Of Kindom building and chickens.

Matthew 4:17  From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." 

Hold still.

We just recently (like 8 weeks ago) got 6 baby chicks that we are raising to have as laying chickens for eggs. This is mostly because Shell wanted to have them, and thought it would be fun for the kids. It is also because a dozen eggs at the store costs about $9. I have yet to determine if these eggs are going to be cheaper than the stores eggs after paying to heat their coop when it gets to -70 next winter. (I am praying diligently that we won't see those temps for several more winters.) Right now though, the chickens are simply consumers. They don't give anything back. They just eat. They eat a lot. I mean really, I've been really impressed by the amount they can consume. Too immature to produce something usable, yet the potential is there. However, if October comes and we don't start having some eggs show up in the roost, we're going to have 6 fryer chickens in the freezer, 800lbs of chicken feed for sale, and a new play house for the kids. The goal of chickens is maturity: either mature egg layers, or fat plump fried chicken. Either one is acceptable in my sight. I will accomplish my goal and plan one way or the other.

How do you build a coop that stays warm with just a light bulb?

That’s kind of what I have observed God doing in rural Alaska. There have been small pockets of believers that have popped up in different areas of the state. They either matured into fruit producing churches, or they’ve dried up. Either one is, I believe ultimately God’s plan. He makes, grows, feeds, uses, and ultimately ends movements in His Kingdom. His will is going to be done, and His plans will be accomplished. Thanks be to God that He is long-suffering, patient, compassionate, and just. Galena Bible Church has seen days of immaturity. A season where there was no evidence of Kingdom work, or growth going on. We have, by God’s grace, been in a season of harvest and maturing. 

This past week we had the privilege of seeing my niece and nephew be baptized in the Yukon. They have both been believers for several years, but both came to the understanding of baptism as something they needed to do publicly. About 20 people gathered on the north bank of the Yukon (which is a very cold river) to witness the baptism. I shared the story of the understanding of baptism in the Ethiopian eunuch, and my brother Jason baptized his daughter and son as his sister and brother in Christ!
 






 
 Our community experienced a tragedy this past weekend. Friday night a fire broke out in a home in Galena and claimed 2 lives. Our local radio station general manager and his wife are believed to be the two bodies found in the rubble. Most of the men from the church showed up to fight the fire, along with many others from the community. In great tragedy there is a community togetherness that is present and a blessing to see.  You can read more about it at the Anchorage Daily News site HERE.


Things you can pray for:

• Pray for those directly effected by the lose of these community members.
• Pray that God would give opportunities for the Bible Church to show the love of Christ in these trials. 
• Pray for Martin & Silke Hornfischer as they travel with 40 teens to to Warrior Leadership Summit in MO.
• Pray for Gunner & Adrian Johnson as they lead the camps at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp for the next 5 weeks starting this week. 

Maturity: The Aim of a Disciple Week 4

The Lord Judges the Heart
James 2:1-13

Listening Guide
PowerPoint
Sermon MP3

Maturity: The Aim of a Disciple Week 3

An Honest look at yourself
James 1:19-27

Listening Guide
PowerPoint
Sermon MP3

Maturity: The Aim of a Disciple Week 2

Keep your eye on the prize
James 1:9-18

Listening Guide
PowerPoint
Sermon MP3

Maturity: The Aim of a Disciple Week 1

The book of James has been called the Proverbs of the New Testament. It was also written to the church that was "scattered" abroad, much in the same way that Galena Bible Church is scattered during the Summer months. Over the coarse of the Summer Brad Fox and Chris Kopp will be preaching through this book of the God's Word. We invite you to download the .mp3 of the sermon (if there is one) and follow along with the listener guide. 

May the Lord mature you thought this study.

Study guide
Power point with answers

Summer has come!

I have yet, after 18 months, to cease amazement at the pace of life that exists in this village. Since our last post the list of events that has taken place would make for quite a few posts: Prom, Graduation, students leaving for home, family visiting, birthday parties, good buy potlucks, and on and on the list could go. And as usual the pace has not slowed just changed. Now is the time that we have 23 hours of daylight so outside projects are if full swing.

This past weekend we held a Bi-Annual SEND North Interior Team Retreat (or at least that's what I'll call it.) We took three boats down river for a picnic and had a great time of fellowship. Then on Saturday we met for planning and vision casting for the following six months. In attendance were the three SEND families that live in Galena, the SEND couple that pastor the church in Husila, and the two SEND team leader families (myself and my brother).

We (Brad Fox and Myself) will be preaching through the book of James over the summer. I am attempting to record the sermons and post them on this blog with a listener's guide. If you are so inclined, please feel free to listen to the sermon and look at the guide. This is a trial run for us as we are seeking ways to use these resources to connect with other villages that do not currently have churches planted in them, and also as a way to stay connected with students who return home from Galena. Any feedback from this would be greatly appreciated, or any ideas and resources that you have to put towards this project would be welcomed as well.
More posts to follow soon.
Blessings,
Chris Kopp

The Power of God

River ice pushed onto the bank.

 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. For the word of the cross is folly to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
(1Co 1:17-18)

Watching the river break up in Galena is an unbelievable event. Like watching the Northern Lights, or gazing  off into the billions of unobstructed stars, one feels very small on the bank of the Yukon when the ice goes out. You watch as a block of ice the size of a small cabin flips end over end as a sheet of ice the size of a small neighborhood pushes it down the river. Black spruce that has been calved off by the passing ice is stripped of limb and bark and can be snapped like a blade of dry grass in your hand. As you peer over the edge of the bank and feel the ice shake the ground  beneath your feet you cannot help but say, "This is amazing power!" And steadily it flows. The water rises and falls. The ice may dam up, but nothing stops it. Eventually it will break and it will flow. Year after year, season after season, break up after break up.

And so it is with the working of the Gospel in the lives of God's sons and daughters. The river may rip a tree from the ground, but the Gospel calves an addiction from the soul of a man. The ice may jam in the river, but the Gospel changes the course of an abused woman's life. And we dear friends get to be a part in the never ceasing flow of the grace, mercy, and love of Christ through the working of the Gospel in and through our lives. What a privilege! WHAT AMAZING POWER!!!!

As you are guessing from the above picture and videos. The ice broke in Galena on the Friday the 11th at 6:30am. The Lord honored your and our prayers and there was now significant ice jam down river. On Saturday my parents arrived in Galena for my niece's graduation. We are excited to get to be with them until the 1st of June.

For Mother's Day Galena Bible Church had 83 people in attendance!! It was a very bitter/sweet day because it is the last Sunday for our teens as they shall be returning to their homes starting at 6am this coming Saturday. Many will return to villages were there is no Gospel presence whatsoever. Many will be returning to environments that are at best indifferent and at worst hostile to their life of following Christ. Pray for them.

I had the privilege of doing a vow renewal for Martin and Silke Hornfischer during the service on Mother's day. This Thursday will be their 10th anniversary. My sermon was on Song of Solomon 5:16 "This is my beloved and this is my friend". The Hornfischers have become some of our very good friends, and it was such an honor to participate with them in renewing their covenant to each other. So many of our students come from broken homes and broken families. What a testimony of the work of the Gospel! WHAT AMAZING POWER!!!!

Things you can pray for:

• This week is Graduation: Pray for the young believers who will be making life decisions in the coming months. 
• GBC is hosting a graduate BBQ for out of town students. Pray that all of the logistics come together, and that and we are able to make great connections with families from other villages. 
• Pray for all the students as they return home to uncertainty. Pray that the believers here would have opportunity to love and influence them before they leave, as many will not return next school year.