Preparing for the Eternal Weight of Glory | galenamissions

Preparing for the Eternal Weight of Glory | galenamissions
Sunday Sermon for June 23rd 2013

Beginning to rebuild

We are beginning to get our feet under us as we process what has happened and how we can best move forward. Over the next two to three weeks we'll be looking to mobilize a couple of small teams to help in the tear out and clean up of homes. The church was largely spared major damage and will be used to house volunteers. 

If you would like to come on a team or organize a team please contact Kim Kopp at galenarebuilders@gmail.com

If you would like to financially contribute you can see the previous post for an avenue that will support the church in relief efforts.

Things you can be praying for:

- safety for Shell and the kids as they travel south for the summer.

- sanity for me as I serve without my family.

- prayer for the body of Christ as we live the Gospel in this situation.

Galena flood relief

As I write this I sit in the church office of Fairhill community church of God in Fairbanks. Undoubtedly many of you have heard of the enormous floods that we've had in Galena. My own home and the church building along with many if not most of the community members homes were damaged by flood waters. Many of you have been asking how you can help. Many of you have asked how you can help in an immediate way. We need funds available to purchase needed things immediately. Would you consider going to www.akmissionconnection.org/galena-relief/

And donating as you feel led. All monies donated will be given to the Galena Bible Church for the use of rebuilding Galena and the community. 

If you have resources or volunteers that you would be willing to donate to use in the restoration process please email

Galenarebuilders@gmail.com

Things you can pray for:

- Safety for those who are still in Galena working.

- Wisdom for my leadership as we try to establish how to best recover.

- That the glory of God would be seen in how believers love this community with the Gospel.

- Pray for me and other men in the church as we return in the next few days to help with the rebuilding process.

 

The LONG Spring

Gassing up for my morning commute to Church.

A good Sunday morning service.

 What a busy, but great month it's been. The first weekend of this month, Galena YoungLife hosted an After-Prom that had a 95% participation from students from both the city school and boarding School. We hosted some of the out of town participants at our home and members from our church helped chaperone the event, and made breakfast for all the kids.

At the same time that was happening, retired Lt Colonel Kent Wong came on a vision trip for a week to learn how to support bush missions. One of the highlights of his trip was to get to go to Huslia with Don and Brenda Ernst. Don pastors the Huslia Community Church and they have been in Huslia for 23 years.

Lt Col. (ret) Kent Wong and I on our way to Huslia.

Pastor Don Ernst calling in our ride on his Satellite phone.

Our Taxi arrived

Our Sister Church in Huslia. Huslia Community Church.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 We were able to attend their church service (which they do on Sunday evenings). And get a tour of Huslia. Don shared about how they've become a part of the community, and his vision to see missionaries in the other villages of the Koyukuk River system. They're church of 35 is busting at the seams and they will be adding onto the log church building this Summer.

No joke...this was missionaries Don and Brenda Ernst's first house in Huslia. They used to get a sheet of ice build up inside the house during the winter.

Chris "shopping" at the "mini-mall" (next to the city dumpster, not to be confused with the "mall" which is the city dump.)

 Mother's Day Sunday was our last Sunday with the students before they left. We spent about a third of the service praying for the students. Many are returning to places where there is no Gospel witness. Our charge to them was that they would be so empowered by the Holy Spirit that they would begin to lead Bible studies and share their faith in their own communities.  This past Friday was graduation and Saturday was the mad rush of planes flying the 160 dorm students back to all corners of Alaska.

As of right now, the Yukon river has not broken up. If the river does not break before May 26th, it will be the latest break-up since records have been kept (100 years). This is delaying our drift wood harvest which we need to get for the boiler that we will be installing in the church this Summer.

Things you can be praying for:

• Pray for the Students that Galena Bible Church has invested in over the last year. Pray that young believers would be protected from the temptations and dangers that exist for many of them.
• Pray that the river breakup would be uneventful. Pray for the Village of Eagle that flooded late last week. 
• Pray for Brad and Madeline Fox (SEND Missionaries) who will be returning to Galena at the beginning of June from a home service.
• Pray for Martin and Silke Hornfischer (SEND Missionaries) as they travel to Germany for the summer months and work through their Visa renewal. Pray that they'll be able to smoothly transition back to Galena from their home service.

Got Dirt?: The parable of the sower

Got Dirt?: The parable of the sower

Women of Noble Character

Women of Noble Character
Mother's Day Sermon at the Galena Bible Church. Sunday May 12th.

Your Story: The MetaNarative of God

Your Story: The MetaNarative of God