2024 Annual Meeting Edition
From Everyone to Everywhere Shaktoolik Gathering Unites for Connection, Worship, Mission Shaktoolik hosted approximately 70 guests for the annual meeting conference held in early April as the delegation considered the expansive mission and call of God to be Christ’s witnesses. Planning for the conference began a full year earlier as Shaktoolik Covenant Church member and planner Lynda Bekoalok met with conference staff after the final service of 2023’s conference in Wasilla to start preparing logistically for hosting such a large gathering. “This was truly a grand and collective effort between the conference, local church, community members, school personnel, and ministry partners,” said Kristi Ivanoff, Alaska Conference event coordinator. Mayor Eugene Asicksik and city staff, the Native Village of Shaktoolik IRA, the Conference participants Shaktoolik Native send greetings back to Corporation, the Paul F. sending churches. Pastor Asicksik school principal and John and Sheree Meader get teachers, local youth a ride from Ethel Fuller who volunteers, and many adults served with transportation. among the community worked together for weeks to prepare goodie bags, thaw frozen pipes, house, prepare meals, feed, transport, and welcome the conferees. A Child Evangelism Fellowship team flew with Samaritan’s Purse to offer children’s ministry throughout the conference. Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC) and Patrick McLean, of SEND North, flew guests into Shaktoolik. Clint and Aleigha Daniels of Cornerstone Church, in Roanoke, AL, arrived early and stayed after the conference to serve however needed. Della Etageak spent hours in the kitchen cooking meals with her team of volunteers, and Jeffrey Spang of Arctic Barnabas served with local needs as well. Patty Burchell, KICY station manager, worked to ensure recording and broadcasting of the gatherings to the listening audience. Though Shaktoolik’s population hovers around 200, according to census data, the small church community has a rich history of hosting regional “Get Togethers” and has hosted the conference before. In the book Grandpa A Mission in Alaska, by Jan Olov-Schroder, an account from the March of 1938 conference in Shaktoolik reads, “Though Shaktoolik is one of the smaller villages in our district, the people there prepared so well for the conference that they were able to take excellent care of the 181 delegates or guests, and their 596 dogs during the whole conference.”
Although finding space for dogs was not one of this year’s challenges, one significant logistical challenge was the purchasing and shipping food to feed approximately 100 people for eleven meals on a limited budget. After the menu was created, conference staff purchased approximately $2,000 in groceries. Thanks to Missionary Aviation Repair Center (MARC), Jono Hansen of Bering Air in Nome, and Nome residents (Chris and Lloyd Perrigo and Nora and Nathan Nagarak) who helped transport the groceries from Anchorage to Nome and Shaktoolik in the weeks prior to the conference, only about $60 was paid toward shipping costs for food. Music and singing is always a central and important part of the Katherine and Lorena village conference Paniptchuk enjoy the gatherings. In community potluck with food, addition the many music, worship and teaching heartfelt choir songs from the Word. and special numbers from the delegation, Glenn Kaiser, formerly of Rez Band, traveled from Chicago and blessed the conference with his musical talents. The Elim Covenant Church Worship team, consisting of Elim residents who have moved from various parts of the Philippines, brought a full band and shared Friday night at the community potluck and led worship for the closing session. The ECC Executive Minister of Serve Global, Grace Shim, was one of the keynote speakers to address the conferees with a message of God’s movement around the world and how each of us are called to be a part of that right now. Dr. Dennis Edwards, Dean of North Park Theological Seminary, spoke for two of the evening sessions from the gospel accounts, calling us to be “amazed at Jesus again.” Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff shared an encouraging closing message around the call to be alert, ready and engaged in the work of Christ’s Kingdom. (Message recordings are available at www.alaskacovenant.org/2024-annual-meeting). The Annual Meeting was held on Friday, where delegates heard church and ministry reports, approved the Alaska Conference budget, recognized Daniel Savetilik, Sr. award recipients Betty Kay and Lynn Jackson (see page 4), acknowledged CYAK volunteers of the year Chris and Lloyd Perrigo, and elected new executive board members (see page 4).
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