Fall 2017
A JOURNEY TOWARD HOPE
Planting Pastor Shares Vision for New Mtn. View Church When Phil Cannon and his family moved to Mountain View in 2011, they chose the neighborhood because it was an affordable place to buy a home for his growing family in the Anchorage area while serving on staff with First Covenant Church. This September, Phil embarks on a new ministry as he transitions to become the planting pastor for Mountain View Hope Covenant Church. In a recent interview, Phil shared a bit of the journey his family has been on in this new call as a church planter and more about how his “heart began, over a long period of time, to long for a ministry rooted in the neighborhood.” According to Phil: “During the first few years we lived here, we didn't fully engage in life in our neighborhood. We ate in our home, slept in our home, we entertained our friends from other parts of town in our home, and we hung out in our fenced-in back yard. We didn't really engage with our neighbors that much. When we did, we were met with mixed responses. However, with time some things began to change. “The simplest change happened when our kids started attending the neighborhood school. Suddenly, our kids had friends who waved and shouted ‘hello’ whenever we'd walk past their homes. Our boys started playing tee-ball and baseball, which led us into friendship with the neighbors whose kids were also on the team. “In 2015, after the massacre of 9 black people in the AME church in Charleston, the Lord convicted me that these things are made more possible, because we don't know one another,
The Cannon family: Phil, Kate, Isaac (8), Madeleine (11), Wyatt (7) and Nora (4).
making it easier to objectify and stereotype other people. God led me to invite my neighborhood for hot dogs and Kool-Aid— just as an excuse to get to know one another. We didn't know who would come, and we threw it together very quickly. We knocked on doors of homes in a three-block radius and passed out simple invitations. That same day, we had 60
“I began to share with the conference superintendent, Curtis Ivanoff, and other denominational leadership about this growing desire to plant this church, and last fall I was able to go to the Covenant Church Planter Training. Also, Kate and I were both evaluated at a church planters' assessment center. The doors seemed to be opening. We were thrilled when First Covenant Church voted this summer to participate in the ministry as a parent church. “We are hoping to plant the kind of church in Mountain View that will seek out the pathways to making a real difference in the lives of our neighbors —for their sake and for God's glory. people in our yard, sharing food, meeting each The phrase that keeps coming back to me is other, and beginning relationships. ‘Neighbors helping neighbors, pursuing Christ “I started attending community council and his kingdom.’ meetings and looking for opportunities to serve “Mountain View already reflects God's where there were felt needs and seeking kingdom in many ways. Where it doesn't, we will partnerships with those agencies in the seek to follow Jesus into the kind of ministry community who were committed to making that ushers in his kingdom ways and values more Mountain View a better, safer place to live. and more into the homes, families and lives of “After some time, it began to feel odd for me the people. My hope is that this church would be to leave the neighborhood every day to drive to known as a kind and generous neighbor who my office, only to return at the end of every day, loves like Jesus.” largely unaware of anything that had happened Phil is actively engaged in fundraising, in our community. strategizing, seeking partners and building a core “A significant turning-point occurred as a group that will help launch this new church. vision began to grow in my heart and mind of a A preview service will likely begin after the church where neighbors worship with their first of the year, followed by more regularly literal neighbors...where the people OF the scheduled group meetings. community worked together to see God's To follow updates on the church and more kingdom become more real IN their community. info about Mountain View, check out their website www. mvhope.org.
First Covenant Church congregation prays a blessing over Phil Cannon and his family as he concluded his service there to plant Mountain View Hope Covenant Church.
The most recent census data lists Mountain View as the most ethnically diverse zip code in the country.
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
IN THE LIGHT OF SUMMER... Opportunities for service, sharing and sweet times together abound during Alaska’s summer months. Here are a few highlights from around the Alaska Conference.
An intergenerational, combined team from Community Covenant Church, Unalakleet C Elim Covenant Church ministered in the village of Elim through Vacation Bible School a with community members. The team distributed 100 Bibles and focused the VBS teac read the Bible. The desire was for every child to have their own Bible, and enjoyed see one above, reading their own copy. The team also made several home visits to elders f Team members included: Sharron and Ed Carlson, Bill and Jana Wise, Ken Thomas, Re Charis Erhardt, Brianna Ivanoff, Kirsten Haugen (UCC) and Pastor Bob Curtis, Belinda S Simpson, Sean Daniels, and Jake Broulette (ECC).
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”—Acts1:8 Acts29 is a three-month, cross-cultural, multi-ethnic discipleship school for young adults that is a missional collaboration between the Evangelical Covenant Church and the Uniting Church in Sweden. Three Alaskans have previously attended schools in India and Sweden. In February, Alaskans will have access to this amazing opportunity closer to home as the Alaska Conference will host Acts29—Alaska from February-May of 2018. Participants will:
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Live in a cross-cultural setting for three months with young adults from around the world.
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Grow in knowledge about the Bible, the Church, faith, how to be a leader, how to minister and more!
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Worship God in new ways and in new settings
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Reach out in the community by sharing your faith and serving those in various Alaska locations.
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Build friendships with people from around the world that will last a lifetime.
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Covenant Church and and healing prayer ching around how to eing children, like this for prayer and sharing. ebecca South (CCC); Simpson, Francis
Conference pastors and lay leaders gathered at Alaska Christian College in August for the annual leader retreat. Pastor Robert Owens, superintendent for the Southeast Conference was one of the speakers who brought encouragement to the group and reflection on deepening and cultivating their personal walk with the Lord. Laughter and recreation is an important element in the retreat. Pastor Harvey Fiskeaux, of Nome, enjoyed the opportunity to get some fishing action on the Kenai River. Chickaloon Retreat Center was busy this summer with five different lower-48 work teams building a new bath house and group meeting space so that the retreat location can be enjoyed by more people and have a broader ministry scope. Covenant Youth of Alaska Director, Byron Bruckner, lead one of the groups in a morning devotion. Curtis traveled to Koyuk in August to preach and spend time with the church leadership there. Curtis especially enjoyed time in homes and around the community. This trip included an evening of “Skip-bo” in John and Grace Morris’s home. He also enjoyed helping recently elected church board chair John Prentice transport moose meat after a successful hunt. Just prior to embarking on a six-week sabbatical, Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff spent one week with the high school Bible campers in Unalakleet. Curtis and his wife, Kristi, spoke to the group from the theme “Love God, Love Others.” Kristi taught through the book of Ruth and Curtis focused on New Testament scriptures around loving our neighbor. He had the joy to baptize Carl Shavings, of Mekoryuk. Drew Williams , of Scammon Bay, and Devin Thurston, of Mekoryuk, also participated in the baptism. Curtis also put on his chef apron and made sourdough pancakes for more than 100 students and staff. Also pictured: Anikan Paniptchuk, Kiya Andrew, and Rachel Moore of Shaktoolik enjoyed time on the beach during evening game time. Summer Sagoonick, of Unalakleet, was one of the finalists for several NYO competitions, including one-foot high kick seen here. Bible camp is a significant time for young people to make new friends, grow in their faith, and celebrate who God has made them to be. This summer, Bible Camp served 321 campers from 29 villages and communities in Alaska and the lower-48 . There were 48 first- time commitments to Jesus made by campers of all ages. We were blessed by 113 staff serving over the course of the six-week camp season. Youth and adults alike, experienced the unconditional love of Christ.
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Tricia Ivanoff, of Unalakleet, Acts29-India
Brenda Dock, of Kipnuk, Acts29—Sweden
Justus Eben, of Anchorage, Acts29-India
Application now available online: www.alaskacovenant.org/acts29 Registration deadline: October 31, 2017
COULD GOD BE CALLING YOU TO SERVE WITH US? Alaska Short-term, Long-term Ministry Opportunities Abound At a recent pastor-leader retreat, Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff shared with urgency the growing need in many rural churches for pastors. “Our churches need shepherds. We must pray.” Subsequently, Curtis and his office staff have begun to pray daily that God would raise up laborers from within our churches, as well as from other places. Currently there are pastoral openings in more than half of our village churches. Although finding a permanent pastor to fill a position is the desire of these communities, interim and short-term placements can help bring encouragement and spiritual nourishment as the church waits. Retired pastors, pastors on sabbatical, lay-persons with a heart to serve, worship leaders, youth workers, lay ministers, families, seminary interns, seminary graduates waiting for a permanent call can all be a blessing to these villages. In turn, they will be spurred on, equipped and encouraged as they experience the beauty unique to the people, culture and land of Alaska. When recently retired Pastor Joan Hill and her husband, Jay, went to Mountain Village for three months in the summer of 2016, they found that even the smallest idea for ministry became an encouragement to the church. Joan shared, “As we began to pray for blessing on the businesses and organizations that support the village, people began expressing their thankfulness to others. Some who were blessed came to church. Making pancakes for the men on Saturdays became another blessing, as we opened God’s Word together.” For more information about serving a village church, contact Curtis Joan Hill enjoys precious Mtn. Village children. Ivanoff at curtis@alaskacovenant.org.
Tr a n s i t i o n s Phil (Kate) Cannon completed 12 years of service with Anchorage First Covenant Church and will be serving as the planting pastor for the new Mountain View Hope Covenant Church (see story on page 1). Criss (Alyssa) Mitchell is now serving Anchorage First Covenant Church as associate pastor of youth and family ministries. Criss formerly served Eagle River Community Covenant as the middle school coordinator. Hugh (Lanette) Forbes will be serving as a part-time, bi-vocational associate pastor for Anchorage First Covenant Church. The Forbes are in transition as they move their home to Anchorage from Bethel where Hugh has served as a bi-vocational senior pastor for 11 years. Bob (Rachelle) White is serving as interim pastor for Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church. Wass (Jean) Mute completed his service as interim pastor for Shaktoolik Covenant Church. They are living in Bethel and enjoying visiting grandchildren in the Mat-Su Valley often. Ken (Sandy) Moore of Fairbanks Community Covenant Church announced that he will conclude his service there on December 31. The Moores have served in Fairbanks for eight years. They will transition to serving in international missions including with the Covenant through Serve Globally. They will reside in the lower-48. Dan (Kelli) Krause will complete his service as pastor for Chugach Covenant Church in November. Ben (Martha) Schoffman will be serving as interim pastor for Chugach Covenant Church.
Upcoming Events & Dates September 29-Oct.1 October 30-Nov. 3 November 9-12 November 9-12 January 19-21, 2018 January 22-26, 2018 April 26-28, 2018 July 15-20, 2018
CYAK Young Adult Retreat (Big Lake) Western Alaska Ministry Training (Unalakleet) Would Jesus Eat Fry Bread Conference (Anchorage, AK) Journey to Mosaic (Pacific Northwest Conference, Seattle) Youth Workers Connection (Chicago) Midwinter Conference (Chicago) Alaska Conference Annual Meeting (Nome) CHIC (Knoxville, TN)
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 537
Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Ministry Priorities Start & strengthen churches Make & deepen disciples Develop leaders Love mercy, do justice Serve globally Superintendent: Curtis Ivanoff curtis@alaskacovenant.org Associate Superintendent James Barefoot james@alaskacovenant.org Ministry Associate Aune Carlson aune@alaskacovenant.org Financial Assistant Cory Alverts cory@alaskacovenant.net
Sinew Editor
Kristi Ivanoff kristi@alaskacovenant.org P.O. Box 200446 Anchorage, AK 99520 Office: 907-222-6348 Fax: 907-222-6390 e-mail info@alaskacovenant.org website www.alaskacovenant.org Donations to the Alaska Conference are tax-deductible and may be made online or mailed to the office directly.