Tell Your Story Alaska

Craig is nestled in the maze of islands on Alaska's Panhandle - a truly stunning area. Craig is most notably a fishing and sawmill village, but definitely a place worth visiting.Crooked Creek was a summer fish camp for Yup'ik and Ingalik peoples until gold was discovered and this was one of many villages that sprung up to support the mines. Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Father Marc Dunaway serves at St. John's Orthodox Church in Eagle River, AK and is a part of the Lausanne Orthodox Initiative which is an effort to bring Evangelicals and Orthodox believers together to better understand their similarities and differences. We discuss some of those differences, why Orthodoxy is growing in Alaska, how Evangelicals and Orthodox believers can learn from one another, what should we make of the iconography in the Orthodox Church, and according to Orthodoxy ecclesiology, can people be saved outside the Orthodox Church? My last question for Marc was "What is the gospel?" Listen to hear how he answers that question and much more is covered in this intriguing episode! I am grateful for Father Marc's insight into these so we can better understand one another!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Council went from wilderness to a booming town of 15,000 people then down to a tiny population in just a few years thanks to the flurry of gold prospectors at the end of the 19th century. Council is considered a "ghost town" today, but is it?Covenant Life seems to be connected to a religious movement called "The Move" or often referred to as "The Farm" which is a religious group with several communities throughout Alaska. This village is centered around a church and the religious values of "The Move."Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Rob was a pastors kid who rebelled but found his way back to faith. Then a beautiful woman, out walking her dog, changed his life forever: a real beauty and the beast story. Rob spent many years leading trips through Teen Mania in Central and South America, but ultimately he was led back to his childhood home in Healy, AK. Rob runs the YWAM Denali base and Last Frontier Ministries out of Healy, AK and has developed a deep love for the village of Minto, AK. Rob's passion for discipleship is obvious and infectious.Check out YWAM Denali:https://ywam.org/location/ywam-denali/b-2595Check out Last Frontier Ministries:Website: https://lastfrontierministries.comYoutube: https://www.youtube.com/@lastfrontierministriesContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Who are the Moravians? We dive into the origin story and how a few courageous men started a movement that would ripple around the world and into Alaska. Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

An Ahtna boy was walking in the woods when he heard singing. He followed the voice which led him to dig up a large chunk of copper out of the ground and the boy became a wealthy man. Copper became a useful resource for the Ahtna people in this area known as Copper Valley. Mining in the first few decades of the 20th century cause villages in this area to pop up and Copperville is one.The area around Cordova was likely a fish camp for the Eyak people, a mix of Aleut, Athabascan, and Tlingit. In 1790, Spanish Explorer Fidalgo made land claims for Spain in the area and named this spot "Cordova." His claims didn't stick, but the name did. When copper was discovered in the area, a man named Michael Heney built a railroad to serve the exports for the mining operations. He became known as "The man who built Cordova." Today, Cordova is sustained by the fishing and tourism industries and is a really nice place to visit.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

They were the first to introduce Christianity to Alaska. How did they do? They were effective, compassionate, and dedicated to sharing the gospel with Native Alaskans. The Russian fur traders may have had insincere motives in bringing in the Russian Orthodox missionaries, but it seems the missionaries themselves came for the sake of the gospel. Many of the Orthodox and Native beliefs were already in alignment and the Native people quickly considered themselves Russian Orthodox. Father Herman is the most famous of the Bishops known as a defender of native people and with a simple humility that laid the foundation for the early years of the Eastern Orthodox Church in Alaska. Many changes happened when the United States purchased Alaska and the Protestants moved in which is critical for understanding the history of the church in Alaska.I also review the theological distinctions of the Eastern Orthodox Church as compared to the Catholic Church in it's historical context.Alaska has quite the mixed bag of denominations and good place to start is to understand them. Today, we seek to understand the Russian/Eastern Orthodox Church in Alaska!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

EPISODE 100! I didn't realize it was 100 until after I finished recording this. Thank you everyone who has followed the show for 100 episodes!The area of Cooper Landing was home to the Kenaitze Indian Tribe, or Dena'ina Indians in the pre-contact era. Some of their semi-subterranean dwellings are still visible in the area. A Russian Engineer found a bit of gold in the area, not a big find, but just enough to spark gold prospectors to seek riches later on which is the reason for Cooper Landing existing today. The village is a cozy nook in the woods along the river. It's nostalgia and natural beauty make it a desireable place to visit.Copper Center is most known for the nearby Kennecott Mines where one of the largest copper deposits in the world was discovered in 1900. However, the native people who dwelt here before knew about this deposit, and they included copper in their vast trade network with tribes across Alaska. The Copper Center Lodge was the centerpiece of Copper Center since the late 1800s and considered "one of the last of it's kind" until it burned down in 2012. Vince Joy, the founder of Central Alaska Mission (later became SEND North), started his work in Copper Center founding the "Chapel on the Hill," a church building that's still there today.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Get a broad overview of the Episcopal Church in Alaska. This is the first of a series on the denominations of Alaska so we can get to know our state one denomination at a time. A brief history and distinct characteristics of the Episcopal Church are identified in this episode.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Coldfoot got it's name from gold prospectors traveling their way up the tundra and got "cold feet" and turned around. It became a lively stop for gold miners, but as soon as the gold dried up, so did the town. It was abandoned until the Alaska Pipeline construction project in the 1970s made Coldfoot a base of operations. Today, Coldfoot functions as a truck stop for travelers heading north along the Dalton Highway.College is host the the University of Alaska at Fairbanks which has shaped what the town of College has become today. UAF is considered one of the premier institutions for Arctic studies as they host a wide range of scientific studies of the Arctic including dinosaur bone digs in Alaska!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Dr. Nathaniel Jeanson has been engaged with a multi-disciplinary study of the history of Native Americans for many years as laid out in his recent book They Had Names. Genetics, archeology, linguistics, and oral Native American histories are in agreement to tell a history that challenges the mainstream narrative of Native American history. What is being revealed confirms what Native Americans have been saying about their own history all along. Where did Native Alaskans come from and when? We go into it in this episode. You don't want to miss this one!To connect with and help Dr. Jeanson with future research go towww.answersingenesis.org/go/theyhadnamesCheck out Dr. Jeanson's YouTube channel:https://www.youtube.com/@nathaniel_jeansonContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Noah got blueprints, Abraham got a voice, Moses got a burning bush, Paul got a blinding vision. What about me? I was invited to share at the Northstar Bible School chapel in Willow, AK last week. This message was for young Bible students on practical steps for seeking God's will for your life based on 2 Peter 1:5-7. If you are anything like me, you may be pursuing your purpose for God rather than God himself. The most effective idols are sneaky aren't they? This is not normally a "sermony" podcast, but I'm making an exception this time.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Cohoe, Alaska sits in a region used for seasonal fishing and hunting by pre-contact Dena'ina people until a wave of Scandanavians arrived in the 1800s. Victor Holms from Finland is credited with building the first cabin on the site, a cabin you can still visit today.Cold Bay is surrounded by interesting archeological sites that give us hints about the people who lived there long before the Russians arrived. When WWII hit Alaska, Cold Bay became the site of Fort Randall, an air base and the longest runway in Alaska at the time. After the war, the base shut down, but a small community and the long runway remains being used as a refueling station for flights heading out to the Aleutian Island Chain.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

After many months of being away, I am dusting off my microphone. Brief updates, synopsis of the Typhoon Halong disaster in Western Alaska, and winter podcast plans.Disaster Relief Links:Job and Bethany Hale in Napakiak:www.forgetmenot-ministries.com Arctic Barnabas Ministries-- type "Aviation Fuel Up" to donate for Aviation Fuel:https://tinyurl.com/fuelabm2025 To support Send North's Western response please include "Western Alaska Flooding" in the gift notes section:https://www.send.org/give/projects/crisis-response-fundClick to donate to the maintenance projects on my ministry plane-select "Billy and Erika Tjernlund" in the menu.www.cmcmissions.org/donate

SEND North has a long history in Alaska and Canada going back to 1936 when visionary Vincent Joy founded it as Central Alaska Missions and eventually became SEND. Jim Stamberg is the current area director, and Barry Rempel is the former area director, and together we discussed the origins of SEND North, how it changed over the years, and many of the current issues faced today. Is Alaska reached, unreached, or misreached? How do you work in unity with so many denominations working in one state? How does the complex history of missions in Alaska affect efforts today? What should church look like in a village? What are the keys to longevity in village living? Do you need to know how to operate a chainsaw and hunt game to serve here?Check out the SEND website at:Send.orgWatch the Project Caribou video on YouTube:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yLW0A_gUSGEContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

A new one-year Bible school program is launching this Fall at Northstar Bible Camp near Willow, AK. Father-son duo Mark and Luke share their passion to see young Christians gain a solid foundation of faith in the most beautiful place in the world. The program will be 28 classes on New and Old Testament Surveys, Introduction to the Bible, Spiritual Disciplines, Creation Science, Systematic Theology, Apologetics, Global Missions, and Practical Christian Living. Mark and Luke are passionate about moving from head to heart in this Academic year of Bible School in Alaska.Check out and apply on their website:nsbs.lifeContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Clark's Point is located on a spit. What's a spit? I'll tell ya. Named after John Clark who managed a large cannery which today is a huge abandoned facility. Lake Clark is also named after him. Clark's Point is constantly threatened by erosion and was even moved to higher grown in the 1980s. Like many villages, the Russian Orthodox Church was the first church to have a presence in the area, but today, St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church is the prominent church in the village.Coffman Cove is nestled on Prince of Wales Island on the panhandle of Alaska. It's unclear whether it is named after Navy man Lt Dewitt Coffman or logging man Robert F. Coffman. Who knows? There's some interesting archeology at Coffman Cove and the largest mapped cave in Alaska!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Circle Hot Springs was a booming resort until it shut down in 2002. Now the resort is abandoned but apparently a few people still live there.Clam Gulch sits on a tall bluff along the Kenai Pininnsula where clamming enthusiasts reduced the population of clams so much that it had to be shut down to save the clams. Today, Clam Gulch may be a worthy stop on your drive to Homer on the Sterling Highway for some mountain and volcano views across the water.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chuloonawick is an abandonded Yup'ik fish camp and there's nothing there! So why is it a registered village? because there's a desire to preserve the heritage of the native people in any way they can.Circle is a gold rush town making it's hey-day in the late 19th century. When the gold rush simmered down the town declined to just 91 residents today mostly of Athabascan native people. Why is it called Circle? because they thought it was on the Arctic Circle, but they were off by 50 miles!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chitina was originally a thriving Athabascan village until the outside world brought in disease and conflict and the population was decimated. It later became the commerical center for the famous Kennecott Mines. Since the mines closed in 1938, the village has become more of a historical landmark but is still home to over 100 residents.Chuathbaluk was orignally a native summer fish camp and became what it is today when a man name Sam Philips settled there and many followed after him. The Russian Orthodox church played a key role in the village culture and history.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chiniak is located on a little corner on the beautiful Kodiak Island. It may be small, but has had national attention that made it's way to the White House. It hosts a SuperDARN, a radar system that studies phenomena in our atmosphere, one of 35 in the world. Early explorers noticed this spot as a native village, but today it's almost all white. Not sure what happened there.Chistochina is on the Tok Cutoff Highway and at the confluence of the Chistochina and Copper Rivers. It was originally an Ahtna Athabascan fish camp, then a stop for weary travelers seeking gold, and finally a small village of just 60 residents. We discuss the naming of the nearby Mount Stanford which in the Ahtna Athabaskan named "Kelt'aeni" means "The one who controls the weather" and I compare Athabaskan spirituality to the biblical worldview, just for fun.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

There are three Chigniks in Alaska all within a few miles from each other. They are, however, three distinct villages: Chignik, Chignik Lagoon, and Chignik Lake. This area was originally occupied by Kanaigmuit Ekimos and there are some archeological remains. When the Russians arrived they intermarried with the Kanaigmuit and became known as Koniags and half the native population was wiped out by disease.The only church for these villages is St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and I spent a little time discussing who St. Nicholas was and whether Protestants should be content with only an Orthodox church in a village or should they try to plant a Protestant church.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chickaloon sits in a beautiful valley among the Talkeetna Mountains and is by far the most fun village name to say. Founded by Chief Chiklu and is still called the native name Nay'dini'aa Na' in the village constitution. Chickaloon is home to the Chickaloon Retreat Center which looks like a nice place to book your next church retreat. It's also near Kings Ranch where Kindom Air Corp is training the next generation of missionary pilots.Chignik is way out there where the Aleutian Chain begins and is home to a Trident Seafood facility, one of the largest seafood companies in the world. Benny Benson, the designer of the Alaska State flag at just 14 years old was born in Chignik. It's also the birthplace of "The Singing Fisherman" known for his country style gospel music.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chenega Bay is located in Sawmill Bay on Evan's Island. What's up with that? The reason is fascinating. This area has been home to the Alutiiq people whom Captain Cook encountered in 1778, and later a scoundrel named Ivan Petroff was the first to mention a village here in the 1880 census. The 1964 earthquake created a tsunami that killed a third of the village population, an unbelievable tragedy. Then in 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster devastated the fishing economy of Chenega Bay. Yet a beautiful blue orthodox church resides here and it appears that the Orthodox Church has been the most prominent faith in this place for a very long time.Chevak is the moving village as it has been moved twice in it's history because of flooding. The people of Chevak call themselves Cup'ik, a slight variation of Yup'ik and many residents still speak this language. A very blue Catholic Church resides in Chevak and Catholicism seems to be the prominent faith in Chevak.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chase is a sparsely populated village near Talkeetna, AK with just 19 residents sharing nearly 100 square miles of land. If you are interested in a life of isolation, you might want to check out Chase, AK.Chefornak was founded in the early 1950s by Alexie Amagiqchik who wanted to find higher ground to live on. The village is located inside a large wildlife refuge to protect waterfowl nesting grounds of many interesting birds. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church has make this village a mostly Catholic community, but who was St. Catherine of Siena? We go down that bunny trail for a bit. Also, is the nearby Tern Mountain a mountain? Thanks for listening as we get to know our state one village at a time!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The word "Aarigaa" means "it is good" in Inupiaq, and the Aarigaa House fills a massive need for Alaskan youth to transfer well from village life to university life while being discipled in a life giving community home. Karl and Simone Thistle facilitate the home and invest themselves in the residents of the Aarigaa House. Each resident has a unique story with wounds and challenges to overcome, and the Aarigaa House is a place where they can unravel the layers of life's hardships one at a time.Check out the Aarigaa House website here:https://www.cyak.org/aarigaa-house.htmlTo financially support Karl and Simone click here:https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=93ee73e8-0417-4da2-b2fe-f8392f2b4328Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Steve and Jill Horsman are the Field Directors of InterAct Ministries of Alaska and I had a great time speaking with them about the history of InterAct as well as a wide range of topics wherever the wind took us. The wind took us to the richness of risking a missionary life, the gospel, volcanoes, native languages, native oral histories, and more! InterAct has been working in Alaska, Canada, and Russia for 70 years and has played a heavy hand in founding many ministries such as Victory Bible Camp, Lazy Mountain Church, Wasilla Bible Church, Tanalian Bible Camp, Kako Retreat Center, Kokrine Hills Bible Camp, and more!Check out their website at: ⁠interactministries.org⁠Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Central, like many other villages, started as an outpost for gold miners at the turn of the century. It is the location of the midway point for the Yukon Quest Race which happens every year in February at the Steese Roadhouse. You can also check out the Circle District Museum which holds artifacts from the gold rush days and the first printing press north of Juneau on which the first Alaska newspaper of the interior was printed.Chalkyitsik means "Fish with a hook, at the mouth of the creek" in the Gwich'in language. It started 70 miles upriver when William Salmon built a home in 1901 and called it Salmon Village. When a boat carrying building materials for a school at Salmon village made it's way up the river, it only made it to today's site for the village where the school building was built and the village sprung from there. William Salmon's son, David Salmon became the chief of Chalkyitsik and "First Traditional Chief of the Gwich'in people." David became an Episcopal preacher spending most of his life sharing the gospel in the language of his people in Chalkyitsik and the surrounding area. He has also advocated for education and preserving the traditional ways of the Athabascan people. What a legacy!Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Jeffrey and his wife Moriah are the founders of Genesis Coffee Lab based in Wasilla, AK. Jeffrey shares how he went from growing up in an alcoholic home to a gang member in Los Angeles to a dedicated follower of Jesus and tentmaker for the gospel in Alaska and Ethiopia. His passion for the transformational power of the gospel is evident in his testimony. Be sure to check out genesiscoffeelab.com and buy the best coffee roasted in Alaska according to Food and Wine Magazine which will support efforts for schools, pro-life efforts, and churches in Ethiopia.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Butte was originally named Bodenburg Butte name after John Bodenburg, the first modern settler of the site in 1917. It's most known for the geological formation called a butte which is a popular hike with spectacular views. If you have seen YouTube videos of Alaska adventures it's very likely it was filmed near Butte because it's located next to the Knik Arm, a very popular outdoor adventure area.Cantwell started out as a railroad stop and became a community when the fur trade dried up and work was found at the railroad. Cantwell was named after a military explorer who explored Alaska in the late 19th century. It's the place where the popular 2007 movie "Into the Wild" was filmed and home to an iconic igloo building where tourists stop for selfies. Be sure to stop by Cantwell Bible Church. I met the pastor there recently and he is a down to earth, easy to talk to guy. Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Elishaba is the eldest daughter of the infamous "Papa Pilgrim," a man who raped Elishaba and abused her other 14 siblings in the wilderness of New Mexico and Alaska for a decade. Elishaba goes in depth of how she was able to forgive her father of what most would consider unforgivable, and how she continues to be a follower of Jesus when Christianity was used by her father as a tool to keep his family under his thumb. In 2022 she released a book "Out of the Wilderness: Escaping My Father's Prison and My Journey to Forgiveness" which tells her story, and she discusses the challenges from her siblings not wanting the book published as the wickedness of her father are still having ripple effects today even though he died in prison years ago. Elishaba has recently defeated stage 4 brain cancer, and went through a nasty divorce. She discusses her ongoing pursuit of forgiveness while grappling with the hurt she continues to endure.Check out Elishaba's website:www.outofthewildernessbook.comContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

It's not the bears or the moose, it's the mosquitoes.! The airplane ride to the camp is not so scary, but full of beautiful views. You go to serve and help others and you end up being the one who changes. Learning that the "bad kids" may be testing your sincerity of whether you really love them or if you are there for some other reason (social media attention?) . Does sleep even happen? Rosy, Angela, and Audrey have served at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp as counselors for multiple years. The counselor's job is by far the most challenging and they share how doing this every year has shaped their lives and even their future plans. The camp experience matured them as their faith faced real world realities. Doing hard things become the best things you ever do. So check out the camp website and sign up to volunteer here:www.kokrinehills.orgContact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

DeeDee Jonrowe is most known for her Iditarod racing career having started 36 races, finished 33, placed 2nd place twice, and placed in the top ten 16 times. She also set the record for the fastest time set by a woman until it was broken recently. However, there's so much more to DeeDee than her races. Her formative years living among many cultures around the world, her many injuries and setbacks, how the native coastal people taught her the value of sincere living, her hunger for adventure, her time working for fish and game, her passion for quality dog care, and how the positive spirit of a pilot picking her up out of the wilderness restored her faith in God. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

A quick summary of what we know about this tragic flight that has left Alaskans grieving. On February 6, 2025 Bering Air Flight 445 departed Unalakleet, soon went missing and was later found with all 10 souls deceased just 34 miles south of Nome on the Norton Sound. I summarize the flight data that we know about, and share some thoughts of what might have happened, and discuss how encouraging it is to see how Alaskans are coming together to grieve well.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Beluga hosts the Chugach Electric Power Plant which provides half of the power for Anchorage. The 32 resident get to enjoy 100 square miles to called their town which is an impressive back yard to play in. Fishing and particularly popular including some record Northern Pike caught in this area.Buckland is a village on the move as it has relocated up to five times in it's history including Elephant Point named for the mammoth bones found there by a British Naval explorer. Native Christian leaders including the Egaq family and Uyagaq played an impactful role for this area. Shamanism and the gospel came face to face, and the shamans reported that they were unable to harm the Christians because of the strong Spirit they possessed. It was the native Christian leaders who then protected the community against Christian legalism the white missionaries were introducing.Contact the show at [email protected] Logo was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Pete Doner is currently planting a church called Restoration Community Church in Big Lake, AK and we take a deep dive into everything involving church planting. Why plant a church in a town where there's already churches? What is the relationship between church and politics? What is the difference between unchurched and dechurched? How should a pastor navigate new church members who come from other churches because of "church hurt"? Have sermons become Ted Talks? Why was the name Restoration Community Church chosen? Pete and I discuss a wide range of topics surrounding church planting in the context of Alaska. Check out the church website at: rccak.org Contact Pete Doner at [email protected] Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Birch Creek sits in the middle of the Yukon Flats in Central Eastern Alaska. I am surprised at how random it's location seems to be. A man called "The Chief of Chiefs" called Birch Creek Jimmy was the first to build a cabin on this spot in 1898. Jimmy's extended family soon followed suit, and the Dendu Gwich'in Athabascan people had made one of their first permanent settlements. The population over the years has changed little, lingering around 35. This tiny village is 100% native, as it's a requirement to be native to be considered a member of the Birch Creek Tribe. So far, this is the first time I have seen this in a village. Birch Creek is truly a unique place! Brevig Mission was originally occupied by the Kauwerak Eskimos who impressively traded with people in Sibera, Little Diomede, and King Island demonstrating seafearing skills. In the late 1800s, Sheldon Jackson, the famous Presbyterian Missionary launched an effort to bring 1300 reindeer from Siberia to Alaska as a sustainable food source for Alaska native people. This effort came with Lutheran Missionary Tellof L Brevig who name became the village name. His sacrificial effort in Brevig village is still remembered today as the Brevig Mission Memorial Church is still functioning today. There's so much more to this place and I did my best to brush over it's history, but know I just barely scratched the surface in this episode! Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

"Supporters probably think I'm not doing enough." "I must be more like that other missionary to succeed." "God is unhappy with my performance for him."I must gain the approval of others to be happy." Lies like these have a way of handicapping missionaries into inactivity and going to some dark places. Last Fall, Jake Fries shared his heart in front of a group of missionaries about lies he had been believing, and how he has been on a journey to free himself from the enslavement of lies like these. I've been thinking about what he shared since then and I asked Jake to share his story on the show. Believing these lies is more common than missionaries want to admit out loud, but today, Jake is breaking the ice. Check out this resource Jake used in his journey to freedom from lies missionaries believe: Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil T. Anderson Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The creatively named Big Lake, AK (sarcasm intended) was formed as a town in 1958 starting with a population of 74. Today it has grown to just under 4000 and has a small community feel to it with community events, churches, small coffee shops, a library, a post office, small businesses, an airport where a handful of locals begin their Alaskan adventures, and (believe it or not) a really big lake. Bill Moore's Slough is next to Kotlik, Ak on the Yukon River Delta. It immediately made me wonder: who is Bill Moore and what is a slough? It's very difficult to find information about this elusive community, perhaps by design. How Alaskan is that? Some brief notes from a scientist from 1899 offers us frustratingly little information about the early days of Bill Moore's Slough. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Bettles is a small, remote community started by a man setting up a trading post for gold prospectors during the Alaska Gold Rush. Since then, Bettles has moved locations and is only accessible by plane or a winter-only road to the Dalton Highway. Bettles is not for the faint of heart. If you are an outdoorsman you might consider canoeing 100 miles from Anaktuvuk Pass to Bettles for the ultimate Alaskan adventure. Bettles is also where Brooks Range Bible Camp started back in 1978 and is still in operation thanks to the efforts of Kingdom Air Corp. Big Delta started with ambitious homesteaders and has become an economic producer with the Pogo Mine and farms in the area. The community has a Christian communal history with some rumors of cult-like activity, but I'm not certain. The elusiveness of it sparked my curiosity. Big Delta is home to Whitestone Farms and Rita's Roadhouse, a place with a story for the community of Big Delta. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Belkofski’s story has already ended as it is an abandoned village today. Founded as a Russian Fur Trade settlement, it faded away as the fur trade faded. However, a 2013 effort to save the 850lb bell in the Russian Orthodox Church is keeping the memory alive.Bethel’s story begins with the Yup’ik people who called the place “Mumtrekhogamute” which means “Smokehouse People.” They showed kindness towards the first missionaries who labored to work in the host culture’s language and help with desperate medical needs in the late 1800s. As it became a hub for the surrounding area, Bethel became an aviation haven for adventurers and hunters. The busy airport, cultural events, and a handful of churches are all a part of what makes Bethel, Bethel.Contact the show at [email protected] was created by Evan Van KirkMusic was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Barrow is the northernmost community in North America. It's also an economic giant for the state of Alaska with the oil that comes out of the area. Ancient Native American remains, early explorers, whaling disasters, survivial stories, missionaries, the controversial name change to Utqiagvik, and aviation tragedies are all a part of the story of Barrow. There is so much information and stories about Utqiagvik it was difficult to narrow it down so my apologies for the longer episode! Beaver, AK is a small village of just 48 people. It started as an outpost for gold seekers in 1907 traveling north to the Chandalar River, but it was some clever entrepreneurs (including a Japanese man and his Eskimo friends!) who made the village of Beaver happen. Beaver's residents are a mix of various tribal peoples from the surrounding region. The blending of native cultures in one village has made Beaver, AK a unique culture of it's own combining old, traditional ways, with the new western culture. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Atmautluak is situated in a sea of lakes on slivers of land among the vast tundra of Alaska. The entire community is built on stilts and wooden walkways are the way to get around town. It's a relatively young village being founded in the 1960s, but still has a rich cultural flavor with the Atmautluak dancers and two churches. I enjoyed the story of Saint Herman, a Russian Orthodox monk and missionary to the Aleut peoples whose sacrificial love for the people is worth remembering as he bears his name of the church in Atmautluak. Atqasuk is also a youthful community being originally settled during WWII because valuable coal was found there. The village was abandoned in the 1960s and re-settled in 1977 changing it's name from "Meade River" to the Inupiat name "Atqasuk" which means "The place to dig the rock that burns." Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Arctic Village was a semi-permanent spot used by the nomadic Gwich'in people until firearms were introduced and they began to permanently settle in Arctic Village in 1909. Robert McDonald, an Anglican Missionary brought literacy to the Tukudh language by translating the Bible, other religious material into the Gwich'in Tukudh language. Through the conversion of Albert E Tritt, a local Gwich'in man, the Episcopal Church in Arctic Village became a permanent part of the community. After legal battles with the US government, Arctic Village has worked to preserve their tradional ways of hunting caribou which continues to today. Atka is the westernmost community in the United States. It's waaaay out there on the Aleutian Island Chain. Only scant archeological evidence gives us hints at the first peoples which intrigues my interests. The Russian experlors made first contact followed by fur traders. When WWII struck, the US government forced all residents to leave and burned the village down to prevent the Japenese from using it. After the war, the residents returned, but were never the same again. St. Nicholas Orthodox Church has been there through almost all of the known history of Atka making it a key element in the story of Atka, AK! Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Terry and Krystie DePue have been pastoring Eagle Bible Chapel in the small village of Eagle, AK for 27 years. Terry was a missionary kid in Bolivia and ended up in Alaska of all places. They raised their six kids in Eagle. Three of their kids were adopted. Terry shares the adoption stories and how his family is his #1 ministry. I took away from this interview that steady faithfulness will bear much fruit in a world full of brokenness and chaos. He also recalls a story when his wife rode out on a snow machine in 50 below temperatures to save a musher that passed out on the Yukon Quest race. Brrr! Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Aniak's ancient history is wrapped up mystery. When the first Russian explorers first got a peek of the area, the original inhabitants had already abandoned it. The Russians found some gold which ended up bringing in prospectors hoping for quick riches as Alaska became more and more American. Today, Aniak is home for over 500 people and still remains a mostly native community. The airport is surprisingly nice and I'm not sure why. Anvik was first noticed in written records by a mixed race Russian/Native man setting out to find new routes and trading opportunities for the Russian Fur Company. He reported 100 people living at Anvik in 1834. Anvik was home to a missionary who left us a detailed record of his stay starting in 1888. John Wight Chapman lived there for over 40 years learning the language, teaching reading and writing, translating prayer books, laboring to record oral histories of the native people to preserve their culture, and helping many with medical care through the terrible flu epidemic of 1918-19. The story of these two villages just scratch the surface of a rich history in this region. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

On October 26, 1882, The US Navy Steamer Ship Thomas Corwin positioned itself just offshore of Angoon, Alaska. It loaded it's weapons, and fired shells upon the village occupied by innocent men, women, and children. This event started a 142 year journey of the Tlingit people of Angoon to find reconciliation with the US Navy. Finally, on October 26, 2024, (just a month after this recording) the US Navy officially apologized for the bombardment. "We accept your apology" the Tlingit elders responded. And so begins the healing of Angoon. View the the official apology ceremony here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uxPqjg-xlo&t=16s Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The largest city in the state of Alaska, Anchorage started with a couple of families camping out by Ship Creek and grew to contain 40% of the states population with just under 300,000 people. How did that happen? I discuss the history of the church in Anchorage, the homelessness issue, my favorite places in Anchorage, and four very unique airports within the city. Anderson is home to the workers of the Clear Space Force Station in central Alaska. What is this place? What secrets lie within? I don't know, but I do know some very powerful equipment is operating there and no one should fly over it. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Anaktuvuk means "the place of caribou droppings" so you can imagine this place has a history of caribou hunting, and it does! The Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass have proven themselves to be historical survivors and masterful artists with their famous Anaktuvuk masks. The first missionaries were Presbyterians who came in with float planes and starting the Chapel in the Mountains which is still there today. At a place appropriately called the "Gates of the Arctic" there is much beauty to be had. Anchor Point gets its name from the famous 1778 expedition of Captain James Cook because he lost an anchor at this spot while looking for the Northwest Passage. This European settlement has become a place of storytelling and nostalgia about the good 'ol days of the first settlers in the 1940s. Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Ambler is one of the few villages I have been to north of the Arctic Circle. It's the site where the famous Eskimo Prophet Maniilaq made some predictions, and the famous archeological site called "Onion Portage" is nearby which is one of the sites our modern understanding of ancient Alaska native history comes from. Amchitka Island's ancient history is wrapped up in mystery with only a single human remain found there. The island was home to Russian Fur Traders and the Aleut Uprising of 1784. Japanese castaways made there way to Amchitka in a wild story of survival. Up to 15,000 troops were stationed there during WWII, three underground nuclear tests were conducted on Amchitka, and today the island has zero inhabitants. I bet you didn't know that the activist group Greenpeace got it's name because of Amchitka! Contact the show at [email protected] TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield