Issuu

Annual Meeting Delegation Gathers at Alaska Christian College Celebrating 25th Anniversary

Alaska Christian College hosted the Alaska Conference annual meeting & conference in April, coinciding with the school’s 25th anniversary.

“Gathering at Alaska Christian College gave an opportunity for our delegates and guests to experience firsthand the ministry of ACC, interact with students, and familiarize themselves with a significant ministry that is available to young adults from their communities,” explained Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff. “We have been encouraged to join the ‘Pray for 75’ effort for increased enrollment to 75 students, and I pray that our delegates will be prompted to spread the word about our college, which prioritizes discipleship along with academic learning.”

Director and children’s ministry coach, called us to return to “humble beginnings,” reflecting on Jesus’s teaching that we must have faith like a child as we trust God to do a work in our midst. She turned hearts toward the importance of spiritual formation and transformation in churches for all age groups. Additionally, Paula led an afternoon workshop on a formational framework for ministering to children.

The theme of the conference was “Come Alive” and was centered on the passage in Ezekiel 37. Curtis Ivanoff opened the conference with a message of hope, calling us to name the “dry bones” in our personal lives, churches, and communities and present them to the Lord in prayer.

Following his message, those gathered there did just that in small groups.

On Thursday evening, Rev. Paula Frost, ECC Spiritual

Learning sessions were presented by Daniel Kakawa, of Aloha Ke Akua Ministries, on elements for sustaining Indigenous revival; and Rob Hall, of National Covenant Properties, on stewardship practices for optimizing church building usage.

During the annual meeting on Friday, the delegation tended to the usual business of the church, which included passing the new budget, voting for executive board members, and hearing reports from the various conference ministries and churches. Ed Kiokun, of Mekoryuk, was re-elected for a second term for the YK Delta Executive Board seat. Pastor Don Cross, of Koyuk, was also elected for a second term for Norton Sound. Rev. Brian Nanninga, of Eagle River, was (Continued on page 3)

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.

There is only one thing, from reading in the gospels, that the followers of Jesus actually asked him to teach them. It was how to pray. The more I go along in my journey of following Jesus, the deeper and more powerfully I understand and experience the significance of the “Lord’s Prayer.” I want to focus on one part of that prayer: “thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.” We, indeed, need the kingly rule of Jesus to touch our world, our communities,

“Thy

Kingdom Come”

Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent

praise for, including his provision and activity. Then there are things that we can also look at that breaks our heart, and especially God’s heart. I am not inclined to be doom and gloom, focusing on just negative things. But we are called to lament when we are confronted with places of brokenness and injustice places where we need King Jesus to show up and bring his salvation.

Wainwright Military Chaplain

Shaktoolik, and the Kelly Hunt family you are on my mind. On Wednesday night, April 29, a candle vigil was held in Anchorage to remember her life as it tragically ended far too soon. The gathering also remembered other Indigenous people who have gone missing or have been murdered. Whether you are Alaska Native or not, this is our community and one of our own is now gone. There were tears, a prayer, and a group from Shaktoolik and surrounding Norton Sound villages sang “In the Sweet By and By” in Iñupiaq. It was moving as we shared in grief and also in hope that we know comes from Jesus. We were sharing in a longing for things to be made right. That we would not have to grieve the loss of another missing or murdered young Native person. That is where the prayer Jesus taught us to pray comes to mind. “Thy kingdom come.”

This prayer is about the power of Jesus being unleashed in this world, for deliverance from all that is evil, that all would be made right, as God intended. Throughout Alaska, we long for that to be so. Pastor Phil Cannon, of Mountain View Hope, just wrote an Op-Ed piece in the local newspaper entitled, “Behavioral health care belongs within reach of those who need it, even in Anchorage neighborhoods.” Thy kingdom come, Lord! Our pastors and CYAK team members walk closely with people who despair, for all kinds of reasons, and need hope desperately. Thy kingdom come, Lord! Communities on the Yukon River face diminishing salmon returns and are not able to fish like they once did. Thy kingdom come, Lord! I invite you to pray as Jesus taught, into places that you see need Jesus’s inbreaking, Thy kingdom come, Lord. Amen.

hands with Revs. Curtis and Kristi Ivanoff and Rev. John Grauer was a moving part of the service. Col. Russ Vanderlugt administered the oath of office. Chaplain (Maj.) Mark Hill shared an honoring and fun-spirited address for the occasion. Heather McMillian, of C3 Fairbanks, was one of the group from the church that came in support of Amy. C3 provided a spread of food during the celebratory reception.

Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff, Kristi Ivanoff and several C3 Fairbanks church congregants attended the promotion ceremony of Major Amy J. Smith, Arctic Aviation Command Chaplain, 11th Airborne Division at Fort Wainwright in Fairbanks. Amy is endorsed and ordained through the Evangelical Covenant Church.

Chaplain (Maj.) Mark Hill, who serves at Eielson Airforce Base in Fairbanks, served as Master of Ceremony and read the publishing of orders. Retired Chaplain (LTC) Rev. John Grauer, ECC Military Chaplain Endorser, and Curtis and Kristi participated in the laying on of hands.

Psalm 16 was the Scripture passage that was read during the service, and the program highlighted Amy’s military career assignments, awards, decorations and deployments.

Prayer and laying on of

One Covenant Community Grant Includes

Conference Ministries

Dr. Hauna Ondrey, Dean of Faculty joined the Annual Meeting to share with the delegation about the conference’s participation in One Covenant Community, a major five-year initiative funded through the Lilly Endowment’s Pathways for Tomorrow initiative and led by North Park Theological Seminary. This project represents an unprecedented partnership across the entire Covenant family, bringing together regional conferences, Covenant camps, educational affiliates, denominational offices, and the Association of Covenant Spiritual Directors.

The purpose of One Covenant Community is to strengthen the entire ecosystem of pastoral leadership within the ECC from vocational call, to theological education, to credentialing, to lifelong support. Together, our shared goal is to cultivate a thriving pipeline of healthy, well-equipped pastors and lay leaders for Covenant congregations.

What this means for our Conference:

• More coordinated and accessible discernment resources for youth and emerging leaders.

• Strengthened pathways into ministry, including new undergraduate-to-seminary bridges.

• Expanded and centralized continuing education to support pastors and lay leaders.

• Increased institutional support through nonprofit leadership and fundraising training.

• A healthier, more sustainable pool of pastors ready to serve our churches.

This collaboration is a hopeful and timely investment in the future of our conference, strengthening our ability to nurture leaders who serve with resilience, theological depth, and Covenant identity.

Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff, Lynnette Boyer, Director of Ministry Equipping & Services, ACC Executive Vice President Jeff Siemers, and Kristi Ivanoff, Director of Conference Communications are serving in various capacities as Alaska’s representatives for this collaborative project.

Dr. Hauna Ondrey, Dean of Faculty of North Park Theological Seminary and One Covenant Community Project

Of special significance among ministry reports was the affirmation of Mountain View Hope’s direction toward becoming a “member church” in the ECC, involving a fresh vision for serving the community of Mountain View with a potential community center. A time of prayer and laying on of hands for their ministry team was concluded the report. Friday evening included a 25th ACC anniversary potluck celebration, the Covenant Women’s Craft Sale, and a special $15,000 gift presentation from ACC to the Alaska Conference for disaster relief projects. Rev. Jim Sequeria from Cascade View Covenant Church in Vancouver, WA, incorporated his cultural experience as a Native Hawaiian to call listeners to be open to the breath of God’s Spirit in his regenerative work in our midst. Jim also led a workshop called “Talk Story” that centered on the importance of modern oral tradition and the sharing of stories to cultivate faith and understanding between generations. The annual Wilson and Minnie Gonongnan offering for the village Pastor fund was also taken. More than $3,000 was given. Finally, on Saturday morning, ECC Vice President of Mission Priorities, Michael White, spoke on the hope of the gospel to strengthen us for the journey ahead. He also presented a learning session on strengthening the relationship between pastors and their leadership boards. Koyuk Covenant Church issued an invitation to the annual meeting delegation to host the 2027 conference. The annual meeting joyously affirmed the invitation.

UPCOMING EVENTS

June Multiple Bible Camp Sessions Unalakleet, AK

June 24-27 ECC Gather & Annual Meeting Scottsdale, AZ

July 27-31 Fishing Friendzy (Ministry Leaders) Soldotna, AK

Aug. 20-23

Sept. 25-27

Oct. 7-10

Conference/Merge trip to Finland

prayer, discerning, and months of fundraising. Our team was made up of Curtis and Kristi Ivanoff, Nate Johnson, Sonya Ivanoff, Victoria Fisher, Autumn Nanouk, and Joshua Ivanoff. We went with open hearts to serve wherever needed in whatever capacity. We are aware that God made a way for our 7-member team to even arrive on time, as we landed in Vaasa during the “storm of the century,” as one local person called it. Much of the area was without power for days from the high winds that swept across the country. Our landing was quite bumpy, but we made it much to our host’s surprise.

midst, as well as to explore possible future ministry partnerships. In Jakobstad, we stayed in host homes

for two nights and spent the day with the pastor of the church hearing how God has been at work. We did a prayer walk through their town and met with some of their church leadership. It was a great opportunity for learning and sharing for our group. From there, we went to Helsinki and stayed in a church located downtown that has been a witness for Christ for 140 years. Pastor Marcus was our guide and became a friend. We hope to partner with his church in the future, specifically with their food distribution ministry.

Nate Johnson, a recent UAA graduate said, “During our time in Finland, God continued to stir a desire in me to pursue full ministry. As part of discerning

this calling, I’m planning to serve at Covenant Bible Camp in Unalakleet this summer.”

We are grateful for the many people who supported us financially and through prayer.

Dale Lusk, who had initially introduced the opportunity to us expressed, “We have been praying for years for a ministry partner for our Finland brothers and sisters.” It seems that the Alaska Conference is a part of that answer. Our time there was so rich and we look forward to partnering with our brothers and sisters in Christ in Finland going forward.

Kristi Ivanoff

ACC Celebrates the 25th Graduating Class and Baptisms at the End of Year Retreat

Friends and family of ACC students, along with ACC board members gathered to celebrate graduates and baptisms at the end of April. Butler Wesley II, of Mekoryuk, and Laura Peterson, of Mountain Village were among those who professed their faith publicly through the sacrament of baptism at the year-end retreat. Be in prayer for the ACC students as they embark on summer plans.