A Lighthouse for the Gospel

Dear Friend,

Nunivak Island is the second largest island in the Bering Sea, about 30 miles off the Alaskan mainland. It is a remote, tundra-covered volcanic rock, home to thousands of reindeer, over 500 musk ox, and less than 200 Cup'ig people.

Mekoryuk, the only inhabited village, is a difficult place to get in and out of. The weather—rain, snow, fog, and gale-force winds any day of the year—makes takeoffs and landings a real challenge on the short, gravel airstrip. So, I was blessed to get a sunny day when I flew over there just a couple weeks ago to see the church Samaritan's Purse is building.

It was impressive to see how much progress has been made. At the end of May, when a barge arrived with tons of materials including our dump truck, the team had to remove 8-foot snowdrifts just to clear the site. Now the church is dried in and looks great with the dedication scheduled for early October. Built on a Triodetic foundation to withstand the freeze and thaw, the church should last 100 years.

The island's only congregation, started in the 1930s as the entire population converted to Christianity, once had a very strong Sunday school ministry. Decades ago, children would even gather on Saturdays to memorize Bible verses in preparation for the Lord's Day. There was some decline over the years, but recently most of the school-age children in the village—about 50 or so—have been attending youth services or Sunday school.

"The kids are hungry for God," said Bea Kiokun, an adult leader in the church. "Sometimes they are the first ones at the door on Sundays."

She and her husband, Edward, a church board member, have three children—10, 12, and 14—and credit the revival to the power of the Holy Spirit and the Word of God. "When you preach the Word and they hear about Jesus, they fall in love with Him. They want to know more," Edward said.

“The kids are hungry for God. Sometimes they are the first ones at the door on Sundays.”

Last Easter weekend, the church baptized 33 people, most of whom were children and youth.

But the old Covenant church building, finished around 60 years ago, has a sagging sanctuary and other structural concerns. In addition, there is little space for so many youth, and the basement gets freezing cold in the winter.

That's why Samaritan's Purse volunteers have come from 26 states to construct a larger, brand-new building. It will offer not only a new sanctuary, fellowship hall, and kitchen, but three large classrooms for the vibrant youth ministry. No more freezing basement!

"God can use that new building as space for the youth to learn more about His Word," Bea said.

Bea's mom, Prudy (pictured above), turns 84 this month and still lives in Mekoryuk. She's in good health, active in church, and was actually one of the young children who met on Saturdays and Sundays to memorize Scripture many years ago. She drove her four-wheeler out to see the new building recently, looked at the progress, and exclaimed, "Thank you, Lord!"

The new church in Mekoryuk represents our 36th project in Alaska since 2006. These buildings become lighthouses in spiritual darkness and bring transformation to whole communities. Praise God! Please pray for the folks in Mekoryuk and all the other congregations across Alaska that God has allowed us to help. Pray that many people in these villages would be drawn to Christ. "Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven" (Matthew 5:16).