
There I sat peering out my window as my youngest boy looked out with wonder and some sadness at leaving this place with fond memories from yet another trip out here. My family and I continue trips to Bethel where I teach classes at the Alaska Bible Seminary. After living in this hub community and doing these routine teaching trips, my heart truly is drawn to these people and their way of life. I deeply treasure my time with my friends and dear brothers and sisters in Christ out here.
What grips my heart is the colossal needs and level of brokenness in Bethel and the surrounding villages. When I read the apostle Paul’s letters and sense his zealous passion for the believers and churches from his previous and ongoing ministry involvement locations, I can keenly relate. I pray along with the spirit of Paul that our God penetrates this area more deeply with the Gospel. There is so much heartache from neglect, abuse, addictions, discouragement, and loss. There is so much dead religion in people who think they’re saved, but who are not. There is so much need for discipleship. I pray that God would break through the dead religion in the spirit of Galatians, that He would gloriously redeem a sin-broken people in the spirit of Corinthians, that He would further open believers’ hearts to the wonder of their redemption in the spirit of Ephesians, that He would set captives free from demonic strongholds in the spirit of Colossians, that He would inspire more to fix their eyes on the hope of the coming King in the spirit of Thessalonians, that He would motivate more to zealous mission in the spirit of Romans, and that He would ignite a generosity and perseverance come what may in the spirit of Philippians.
And so I sit here writing my thoughts once again as I watch the tundra of the YK-Delta disappear below, and it feels as though my heart is ripped from me. Please if you read this, pray that our God will indeed bring revival to the Yupik people of Alaska.
Finally, my thoughts are directed out the front of the plane to our dear friends from our church in Soldotna and the many who are trapped in the brokenness of sin on our state’s road system. Anticipation builds as we are engaged in several exciting ministries from our church in the coming weeks.
So, again whoever reads this, thank you for your time. If you’ve been praying for us and Alaska, thank you.
Keep praying!
And please fix your eyes on Jesus and may His grace and peace truly be with you.
Standing for our Gap Stander and Ascribing Glory to Him,
- Derek
* Hell Defeated * Redemption Secured * Mission Embraced