-
tic violence, sexual
abuse, accidental
death and suicide.
The ministry is to
partner together with
Local Village coun-
cils to cover the
costs of bringing Na-
tive minister Dorothy Bekoalok and mental health
counselor Pastor Mary Putera from CYAK to the
14 Evangelical Covenant Church Bush village
churches to present a two-day workshop on the
impact and skills of healthy recovery from grief
and loss.
An envelope
young adults. They are nothing less than Guardian
Angels.
Some of the Guardian Angels are:
Allen Brankonk, Ashley Brankonk, Jimmy Gray
Nicholson, Harvey Whitman, Erin Kiokun, Alyssa
William, Corretta Olrun, Jeremy Oscar, Caroline
Oscar, Johnathan David and Teddy Whitman.
(“Guardian”Continued from page 15)
Guardian Angels: Saving a Village (cont.)
(Ryan Maughn is a Graduating Senior at North
Kingstown High School in North Kingstown
Rhode Island. As part of his Senior Project, in
addition to reading several books and researching
the clash of economic systems and the ethnically
diverse population here in Alaska, Ryan came to
visit. Ryan was able to accompany the CYAK
team on a recent trip to encourage the youth on
Nunivak island. While there he met and inter-
viewed the guardian angels.) “Guardians” are ready with snowmobile
Pastor Mary Putera & Dorothy Bekoalok
Answer to Riddle
from Page 11:
7
At the ECCAK 2010 Annual Meeting, the following were selected as General Council members:
1. Donna Erickson from Unalakleet
2. Carl Elwood from Mountain Village [second term]
3. Jane Atak from Anchorage
Members continuing:
1. Nathan Nagaruk from Nome
2. Lynda Bekoalok from Shaktoolik
3. Nelson Davies from Bethel
4. John Uttereyuk from Scammon Bay
5. James Barefoot from Wasilla
6. Cheryl Seimers from Soldotna
New ECCAK General Council
Terry Reynolds [left] with applause
from a smiling and appreciative Den-
nis Weidler [right] reads a com-
memorative plaque to the Fondells
which will be prominently displayed
in the KICY reception office.
Many names come to mind when one thinks about KICY, but none are as
prominent as the names “Ralph and Gert Fondell”, who were the early
pioneers in starting KICY 50 years ago. Ralph first traveled to Nome in
1958 to do some preliminary work for getting the radio station off the
ground. He moved up with his family in 1959. Ralph acted as engineer
until the mid-60’s when so much of the construction took place. In the
mid-60s he was moved to the position of General Manager and served in
that capacity until he retired. Gert will long be remembered for many of
her programs, with “Gert’s Corner” being the longest standing and the “favorite” of many. Both Ralph
and Gert served as “Mom/Dad” or “Grandpa/Grandma” to many of the staff and their children.
At the special KICY Dinner Celebration, both Ralph and Gert were honored when they were called upon
the stage. Terry Reynolds and Dennis Weidler shared that the radio station will now bare the name “The
Fondell Broadcasting Center.” Both Ralph and Gert were overwhelmed. How we thank God for the exam-
ple set by this couple who have faithfully served the Lord, not only at KICY, but more recently at the Ea-
gle River Community Covenant Church!
Fondell’s Honored by KICY
Thank you Harvey
Fiskeaux and Dave
Rose for serving on the
GC for 6 years!
8
Wetting the Appetite to Read
Quotes from the book WHEN HELPING HURTS [by Steve Corbett and Brian Fikkert]
“Forty percent of the earth’s inhabitants eke out an existence on less than two dollars per day.”
“Sociologist Rodney Stark documents
that the early church’s engagement with
suffering people was crucial to its ex-
plosive growth.”
“At the core, the health and wealth gos-
pel teaches that God rewards increasing
levels of faith with greater amounts of
wealth. When stated this way, the
health and wealth gospel is easy to re-
ject on a host of biblical grounds. Take
the case of Job… He had enormous
faith and lived a godly life, but he went
from riches to poverty because he was
righteous and God wanted to prove this
to Satan.”
“The goal [poverty alleviation] is not to
make the materially poor all over the
world into middle-to-upper-class North
Americans, a group characterized by
high rates of divorce, sexual addiction,
substance abuse, and mental ill-
ness...Rather the goal is to restore peo-
ple to a full expression of humanness,
to being what God created us all to be,
people who glorify God by living in
right relationship with God, with self,
with others and with the rest of crea-
tion.”
“Ultimately, the profound reconciliation of the key relationships that comprise poverty alleviation
cannot be done without people accepting Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior.”
“...as recent research has demonstrated, Caucasian evangelicals in the United States, for whom the
systems have worked well, are particularly blind to the systemic causes of poverty and are quick
to blame the poor for their plight.”
17
Christina Perrigo is our “Soup
Kitchen” ministry team leader,
responsible for leading the team
effort in feeding an average popu-
lation of 20-25 homeless people
each Friday (September through
May). Her love and devotion for
the needy is evident in the manner
in which she tirelessly strives to
do whatever it takes, including
finding warm clothes if necessary,
to help them survive another cold
night outside. She demonstrates
the love of Jesus through her walk
and shares His message of love
and eternal life to all who gather
to eat each Friday. She also serves
as “Youth” team leader, Sunday school teacher,
and volunteers every year her services at the an-
nual Covenant Bible Camp in Unalakleet.
Lloyd Perrigo is a Youth Team Leader, serves on
the Church council, Mission Team Leader, com-
mittee chairperson and operations manager of
CPN properties, and heads the committee on
planning the future status of our church parson-
age. Both committees assume a huge responsibil-
ity vital to the future of the church body. As CPN
manager, Lloyd spent many hours of his personal
time over the past summer renovating the apart-
ments and preparing the structure for winter. His
untiring efforts not only improved the overa l l
Is someone trying to clone Chris Perrigo? It
seemed like it to many at this year’s annual
meeting. The one on the left is Kim Erickson
and gets mistaken for Chris often. If we begin
to see a Lloyd look-alike running around the
church, an investigation will be forthcoming!
2010 Daniel Savetilik Recipients! By the Nome Covenant Church
appearance of the apartments, but
resolved many of the long overdue
maintenance problems. His per-
sonal sacrifice and hard work re-
sulted in keeping all three apart-
ments rented throughout the year,
and allowed for a $10,000 contri-
bution to the church general fund.
This added contribution enabled us
to end our 2009 budget year in the
black. Lloyd leads church service
on occasion, participates when
called upon as a presenter, teaches
Bible studies on behalf of Chris-
tian Ministries at the local correc-
tion facility “Halfway House” and
has recently applied for member-
ship in the Gideon International to become a dis-
tributor.
Over the years both Lloyd and Christina are re-
sponsible for assisting hundreds of youth in at-
tending the annual Covenant Bible camps in
Unalakleet. They are the local contact persons for
camp registration, transportation and oversee
fund raisers to help offset camp cost through
scholarships for those in need.
We are convinced that Lloyd and Christina Per-
rigo have reached many lives for Christ over the
many years they have given in service to our
Lord Jesus Christ through our church in Nome
and the Bering Strait Region.
Christina and Lloyd Perrigo
16
WANTED… OLD PICTURES!
Perhaps you have some old pictures from the “good old days” that you would like to share with us.
Please send them to: ECCAK—PO Box 770749 Eagle River, AK 99577
We will scan them and return them to you. Be sure to provide us with your return address.
Picture provided by: Betty Segock of Elim
We hope that many of you are enjoying your 2010 ECCAK calendar!
If you did not receive one in the mail, please contact our office and we will be
glad to send you one.
9
Mad Moose Mishap
What happens when you encounter a moose being attacked by a
wolf? A couple of Alaskan tourists from Ohio found out. You get
one mad bad moose.
According to the front page story in the Anchorage Dailey News
[2010 Apr. 3 edition], two tourists were innocently snowboarding
on a Kenai Peninsula trail when suddenly from out of nowhere, a
wolf and a moose exploded from the thick timber on one side of
the trail. As they got out of the way, they observed a wolf hanging
on to a moose in an attempt to kill it. After a few moments, the
wolf gave up its dinner plans because it became aware of the two
uninvited “dinner guests” with snowboards.
The two tourists soon found out that the moose was not a happy camper. When they began to move away,
it charged. One tourist climbed a tree while the other headed for the security of a large fallen tree. But the
wounded moose stood his ground. The two men heard a wolf pack in the background howling. This went
on for four long cold hours. Neither of the men had a weapon, but apparently they did have a cell phone,
so they called for help.
When the troopers finally came on the scene, both men were cold, shivering and perhaps on the verge of
hypothermia. The moose still stood its ground, even after a few warning shots, so the troopers had no
choice but to shoot it. The meat went to charity and the mad moose mishap came to an end.
were none-the-less blessed. The Calhoun Family
from Fairbanks also shared the stage as did the
Shavings from Mekoryuk.
SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Field Director,
Rodney Sawyer announced that he and his wife,
Nancy, have felt led not to seek a third term. “I
strongly believe that we who are older need to step
aside to pass the baton on to those who are
younger,” says Sawyer. “Jesus turned His ministry
over to the Twelve, many of which could have
been in their early 20’s.” Therefore, the ECCAK
General Council will be forming a search commit-
tee believing the Lord will reveal a candidate for
the ECCAK Annual Meeting in 2011, at which
time the delegates will cast their votes.
(“Nome” Continued from page 1)
10
Our Readers...
Above is one of the many encouraging letters and notes we receive at the ECCAK office. How we thank God for those who fulfill the N. T. command to “encourage one another!” The handwritten copy above comes from Lurlene M. Anderson from Spring Valley , CA , who lives at the Mount Miguel Covenant Village retirement center.
Photos of some readers
of the “Chilling News”
15
Guardian Angels: Saving a Village By Ryan Maughan
The theology of angels is inter-
preted differently throughout
the world. In many places, an-
gels are mystical or spiritual. In
Mekoryuk on Nunivak Island in
Alaska, these guardian angels
are high school students and
young adults. There is nothing
mystical about these coura-
geous people. What has been
realized by the teens of Me-
koryuk, is that the harsh condi-
tions in which they live in are
also nothing mystical and it is a
reality that something needs to
be done to save as many lives
as possible.
An average teen lives a nonchalant life; video
games, movies; allocating the majority of their
time on juvenile, superfluous activities. On the
island, there are limited resources and services,
and having only two hundred residents, it was
vital for Mekoryuk to develop a system, not only
to save lives, but to preserve their own culture. In
a casual discussion, these teens collaborated and
eventually decided to call themselves “The Guard-
ian Angels”; a fitting name for the deeds they per-
form. Sacrificing their own earnings, and by
holding fundraisers, they save money to fill the
snow machines with gas in the case of a search
and rescue. The Guardian Angels have such a
striking presence and passion for their mission.
Even at the ages they are at, they have already
developed higher-than-usual maturity levels. Yes,
they need the fuel for the snow machines, but they
also fuel each other through encouragement, sup-
port, and allowing God into their missions.
In a recent accident, the Guardian Angels were
called to action. The accident involved one death,
but with the presence of the Guardian Angels, the
life of the second man involved was saved by the
team. God’s presence is prominent in cases like
this, and that alone is a motive for completing the
mission of the Angels. While speaking to one of
the members of the search and rescue team, I
asked if there is one significant leader. I expected
one of the older males to take responsibility, but
instead I was told God was their leader. This
young man stated that “God is the leader of
Guardian Angels, but also of my life. Trust in
God is the key to saving victims’ lives, and mine
too.” He later said that “God gives him the men-
tal strength to continue on in search and rescue
missions.”
As an outsider, looking at the Guardian angels
from an exterior view, it is easy to be guilty of
assumptions and judgments. These teens are
courageous young adults who are filling the
needed position of search and rescue members.
But after hearing individuals speak of their duties
they became more than that. I was personally
moved. They have realized their mission that
God has asked them to fulfill; something I envy.
Members of the team are not teens, they are not
(“Guardian” Continued on page 18)
Some of the Guardian Angels in Mekoryuk
14
Reviving the Stories of Grandpa Ost
In 1979, Jan-Olov Schroder wrote a biography on L. E. Ost,
better known as “Grandpa” here in Alaska.
The book was named Alaska: A Mission in Alaska.
Unfortunately, for non-Swedish speakers, Schroder wrote the book in Swedish.
But English-speakers-only were not to be denied the stories of Grandpa Ost.
Sometime later, the late and long-time Covenant missionary and North Park Prof. Sigurd Westberg trans-
lated the book into English.
Copies of his translation have been floating around for several years.
Now, a few lucky people can read stories like:
“The Wedding in a Sleeping Bag”or“Grandpa Killed a Grizzly With One Shot Through the Wall.”
There is so much of Alaskan history woven throughout the book.
ECCAK is making a special offer for those who donate $200 or more to the ministry.
The English translated version has been digitized, reformatted and fitted into a beautiful hard bound hand-
crafted wooden cover. For your treasured copy of this limited supply, please fill out the enclosed envelope
right away. Copies will be manufactured and mailed to donors on a first come basis.
We are so thankful for your financial support!
Special Book Offer
with donations of
$200.00 or more!
Is Suzanne Alioto of Kenai reading about the time
“Grandpa” shot a bear through the wall of his cabin?
It’s really hard to put down!
11
A Baptism!
I’ve grown up in a Christian home and have gone to church all my life. About 3rd grade I started to understand what a Christian is and does. When I was 11, I accepted the Lord into my heart. My teachers have been talking about being a Christian and getting baptized. My baptism is showing my desire to follow Jesus as my Lord and Savior and to show my faith to my family and friends. I am thankful that I have known God’s love my whole life.
Nathaniel Swanberg (son of Scott and Pam)
baptized by Pastor Keith Bergstrom
Nathaniel’s testimony:
Quote from Oswald Chambers:
“The deadliest Pharisaism today is not hypocrisy, but unconscious unreality”
[from March 16 reading in My Utmost for His Highest}
I start with the letter e.
I end with the letter e.
I contain only one letter, Yet I am not the letter e! What am I?
Eagle River Covenant Church recently held a baptism
for several people in their church.
Here is a glimpse of one young man who was
baptized.
Riddle:
Answer on page: 18
Deep Thot:
If you saw a
group of mi
mes
walking a pi
cket line, w
hat
would their
signs say?
12
DAILY PRAYER by NAME and by PICTURE
SUN
James Engwall
{ California }
MON Alan & Sharon
Finifrock { Soldotna }
TUES
Dorothy Bekoalok { Anchorage }
WED Rick & Cindy Hinkey { NPTS }
THU Steve & Bev
McKinley { Soldotna }
FRI Betty Jackson { Shaktoolik }
SAT
Jamie & Erica Rose
{ NPTS }
Caleb, Gail, Jacob and Tacey Caldwell
{Soldotna}
ECCAK PRAYER CALENDARECCAK PRAYER CALENDAR May 2010 Background picture
is of Chickaloon
property.
Don and Fei Cross with children {Elim}
Donna Erickson {Unalakleet}
Jeff Kysler
{Eagle River}
13
ECCAK PRAYER CALENDARECCAK PRAYER CALENDAR
June 2010
DAILY PRAYER by NAME and by PICTURE
SUN
Nathan & Isabella
Toots {Anchorage}
MON
Rob Hall {Chicago)
TUE
Sam & Lydia Weston { Mekoryuk }
WED
TJ & Polly Smith {Anchorage)
THU
Ted & Kimberly Pullen
{ Eagle River }
FRI
Luther Harrison { Samaritan Purse }
SAT
Barney Funk
{ Hooper Bay }
Ethel Takak
{Elim}
Heidi and Herb Ivanoff
{Unalakleet}
MaryAnn, Kira and Kevin Andrew
{Kevin is a student at ACC}
Kenai