Alaska
Bringing Christ’s message of saving grace to people in Alaskan villages through congregational worship, radio, and aviation.
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Give
Learn about where you can help financially in Alaska.
serve
Apply to serve in Alaska for a summer.
Missionaries
We have three missionaries families that serve Naknek and surrounding villages.
Pastor Jeff and Jane Swanson
Pastor, Naknek
Pastor Jeff and Jane Swanson have served in Naknek, AK, since September 2007. The Swanson's have six children.
Pastor Jeff and Jane Swanson both grew up in North Central Kansas. Pastor Swanson earned his B.A. degree from Bethany College and graduated from the Association of Free Lutheran Seminary in 1986. He served congregations in Kalispell, MT, and Newark, IL. In 2007, Pastor Swanson accepted a call to serve the two congregations at Naknek, Alaska.
Pastor Swanson and his family have endeared themselves to the community through their humble service. Please keep them in your prayers.
Where is Naknek?
Naknek, AK is located on the north bank of the Naknek River near it's mouth on Bristol Bay. It is approximately 300 miles SW of Anchorage and only accessible by boat or air. It is on a part of the peninsula that has only 15 miles of paved road. The local economy is almost entirely based on salmon fishing, and seats one of the largest commercial salmon fishing areas in the world.
Where there is no road
The state of Alaska is one-fifth the size of the lower forty-eight states and two and one-half times the size of Texas. Yet, it has less than 700,000 people. About one-third of the population lives in Anchorage, which gives you a perspective of how much remote there is in the state. Virtually all the roads are in the eastern half of the state, with only a few short segments of road in the western half.
Transporting the Word
The airplane provides quick and often the only access to over 150 villages in SW Alaska. Some of these small villages have no mission presence; others have chapel buildings that sit empty. The Free Lutheran Association of Pilot Supporters (FLAPS) is partnering to provide transportation for our Alaskan missionaries.
ways to be involved
There are a few ways you can support the mission in Alaska. Below you will find areas were you can help in a unique way.
Alaska Gift Registry
Our Alaska missionaries have limited access, and their remote location often brings up needs for unique items.
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Quilts
The missionaries are able to deliver quilts to closed villages and are welcomed there solely because of the quilts. They have also used quilts to share with fishermen that come during the summer season.
Learn More
