Summer 2017
KICY RADIO MINISTRY UNDER NEW LEADERSHIP Patty Burchell’s Journey: God’s Leading Home to Nome
When Patty Burchell first began receiving KICY’s newsletter in 1998 while serving as a school teacher in California, she was not sure how she came to be on the mailing list of this seemingly obscure radio ministry of the Arctic. Little did she know that God was beginning a journey with her that would ultimately lead to serving as the general manager almost twenty years later. May 15, 2017, was Patty’s first official day on the job as general manager, but her pathway to that role is a story of God’s creative and persistent shepherding over time. “I first came to Nome in 1999. I was needing a break from teaching. After seeing in every KICY newsletter where it read, ‘If you can give us a year, we can teach you radio,’ I decided to contact KICY. Dave Oslund graciously accepted me, though I had no previous radio experience,” Patty explained. Her one year commitment turned to two as she served as the music director until 2001. Subsequently, she returned to California. Patty expressed that though she was not resident in Nome or physically present at the radio station,
Patty Burchell, KICY General Manager
she stayed mentally and emotionally tied to the station. In fact, between 2001 and 2014, Patty made nearly annual visits to volunteer in short-term stints. During that time, she filled in for vacationing on-air staff, brought teams for KICY work projects and VBS at Nome Covenant Church. She also produced remote
Iditarod reports for on-air use during the 2011-2015 races. Patty recalled a turning point experience that took place while she was attending the 50th anniversary celebration of KICY in Nome in April of 2010. “At that closing worship service, I had an overwhelming sensation. I borrowed a pencil and piece of paper from Candace Weidler, who was sitting next to me, and wrote down what I sensed God was telling me: ‘Nome was home, Sonora (where I was living) was my mission field, and one day I’d get to come home.’” In 2011, Patty joined the board of trustees and then in 2015, God indeed shepherded Patty back to KICY where she has since been volunteering full -time as the AM & FM program director. “As Dennis’s retirement drew near, I was encouraged to apply for the position. Daily I would walk the Nome beach on my lunch break and pray that God would call a leader—if it was me, great, if not that was fine too,” Patty shared. “Dennis knew that if it wasn’t me, I’d be the one (Continued on page 6)
Weidler Retires After 18-years of Gospel-Powered Ministry reprinted from a Covenant Newswire article by Stan Friedman
KICY radio, a ministry of Alaska Conference, shares the gospel around the world, but in 1999 it reached only a handful of villages. It also was roughly $1 million in debt and in danger of closing. That’s when the conference and the ECC asked Dennis Weidler to consider taking the job as the station’s general manager. At the time Weidler lived in Kalamazoo, Michigan, where he had his own advertising business and a studio where he did voice-overs for major clients such as Coca-Cola. It would seem ridiculous to make Dennis Weidler the switch. But he and his wife, Candace, agreed to at least go and see the work. While they were impressed with the people they met in Nome, the couple figured they would not take the job. It was,
after all, a community of only 3,500 people and 550 miles from the nearest road system. But as they prayed about it in the coming days, the Weidlers realized their hearts were still back in Nome with the people they had met. Their kindness and commitment to the gospel sold Dennis. So did Candace, who told him that if he didn’t take the position he would be disobeying God. “You can’t argue with that,” he says. With his retirement in May, Dennis leaves behind a station that has been transformed during the 18 years he has been there. In that time, KICY has gone from broadcasting with a low-power signal that reached a small radius to broadcasting with a 50,000-watt Clear Channel signal throughout a vast portion of Alaska and in far east of Russia in the Russian language. People around the world can listen via the internet to the AM and FM (Continued on page 6)
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
“When he saw the crowds, he had
compassion on them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, ‘The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few. Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore, to send out workers into his harvest field.’ ” That has been my prayer since, as a young college student, God began stirring in my heart for Jesus to raise up more laborers here in Alaska. I am not the only one as I know many have prayed. I remember a conversation with Byron Bruckner, twenty four years ago at a Denny’s in Anchorage, and it was this verse that was the focal point. Byron had just been called by the ECCAK General Council to begin leading a new season of ministry to reach out and disciple young people in our Covenant churches here in Alaska. The call Byron answered eventually led to the birth of what we now know as Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK). For this A Call to Intentionality column, I take a look by Curtis Ivanoff, Superintendent back in reflection, thankfulness, and celebration as CYAK celebrates 25 years of ministry. It has been a joy to see the investment of discipleship and encouragement by many people bear fruit, in the lives of people who are following Jesus and serving in a variety of ways in the body of Christ. There have been regional youth retreats, leadership initiatives, Sunday School classes, Bible Camps, crisis interventions, youth Sundays – more than just one thing, the work of CYAK has been a collective effort following a vision. One observation I have made is that the fruit has not come as the result of rocket science, or because someone followed some secret youth ministry recipe. It has been the result of something Jesus commanded his followers to do, and that is to “Go and make disciples….” Ultimately it is God who causes there to be growth in our lives and among our youth in Alaska. But there is an ingredient that has been a critical component: intentionality. Intentionality is necessary for there to be continued fruitful work in the discipleship of our young people—and the church at large. As I have had conversations with youth, and especially young adults lately, there is a real hunger for the guidance and involvement of older people in their lives for the sake of growing in following Jesus. There is a desire to have an adult reach out and build a relationship. Those kinds of relationships rarely just happen. Consider the intentionality of Jesus when he said “Come, follow me.” He knew his invitation to follow was going to cost him and he willingly gave of himself, his time, his very life. As I prayed for God to raise up laborers, I soon found myself in the middle of that answer. God called me to serve as one of those laborers—first as a teacher, and then youth leader, CYAK codirector, Alaska Christian College instructor and administrator, and now in conference leadership. God has called many from outside to labor with us. Some of those teens who attended the very first CYAK Fall Blast in Elim are well into their 40s now. It is my heart’s prayer to see them finding their place laboring in this harvest field—whether in youth ministry, as a Sunday School teacher, as a board member, pastor, or as a faithful witness of Jesus in their community and investing in local church ministry. We have many churches needing pastors—so we pray for laborers. We have youth longing for guidance—so we pray for laborers. We have many suffering under the weight of injustice— so we pray for laborers. There are people in our communities hungering for hope—so we pray for laborers. May we too, intentionally offer ourselves as a living sacrifice for the sake of his kingdom work and step forward to answer the call—intentionally.
2 // the Sinew
Oaxaca, Mexico Outreach Prompts Questions for At-Home Involvement by Pastor Rick Millikin, Mat-Su Covenant Church
The Mat-Su Covenant mission team traveled to Oaxaca, Mexico in February to visit, encourage and serve alongside Covenant missionaries Lisandro and Patricia Restrepo. April Conrad, Jynnie Matteson, Dave Rose, Lesa Millikin and Pastor Rick Millikin were the team members and assisted with medical screenings in the large community of Tehuantepec, in southern Oaxaca. Oaxaca is a very populated state with close to 4,000,000 people, with more than 55,000 people living in the southern village of Tehuantepec. Upon arrival, we wasted no time after settling and began setting up medical stations in a neighborhood school where we would conduct health screenings for vision, blood glucose, hemoglobin, dental hygiene, abuse, and STD prevention to name a few. We were partnered with youth and adult volunteers from another Covenant ministry called Semillas de Salud (Seeds of Health). These volunteers spent several hours training us to screen children and adults that lined up for the next several days. Doctors from throughout Oaxaca also volunteered to see each patient, once screened. April said of her experience, “I was so blessed by the outpouring of love and assistance we received from our new friends in Mexico. Even with the language barrier between us, they worked with us in every way possible to further the love of Christ to all the people we saw and ministered to through the health clinic. God can work through anyone and anything to further His love and care for others!” Upon arriving in Tehuantepec, our hearts were immediately captivated by the selfless expression of Christ’s love to families in need. We witnessed Christians young and old coming together in the name of Christ to care for people they did not know, that had no means to repay them and with no expectation of favors returned. Whereas the five of us had traveled a few thousand miles with the purpose of serving “on a mission trip,” the Christians that greeted and trained us lived there. They attended different churches, different schools and lived in other neighborhoods (and in some cases, other communities). Yet, they were compelled to drop what they were doing, press pause on their daily lives and set up lifesaving screening stations for total strangers. They were not on a mission trip. They were about the mission of Christ in their backyard, and they do this regularly throughout the year. I pulled one young person aside, a twenty-year-old student that had just begun her first year of college, and I asked her why she would take time from her very busy (Continued on page 6)
Dave Rose practices puppetry used for keeping kids entertained during tooth brushing instruction. Lesa Millikin gives eye exams to first graders. Pastor Rick Millikin with Covenant missionaries Patricia, Lisandro and Samuel Restrepo.
Theology Course Brings New Perspective By Brenda Dock, Covenant Youth of Alaska Office Manager
Excerpts from…
A Day in the Life of CBE in Golovin recorded by Donna Katchatag, Golovin Covenant Church
“Love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul and all your MIND and with all your strength.”
In April, I had my first time going to a that we all believe something about Western Alaska Ministry Training God—and God’s ways. That is a simple (WAMT) class. It was a valuable time definition of theology. We discussed learning about Christian questions pertaining theology and about why to how we could live we believe what we a good life, life after believe about God, and death, the trinity, how important it is to how we are saved believe the right things through about God. reconciliation etc. The term “theology” All the pre-reading, was previously teaching, presensomething that tations by fellow intimidated me. It students and seemed to me that to conversations study theology just changed the way that complicated things more I read scripture and than anything. I usually the way that I think hear mostly ministerabout things. I am Brenda Dock, originally from Kipnuk, type people talking motivated to seek about “theology,” and it AK, and currently of Anchorage, more understanding, attended her first WAMT course often seems more like and as a result, to be “Christian Theology” in the spring— arguing. and gave a presentation to the group more open to talking Taking the class to people about what on reconciliation. helped me to understand I believe.
The Alaska Conference invites you to
FAST and PRAY for LIFE for HEALING for RESTORATION
Editor’s note: The Golovin Covenant Church community participated in Community Bible Experience for the eight weeks leading up to Easter. They met in different homes on Tuesday nights and met every Wednesday night in the church to discuss the daily readings through the New Testament. Each week, the following questions guided their discussions: What’s something you noticed for the first time? What questions did you have? Was there anything that bothered you? What did you learn about loving God? What did you learn about loving others? Below are a few comments recorded from the April 11 meeting.
“He who has ears let them hear, He who has eyes them the see. He is coming soon. We need to be ready.” “I am struck by God’s commitment to us, the children of God. He made a commitment to us, and he will stay on his commitment. Jesus had to deal with all the leaders, high priests, etc. The same gods that people worshiped back in that day are the same gods being worshiped today.” “The seven churches were asked about. They are actual places which is the first application. The bible was not written TO us. This revelation was written to those seven churches. But it was written FOR us.” “We in Golovin can read the Bible and still gather even without pastor Chip and Joanne being here. We can still gather to praise, sing, share and help each other.” “We might not know the answer or don’t get something we read, but we can help each other dig into it and try to understand. There are many Christians and churches, but God calls us to be one body under Jesus Christ.” “Imagine how the old kerosene lamps were with a wick. At times when people are down and out, not having fellowship, the light is dim. At fellowship time, we all add fuel to the light to make it shine again. We are capable of lifting them up to make them shine bright again.”
September 7, 2017 one day set aside for individuals and churches to seek God together for deliverance from the epidemic of suicide in Alaska— and for a new work of God in our midst. A daily prayer guide will be available at www.alaskacovenant.org and on the conference Facebook page.
Jerry and Donna Katchatag and Chip and Joanne Swanson pose for a photo after the weekly discussion group in April that met in the Katchatag home during the Golovin CBE experience. Information about how you can start a CBE group, check out the website:
www.cbe.covchurch.org
Summer 2016/ 3
ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 26-29, 2017 COMMUNITY COVENANT CHURCH EAGLE RIVER, ALASKA
LOVE MERCY
D
JUSTICE
Learn TO DO GOOD. Seek JUSTICE. Rescue THE OPPRESSED.
Defend THE ORPHAN. Plead FOR THE WIDOW. Isaiah 1:17
Unalakleet’s Linda Towarak Patty Burchell, KICY General Manager (Continued from page 1) Receives Savetilik Award to train the next person, so he began teaching me various aspects of his job a little at a time.” The Alaska Conference Executive Board awarded Linda Towarak of Unalakleet Covenant Church the Daniel Savetilik, Sr. Award for many years of volunteer service. The intent of this award is to annually recognize local Covenant lay persons who have made significant contribution to ministry in Alaska over many years of faithful service. The award is named after Daniel Savetilik, Sr. who himself was a faithful leader and servant for many years in the Shaktoolik Covenant Church. Linda has served in many different ways over the years. As church board secretary, Linda became known for keeping meticulous minutes. She is a long-time Sunday school teacher and a ready substitute when called upon. She is an integral part of hosting receptions, especially after funerals. She often does the preparation prior to the events and is one of the last people to leave after cleaning up. According to the nomination document, “She makes it a priority to visit grieving families and is always willing to help with funeral arrangements to prepare. She has always supported youth activities (many of which are region-wide, such as village VBS trips, Youth Rally, and CHIC) and makes herself available to help out where ever she can.”
Transitions Pastor Hugh (Lanette) Forbes completes his service as bi-vocational pastor for Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church on July 30. He and Lanette will be relocating to Anchorage Pastor Bob Curtis will be completing his service as Pastor of Elim Covenant Church on June 27. Dennis (Candace) Weidler concluded his service as general manager of KICY radio station in Nome, AK, in May. Patty Burchell, of Nome, AK, has been hired by the Arctic Broadcasting Association to serve as general manager of KICY radio station in Nome.
6 // the Sinew
The search committee conducted a full search for several months and concluded that Patty was indeed the person to lead KICY for the next season. In addition to the new financial management responsibilities, Patty continues to be on-air, produces the newsletter, engages in fundraising for the station, recruits volunteers and coordinates summer work groups. “Radio can be such an anonymous ministry, so talking to listeners who call in or going to villages to record ‘get- togethers’ and conferences are my favorite part of this job.” Patty shared. “When you do hear from the one or two who have been encouraged or comforted from KICY’s ministry, I receive it as an expression of the many and it gives me joy. It is that human contact that I really appreciate.” “Seasons change, but the work of the Lord remains steadfast. I remember as we looked forward to our last months in Nome and at KICY, I had great confidence that Patty Burchell was a true gift of God,” Dennis Weidler, former general manager, shared. “She has known, understood and appreciated the vision and scope of service to our listeners and the community for over 18 years. Her heart was right, and I applaud the decision of Arctic Broadcasting Association to name her as the new general manager.” With one less person at the station since Dennis’s departure, the current staff is being stretched to cover all the needs, so Patty finds herself now issuing the call for more volunteers: “If you can give us a year, we can teach you radio.”
Weidler Retires After 18-years of Service at KICY (Continued from page 1)
broadcasts. The station also paid off its debt and is financially stable. “It has been a wonderful, blessed journey,” Dennis says. “We are leaving with a great deal more than we brought.” Conference superintendent Curtis Ivanoff said, “Dennis’s energy, vision, and can-do spirit, coupled with his belief that radio can effectively serve to encourage and edify the body of Christ, has helped to guide KICY to a season of fruitfulness. We thank God for the Weidlers and the gift they have been to the body of Christ and the ministry of the Evangelical Covenant Church in Alaska.” “Dennis was the right person at the right time for the Arctic Broadcasting Association— which operates KICY and the radio station,” says Rob Hall, vice president of real-estate services for National Covenant Properties and who previously served as a board member of ABA and continues to serve as an adviser. “His strong-but-quiet leadership style helped to further stabilize the station and staff after a very tumultuous time. He will be missed, but his contributions will ensure that radio station KICY will live on for years to come.” Hall adds that while Dennis’s visionary leadership was key to the station’s turnaround, his other gifts also were crucial. “He is an excellent engineer and fundraiser, but probably his biggest gift is his servant heart. He served not only the radio station, but also Nome Covenant Church, the community of Nome, and countless churches and communities throughout Western Alaska. Dennis is the epitome of a humble, obedient follower of Christ.” The Weidlers now live in Homer, Alaska, which does have roads. Among other things, Dennis expects to set up a studio in his basement and build up his voice-over business again. He also expects to continue to search for new ministry opportunities.
Mat-Su Covenant Church —Oaxaca, Mexico Outreach (Continued from page 2)
schedule to do this. Her answer should not have been a surprise to me, but it was. “Who else is going to do it if Christians don’t? We looked around and realized too many people had their eyes closed to what is going on right in front of them,” she explained. “The government is always letting people down; people with means often choose a favorite project or venture that makes them feel good, but the most needy still go without necessary access to care.” If our hearts can be captivated by the loving kindness of God’s people in remote areas of the world, what would it take to captivate us to address an unmet need somewhere in our own backyard? We had traveled to serve and be an encouragement to missionaries that actively share God’s love in difficult areas. Ironically, we returned home having been encouraged to seek out new ways to share God’s love here. During our mission debriefing, Dave Rose asked, "What is God calling us to do here in the valley?” We are compelled to pray that God opens our eyes to anything we’ve grown so accustomed to, that we fail to see the need and opportunity to be salt and light where it’s needed most.
KICY Radio Pray for these first few months of leadership transition. Pray also for the ongoing ministry to the Russian Far East. For more volunteers and strength for those carrying the load.
Churches seeking pastors Golovin Covenant Church Koyuk Covenant Church White Mountain Covenant Church Elim Covenant Church Hooper Bay Covenant Church Bethel Evangelical Covenant Church Unalakleet Covenant Church
Western Alaska Ministry Training Pray that God would continue to call more men and women to grow in their knowledge of the Bible and how to minister in their own communities as lay leaders or in vocational ministry .
PRAYER MATTERS Take Hold, Lift Strong, Raise High
Superintendent Curtis Ivanoff Curtis will be taking a 6-week sabbatical from June 19-August 1. Pray for a restful time of renewal for him and good time with family as he seeks to “create and re-create”. Pray for conference staff as they carry the extra load during Curtis’ absence. Hope Covenant Church Plant The launch team is being assembled and funds are being raised to begin the launch process in September. Pray for planting pastor Phil Cannon and his family as they prepare for this major life transition. Pray for the Mountain View Community to be prepared and receptive to this new work in their midst.
Covenant Youth of Alaska (CYAK) Pray for the Covenant Bible Camp ministry that is ongoing through the A bi-weekly listing of individual churches can be found on the website. month of June. Pray for the larger CYAK team (in administration as well Email info@alaskacovenant.org if you would like to serve on the as in youth ministry positions). intercessory prayer team for the conference.
Pray without ceasing. 1 Thes. 5:17
Executive Board Members Elected to Serve Three–year Terms Craig Willoya is from Golovin and has worked as a commercial fisherman for many years, as well as hunting and gathering to provide for his family and community. Craig has recently served as the chair of the Golovin Craig Willoya Covenant Church Norton Sound board and continues Representative to serve in that leadership capacity. Craig has participated in Western Alaska Ministry Training over the last few years and has shown care for the life of the body of Christ in Golovin that he would share similarly with the work of the Alaska Conference.
Mary Lola Joe is from Hooper Bay. She has earned a Certificate of Biblical Studies from Indian Bible College in Flagstaff, AZ. Currently Mary Lola serves on the Trail Markers Teen Mary Lola Joe Center board in YK Delta Hooper Bay. Mary Representative Lola moved back home 3 years ago, and through experiences like On Eagles Wings ministry, God has laid on her heart the significance of the call of the Great Commission for her and for the church to make disciples. She desires for people to encounter the restorative power of the gospel in their lives.
Curt is a member of Community Covenant Church in Eagle River and is completing serving his first term on the Executive Board of the Alaska Conference, serving as treasurer. He has served on the Leadership Team of Curt Lindner Community Road System Covenant Church in Representative the recent past. His work experience includes serving as the branch manager for Spenard Builder’s Supply in Palmer for many years. Curt has given great energy to the work of the Alaska Conference as he has a deep care to see the gospel of Jesus advanced throughout Alaska and the world.
Upcoming Events & Dates May 31-June 29 June 22-24 August 2-4 August 23-27 September 7 September 22-24 September 29-October 1
Covenant Bible Camp (Unalakleet) Gather ‘17 (ECC annual meeting conference, Detroit, MI) Pastor & Leader Retreat (Alaska Christian College, Soldotna) Alaska Christian College Orientation Day of Prayer and Fasting for Life & Healing from Pain of Suicide Covenant Women’s Retreat (North Star Bible Camp, Willow) CYAK Young Adult Retreat (Big Lake)
Summer 2016/ 7
NONPROFIT ORG U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANCHORAGE, AK PERMIT NO. 537
Alaska Conference of the Evangelical Covenant Church
Ministry Priorities
Lower Yukon Conference Mountain Village Covenant Church
Congratulations Alaska Christian College Graduates
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
Above: Ashley King, of Anchorage, AK; Jessica Murran, Hooper Bay; Taylar Manson, Kingman, AZ; Allysia Smith, Leupp, AZ; Karly Robertson, Kykotsmovi, AZ; Jennie Powers, Flagstaff, AZ; Breanna Cooper, Kenai, AK; Brandon Andrew, Tuluksak, AK; Justus Eben, Anchorage, AK; Oscar Villasenor, Anchorage, AK; and David Stahlecker, Soldotna, AK. Not pictured: Matthew Williams of Window Rock, AZ. Right: Sean Hoffbeck, Vice president for Operations proudly stands with the two “student of the year� recipients Jessica Murran of Hooper Bay, AK, and Justus Eben of Anchorage, AK. ACC board member, Marlene Watson, poses with students who represent the Navajo nation contingency at ACC. Marlene is originally from Gallup, NM, and is Navajo as well.
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.