Alaska is home to over 100,000 Native peoples. Tribes include the Aleut (Unangan), Alitiiq, Athabascan, Eyak, Haida, Inupiaq Eskimo, Tlingit, Tsimsian and Yupik Eskimo. Conditions of ministry in Alaska are challenging in villages due to the climate and isolation. There are over 100 villages where there is no evangelical church. The gospel still needs to penetrate the most remote parts of Alaska.
Given a history that has often been at odds with the message of the gospel, we seek to serve communities in ways that break down cultural barriers. Building trust through listening and seeking to understand the deep-seated beliefs about God and His love are focuses that are required to continue to impact First Nations people. People groups we are serving include Chilcotin, Shuswap, Okanagan, Beaver, Cree, Blackfoot, Stoney and others.
For many immigrants, there is the freedom to talk about the gospel in a new country that is often dangerous overseas. Christians and churches are seeing the opportunity to build personal relationships and share the gospel. Opportunities to teach English, provide an understanding of ‘Canadian culture’ and being hospitable all help to break stereotypes and impact people. We are presently serving among Punjabi and Arabic-speaking peoples.
The vast expanse of Siberia is home to over 4 million native peoples. While atheism is still pervasive today, many still hold to their traditional religions of Shamanism, Animism and Buddhism, paying homage to various spirits and venerating ancestors. There are still thousands of villages and population points where people have never even heard the gospel of Jesus Christ proclaimed.
Since the fall of the Soviet Union, there has been church growth in the Russian urban centers. Our Siberia team desires to disciple and partner with Russians to see them disciple and plant churches among the unreached people groups of Siberia. Evangelism, teaching, and discipleship are vital to moving ministry forward and serving among Russian churches.
