Alaska Village Missions: The First 50 Years is a story of a man and his family seeking the will of God. Pastor Ray Arno left the small church he pastored in Wisconsin and made his way to the Alaskan frontier. Arno’s original intent was to serve in villages of Alaska, to see the Gospel message spread by whatever means possible. However, God had another plan in mind and would soon being to bring about the construction and birth of a Bible school in Homer, Alaska. Initially, God’s plan seemed to be a great struggle; however, as they patiently continued the work God had called them to, he provided resources, help, and the determination to stay the course. The stories and events that followed would not only stretch his faith and shock him, but they would also indelibly show off the power of the living God. God’s power remains in effect with Alaska Bible Institute, founded in 1965, and its parent organization, Alaska Village Mission, founded in ’64. Our hope in sharing this story is that it may bless, encourage, challenge, and inspire you to respond to the call God has for your life.

Collection of documents illustrating the spirituality of the Alaskan orthodox missionaries. Includes letters of St. Herman, writings of St. Innocent, reports from lesser known parish clergy, and diary excerpts. Introduced by an informative historical essay.

Alaska is home to more than two hundred federally recognized tribes. Yet the long histories and diverse cultures of Alaska’s first peoples are often ignored, while the stories of Russian fur hunters and American gold miners, of salmon canneries and oil pipelines, are praised. Filled with essays, poems, songs, stories, maps, and visual art, this volume foregrounds the perspectives of Alaska Native people, from a Tlingit photographer to Athabascan and Yup’ik linguists, and from an Alutiiq mask carver to a prominent Native politician and member of Alaska’s House of Representatives. The contributors, most of whom are Alaska Natives, include scholars, political leaders, activists, and artists. The majority of the pieces in The Alaska Native Reader were written especially for the volume, while several were translated from Native languages. The Alaska Native Reader describes indigenous worldviews, languages, arts, and other cultural traditions as well as contemporary efforts to preserve them. Several pieces examine Alaska Natives’ experiences of and resistance to Russian and American colonialism; some of these address land claims, self-determination, and sovereignty. Some essays discuss contemporary Alaska Native literature, indigenous philosophical and spiritual tenets, and the ways that Native peoples are represented in the media. Others take up such diverse topics as the use of digital technologies to document Native cultures, planning systems that have enabled indigenous communities to survive in the Arctic for thousands of years, and a project to accurately represent Dena’ina heritage in and around Anchorage. Fourteen of the volume’s many illustrations appear in color, including work by the contemporary artists Subhankar Banerjee, Perry Eaton, Erica Lord, and Larry McNeil.

Popular author and speaker Archpriest Michael J. Oleksa has spent most of his life serving the Church in Alaska and advocating for the Native populations there. But he has also had many adventures in other parts of the world. The unifying thread in all his experiences is the providence of God, leading him, providing for him, and guiding him through miracles large and small. In this collection of reminiscences, Fr. Michael relates story after story of the wondrous love and mercy of God working in his life and the lives his ministry has touched. His faith and enthusiasm are contagious.

Take off with the pioneers in missionary aviation and learn about the vision and impact of fifty years of flying around the world. Learn how Nate Saint helped usher in modern mission flying as he brought the gospel to the Auca tribe of Ecuador. Meet Betty Greene, the first pilot for Mission Aviation Fellowship. Follow the dream of Paul Robinson, the pastor-pilot who founded Moody Aviation, the aviation program that trains one-half of the world's missionary pilots.