Alaska Missions Banquet

The Alaska Ministry Network gathered at the Sheraton on Monday Night to bring an emphasis on Alaska Missions and Hispanic Ministries. The fellowship was rich.

Sister Phyllis Fenstermaker served in St. Michael for 35 years. She served faithfully and with great fruit in her ministry. She was honored tonight for her service, and she spoke, exhorting us that ministry to the villages must continue to burn brightly.

Sister Fenstermaker passed the baton of ministry in St. Michael to Brian and Linda Staub. The Staubs are US Missionaries who have been assigned to St. Michael. It was a powerful moment to have Sister Fenstermaker, who has given so many years of faithful service to St. Michael, on the same platform as the Staubs, as she blessed their ministry. Brian and Linda will be able to build upon the solid foundation of the past. They have been serving at Native Assembly and have made several trips out to St. Michael for ministry already. The people of St. Michael are very excited to receive them, and we are excited to see what God will do through them. They begin in July.

Hispanic Ministries is the primary focus of this year's Alaska Missions Banquet. There are an estimated 38,000 Hispanics living in the Anchorage area. We are looking at several different avenues in which we can partner to bring the Gospel to Hispanics in Alaska.

Dr. Roger Ovalle, the Assistant Superintendent of the Northern Pacific Latin American District, addressed the Network. NPLAD is very interested in planting Hispanic churches in Anchorage, and we are excited to network with them.

Anchorage First AG is going to plant a Hispanic Church, and will be utilizing Gil and Rosi Nantes, who are a part of Anchorage First Assembly. Gil is from Brazil and speaks four languages.

Sammy Rodriguez was the keynote speaker at the banquet. He did an excellent job at highlighting the need for ministry to Hispanics.