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.

This comprehensive and illustrated volume is both a rich history of the Catholic Church in Alaska, and the autobiography of Fr. Louis Renner, S.J., who was a dedicated missionary in Alaska for 40 years. He tells here a compelling story of a full and fascinating life in service of the people and the Church of Alaska amid the incredible natural beauties, challenging elements and vast regions of the Great Land. Beautifully interweaving the history of the people and Church in Alaska, Fr. Renner tells his story of a dedicated missionary priest who loved the people he served. A scholar, a teacher, and always a Jesuit priest, he taught German and Latin at the University of Alaska Fairbanks, edited the Catholic newsletter The Alaskan Shepherd, and ran missions at two different Indian villages on the Yukon River. This pastoral priest became a friend to people in all sectors of Alaskan society. Tony Knows, the governor of Alaska, even presented him with the "Governor's Award for Friend of the Humanities". The outline of Fr. Renner's life is fleshed-out richly in A Kindly Providence. One reviewer writes that "all is there, a clear picture of his life. Renner is a very good writer- technically competent and very interesting. He kept this reader's interest throughout the 500-plus page book. I really wanted to see how it ended." Another writes: "Once I started to read it, I couldn't put it down. I had to finish it." Rich in detail, this book is a wonderful testimony to a model life of a happy priest in the twentieth century. The book is based, not only on Fr. Renner's remarkable memory, but also on his personal diaries and correspondence, on official documents, and on accounts written by him of his unusual adventures during over forty years in Alaska. Substantial quotes from diaries, letters, and official documents give readers a feeling of being actually present at those events in far-off places. The many photographs illustrating the narrative lend an air of immediacy and give us a vicarious experience of the author's personal life.

Christian mission involves God, the missionary, and the other, the recipient of mission. This book argues for the centrality of this other in the practice of mission. The other as child of God is presented, not as an empty vessel waiting to be filled, but as the one who draws near to the missionary. Both are sent by God, and together they enter into the journey towards God. Drawing on Scripture, contemporary missiology, and phenomenology, the book argues for the importance of this often neglected other and demonstrates through historical case studies involving Saint Ignatius of Loyola, William Carey, and Saint Innocent of Alaska that the recognition of the gift of the other has always been present in Christian mission and can continue to inspire.

A collection of true stories from the life and ministry of Alan L. Pearce. At the time these incidents took place Pearce, a former soldier, had left a 15 year career as a policeman to become his childhood dream...a pilot missionary to Alaska. In these stories he gives glimpses of the lives and the world of people he meets and the faithfulness of God. he serves in meeting their needs. Lessons about getting along when life happens, told with humor and insight by a man who is willing to learn as well as to teach. Lessons from the Native American community as well as homesteaders and more. A good encouraging read...from the life an Alaskan missionary.

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.

Don Ernst shares 27 years of missionary experience in the Alaskan bush through stories of bush lifestyle and ministry, and through tragic events mixed with moments of triumph, laughter, and grief. With these stories come lessons for life and lessons for spiritual growth.

This definitive work, the crown jewel in the distinguished career of Russian America scholar Lydia T. Black, presents a comprehensive overview of the Russian presence in Alaska. Drawing on extensive archival research and employing documents only recently made available to scholars, Black shows how Russian expansion was the culmination of centuries of social and economic change. Black s work challenges the standard perspective on the Russian period in Alaska as a time of unbridled exploitation of Native inhabitants and natural resources. Without glossing over the harsher aspects of the period, Black acknowledges the complexity of relations between Russians and Native peoples. She chronicles the lives of ordinary men and women the merchants and naval officers, laborers and clergy who established Russian outposts in Alaska. These early colonists carried with them the Orthodox faith and the Russian language; their legacy endures in architecture and place names from Baranof Island to the Pribilofs. This deluxe volume features fold-out maps and color illustrations of rare paintings and sketches from Russian, American, Japanese, and European sources many have never before been published. An invaluable source for historians and anthropologists, this accessible volume brings to life a dynamic period in Russian and Alaskan history. A tribute to Black s life as a scholar and educator, "Russians in Alaska" will become a classic in the field."

Summarizes the research conducted in Alaska from 1982 to 1984 on Christian missions based on the "Christian understanding of the nature of revelation and the meaning of salvation."