Samaritan's Purse is working on a building for Lake Clark Bible Church in Port Alsworth.
Volunteers recently began work on the new building which is scheduled to finish this fall.
To worship together, townspeople arrive on foot, by snow machines and four-wheelers, or by boats navigated across the wilderness waters of Lake Clark. Despite these obstacles, the faithful Christians of Port Alsworth—worshipping and working as the only congregation in the area—have built their community into a beacon of light serving the surrounding region and remote villages accessible only by air or watercraft.
This fall, they’ll finally gather in a new space constructed for year-round use—for Sunday services and weekday meetings and events.
“We don’t have bathrooms in the outdoor gym. We don’t have anything for kids. When the wind is blowing, it’s disruptive,” said Pastor Luke, who leads the congregation. “The enemy will use anything to distract people, and if it’s discomfort, he’ll certainly use that. It’ll be a blessing just to have an environment where people can come in and rest and pause and breathe in the presence of the Lord and worship in fellowship with each other and hear the Word of God.”
Before preparing to lay the church building’s foundation, the property and work were first covered by prayer.
Samaritan’s Purse volunteers and construction teams are now hard at work in the small wilderness town adjacent to Lake Clark National Park. Now our teams anticipate arrival of a barge that will carry the remainder of supplies from open waters upriver to the town. The congregation is eagerly awaiting completion of the project, slated for the fall.
A Community That Draws People from Across the Country
Port Alsworth serves as home to multiple ministries that bring people to this remote location. The town is home to Samaritan Lodge Alaska, where Samaritan’s Purse ministers to military couples every year through Operation Heal Our Patriots. It’s also home to Tanalian Bible Camp, a Christian retreat where Native Alaskan children hear the Gospel during camps throughout the summer.
Port Alsworth is also home to Lake Clark National Park and many national park service employees.
“On Memorial Day we had almost 300 people at a service. Throughout the summer, an average of 200 people come to weekly services,” Pastor Luke said, noting the remarkable swell in attendance for a community with only 170 year-round residents.
The area serves as the gateway to the national park and surrounding wilderness areas, visited by fishermen and adventurers from around the world. The Christian presence in the town means visitors encounter a spiritually vibrant community during their stay.
Corey Lynch, director of Alaska Projects at Samaritan’s Purse, says the new church building is constructed to last a century.
“I want to build a building that will last for a hundred years, and the one sole purpose is for the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Lynch said.
A Longtime Partnership
The church maintains a strong partnership with Samaritan’s Purse. Scores of volunteers and staff join the community, some for a month and others for the full summer into the fall.
“I find summers incredibly refreshing because the people that come up with Samaritan’s Purse are just in it for the right reasons,” Pastor Luke said. “They’re up here to serve and they’re excited to serve and love the couples. When they come into the community, they consider this their home church. They’ll help with Saturday night chair setup and any sort of service projects. After Sunday service is over, they help tear down chairs and sound equipment.”
Insulated walls are already being installed.
The church also serves families engaged in adoption and foster care ministries, providing a safe community with a public school staffed by town residents.
Samaritan’s Purse Alaska Projects
Since 2006, Samaritan’s Purse has completed 36 construction projects across Alaska, primarily building churches in Native Alaskan villages. The ministry has helped provide places of worship well-suited for harsh climates in remote areas, often accessible only by aircraft or watercraft.
The Port Alsworth project represents a unique addition to this work—serving not only a local congregation but also the many visitors and ministry partners who come through this wilderness gateway community each year.
“This church is so unique because we have probably 10 different denominational representations within our church,” Pastor Luke reflected. “We keep the main thing, the main thing, which is Jesus Christ.”
Great progress is being made as our crew waits for additional materials to arrive by barge.
