Fall 2022
Historic Storm Pounds Multiple Villages Covenanters Respond With Donations and Service
Top to bottom: The Covenant Church in Golovin sustained damage to the sub -floor insulation due to high water. The Mountain Village Covenant Church parsonage roof was ripped off from high winds. Both buildings were able to be repaired. Moose Lake Covenant Church sent a team of eight men to work on the Golovin church and contribute to the larger volunteer effort around the community of Golovin. See more photos on page 7.
Within days of the historic storm surge that pummeled hundreds of miles of Alaskan coastline, the Alaska Conference leadership, as well as others across the Covenant, began looking for ways to respond with funding and person-power for Covenant villages affected by the storm. More than $36,000 has been raised through the Alaska Conference, given by individuals in Alaska and beyond, and all funds have been used to address various needs. “The Alaska Conference is not a relief organization, however, it was encouraging to see how Covenant people in Alaska and outside contributed funds and volunteered to serve,” Curtis explained. The storm significantly impacted villages with Covenant churches including Golovin, Nome, Hooper Bay, Mountain Village, Elim and Shaktoolik. The Mountain Village parsonage had one half of the roof ripped off from high winds. Flooding in Golovin caused massive damage. Due to high water, the Golovin church sub-floor insulation was soaked and needed to be replaced. Nineteen homes and several community buildings sustained flooding damage and displacement. The Hooper Bay church served as a shelter for displaced families there. “It was disorienting to hear of the damage and displacement that was happening in multiple communities where the Covenant Church serves,” explained Curtis Ivanoff. “So much needed to be addressed before winter freeze-up. I traveled to four communities to assess how the Alaska Conference could connect our resources with specific needs.” A group of eight men from Moose Lake Covenant Church in Minnesota were scheduled to work on the CYAK Aarigaa house in Anchorage in late September. However, with the pressing needs, they agreed to reroute with short notice to work in Golovin. They were able to complete the insulation replacement at the church, as well as join the larger community effort to help with the damaged houses and clean-up. Dave Lundberg and Dan Duame from Eagle River Community Covenant Church joined the greater volunteer effort in Golovin as well. “We were able to help with repair work on several flooded homes. We installed new insulation and sealed the vapor barrier, “ Dave explained. “We were happy to help the community in a small way after the devastating effects of the storm and felt like our efforts were greatly appreciated.” Even with the damage, the Covenant Church housed various relief personnel, and Donny and Willow Olson housed volunteers in their spare bedrooms. (Continued on page 7)
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