Alaska
The Land and the
People
Alaska, meaning “Great Land,” is a land of mystery and beauty, one-fifth the size of the continental USA. Amid the wonder of the “Great Land,” there remains a great need to share Jesus Christ among the urban and rural populations and in the bush villages of Alaska.
Religion
See column at right.
Past and Current
Work
Baptist Mid-Missions entered Alaska in 1949 with the ministry of Miss Violet Able. A missionary couple began the first church-planting ministry in Homer in 1950. Since those early days, churches have been established in 13 communities.
Currently, Baptist Mid-Missions has six mission works in the following locations: Anchorage, Big Lake, Eagle Creek, Juneau, Peters Creek, and in the bush village of Iliamna. A prison ministry is also being conducted.
Goals
Challenges
As of 2002, the Alaska Field Council had 17 missionaries and one active retired couple. The Alaska Field Council operates separately from the North America Field Council due to geographic and cultural distance.
Reaching the bush of Alaska presents the greatest challenge to missions in the next several years. A special call of God is required to this slow, often isolated, and difficult ministry. These villages may never support an indigenous church, yet the gospel must be proclaimed to them.
Southeast Alaska is also needy. Amphibious planes have been used in the past to reach the many logging camps and villages in this region. However, at this time no missionary pilot is available for this ministry.
Most of the population centers on the road system now have established works. However, Anchorage and Fairbanks have the potential to support another church plant.
Workers needed
Church planters are needed to reach out to people in Alaska's population centers and bush regions.