Church Events
"Rough Around the Edges" Outreach A Success
By Pastor Nicholson
Dec 10, 2007, 09:17

The back drop for the Native Alaskan Moravian Outreach lies in the heart of God, according to Pastor William Nicholson.  He has felt for several years that there is a need for a significant Native outreach to lthe valley area.  He is glad that this outreach is happening during Christmas time as a special gift to the Alaskan Native people living in the Mananuska Valley.  God wants to show his love, his comfort, his direction and encouagment to people who need Jesus Christ.

Following is a clip from the 1st Sunday of Advent insert placed in the bulletin of the AncMC:  In the heart of God is a desire to use the Anchorage Moravian Church leadership and lay leaders to reach other Native people for Christ.  It is in that spirit that the Elders of the Anchorage Moravian Church are supporting exploration of an outreach ministry to the Wasilla area.  Pastor Nicholson, Leon Kiana, and the Moravian Choir will be heading up a special “Ingathering Event” at the Valley Harvest Church located on the Wassila/Palmer Highway.   This open-ended Holy Spirit event scheduled for December 8, 2007, 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM will feature singers, testimonies, and the Word of God. 

It is felt that this outreach will inspire and encourage believers to pray and support another move of God, possibly a new church plant.  Admittedly God did not instill in us a desire for status quo.  Think about it.  George Barna in his book, “The Power of Vision” says, “Organizations, people or movements that strive to maintain the same set of activities and performance level over time.  They lack excitement.  They are incapable of inspiring and activating people.  They fail to have a growing impact upon society.  In fact, because the rest of the world is making progress and seeking to grow, the status quo group actually loses ground by seeking to remain in the same place.”

God is not satisfied with us remaining in the same place!  If we move forward in faith, invest our energies into seeking further growth by mothering another church, God will bless us further as a Church in Anchorage, Alaska.  Our faith will be stretched and we will together do things we have never done before.  As we move forward believing, God will help us to break through barriers we never thought possible.

Valley Harvest Church – located at Mile 2 of the Palmer/Wasilla Highway.  (Go to Palmer and turn left on Palmer/Wasilla and drive 2 miles.  Church is on the right.)

Results of the Outreach are significant:

1.  A church has opened up in the valley that is interested in supporting a Native Outreach ministry, but we will need to research this more and seek God's Will.

2.  Although this event was advertised just six days earlier, almost 60 people showed up for the first-time two hour Outreach event.  A Native man from the Palmer area stood up and stated the following:  "I don't have a testimony or song, but I want to say this.  I am glad that you are here.  There is a need for a Native Fellowship Group up there.  Thank you for coming".

3.  A message was given by Lay man, Leon Kiana, on forgiveness.  As a result one women was convicted and gave her testimony the following night at AncMC evening service on December 9, 2007.

4.  Almost $300 was given as offerings which is seed money for a continuing outreach to the Valley.

5.  Another testimony from the Outreach:  "I was glad I attended the outreach.  There was a tremendous sense of peace in this beautiful church"

7.  A tremendous amount of appreciation was shown by the people who attended the gathering for the Valley Harvest leadership who provided this church for AncMC use on December 8, 2007.  Also Pastor Nicholson thanks all the members and supporters of the AncMC - the musicians, testimony sharers, prayer warriors, etc. for showing up and offering their support and gifts of ministry.

Please continue to pray for "Rough Around the Edges" Outreach.  At this time it seems appropriate that we should plan services in the Valley at least once a month.  The next one may be scheduled for January 12, 2008, at 6:30 PM.