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Comments from Alaska by Pastor Howard Marshall
Home again in Kansas
City, Kansas
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Click here
to watch a video of Ray Boltz singing "Thank You" to
Billy & Ruth Graham on YouTube.com. |
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 Introducing
Pastor Austin Jones and his wife Jennifer!
God has answered prayer and Yukon Delta
Assembly of God now has a full-time pastor,
the Rev. Austin Jones. Austin &
Jennifer have a young son, Aiden, and moved
to Emmonak about September 1, 2007.
Originally from Pennsylvania, they are not
strangers to the Yukon Delta of Alaska --
they came out as volunteers to work with
Camp Agaiutim Nune (Camp AN) -- I first met
them in 2005. Please pray with Marge
and me that God will bless their ministry in
Emmonak and give them many friends among the
residents of the village. Pray also
that God will keep them through the times of
discouragement that will come during the
dark winter days. Their e-mail address
is
austinjones@usmissions.org. You
will find their website at
http://www.austinjones.org - look in the
Photos file and you'll see Aiden.
"And how can
they preach unless they are sent? As it is
written, 'How beautiful are the feet of
those who bring good news!' " Romans
10:15 NIV |
 Remember
the children’s program on television
years ago called the Mickey Mouse Club?
Their signoff song was something like
what I am going through in preparing to
leave Emmonak, Alaska!
"Now it’s time
to say goodbye to all our company"
... my church friends, my about-town
friends, young ones and the older ones.
I hate to say goodbye to Emmonak,
Alaska, but that time will be Tuesday,
August 28, 2007! It is not “so
long” right now but I wanted to get this
"comment" taken care of. I
know the majority of the population here
will never see these words, but they
come as a heartfelt expression of my
love and appreciation for all they did
for me this past summer. It has been
one of those experiences of a lifetime
arriving here before the Yukon River did
its annual thing, called breakup!
Watching the families get excited about
getting back on the river, preparing to
go to their “fish camps,” generally
several miles up-river or maybe even
down-river, but most everyone gets
involved. And…now seeing the grasses
starting to turn brown, willow tree
(shrubs) leaves turning a golden yellow.
Most of the birds have headed south for
the winter. About all that remain
here on the delta are the sea gulls,
crows and ravens.
God has been doing great things in
the lives of these friends of mine.
He has brought our church closer, though
we have not had the crowds that maybe
Billy Graham would have had, but with
God it doesn’t matter the size as long
as we gather in the Name of Jesus to
lift His name higher, to magnify His
name. You do remember, don’t you? Here
is some scripture support for Bible
study. “… The word has gone forth
from My mouth in righteousness and will
not turn back, that to Me
every
knee will bow,
every tongue will swear allegiance. They
will say of Me, `Only in the LORD are
righteousness and strength.' Men will
come to Him.
(Isaiah 45:23-24 NASB)
Paul the apostle writes it this way…
"that at the name of Jesus
EVERY
KNEE SHOULD BOW,
of those who are in heaven, and on
earth, and under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.
Romans 14:10-11 (NASB). Let’s
have one more “…Therefore also God
highly exalted Him, and bestowed on Him
the name which is above every name, that
at the name of Jesus
EVERY
KNEE SHOULD BOW,
of those who are in heaven, and on
earth, and under the earth, and that
every tongue should confess that Jesus
Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the
Father.”
Philippians 2:9-11 (NASB).
Several have prayed what we call "the
sinner's prayer" and need to be
encouraged in their walk with the Lord.
I believe those who attend the Yukon
Delta Assembly of God will be a source
of help to them. In my final service I
will be dedicating 2 babies and 3
smaller children to the Lord. These
Eskimo babies are the sweetest little
jewels you would ever want to hold!!
I want to say to my family and
friends how much I have appreciated your
love, your prayers and financial support
for this my final trip to Alaska to
minister. Regrets? Only that I did not
learn sooner of the urgent need for
pastors in Native churches throughout
Alaska. Just recently there have
been two more missionary families added
to the work in this great State of
Alaska. Missionary Terry and Deanna
Hull, with
Voice to the Village, and
Missionary Pastor Austin Jones and his
wife Jennifer and son Aiden. The Joneses
will be the new pastoral couple here at
YDA/G in Emmonak, which does make it
easier for me to leave.
Perhaps God would call you IF you
would make yourself available to Him!
This is what He wants from each one of
us. That availability! Are you ready to
say “…anywhere Lord you may lead?”
To your children? To your family?
To your neighbors? The songwriter
said it well in “Anywhere with
Jesus”…look at the words:
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go /
Anywhere He leads me in this world
below;
Anywhere without Him dearest joys would
fade \ Anywhere with Jesus I am not
afraid.
Anywhere! Anywhere! Fear I cannot know \
Anywhere with Jesus I can safely go.
Find an old hymnal look up this old song
and sing in once again and mean it with
all of your heart!
Now, to my friends in Emmo, my prayer
for you is found in I Timothy 2:1-8 ...
it was written by the Apostle Paul.
| First of all, then, I
urge that entreaties and
prayers, petitions and
thanksgivings, be made on
behalf of all men, for kings
and all who are in
authority, in order that we
may lead a tranquil and
quiet life in all godliness
and dignity. This is
good and acceptable in the
sight of God our Savior, who
desires all men to be saved
and to come to the knowledge
of the truth. For there is
one God, and one mediator
also between God and men,
the man Christ Jesus, who
gave Himself as a ransom for
all, the testimony borne at
the proper time.
And for this I was appointed
a preacher and an apostle (I
am telling the truth, I am
not lying) as a teacher of
the Gentiles in faith and
truth. Therefore I
want the men in every place
to pray, lifting up holy
hands, without wrath and
dissension. |
And…now it is time for me to say
“Goodbye” to all of my Alaska friends,
those in Emmonak and in Anchorage. Just
stay faithful in your love and service
to Jesus Christ our Savior, who gave
Himself for each one of us! WE
WILL MEET AGAIN WHERE THERE WILL BE NO
MORE GOODBYES!
20-Aug-07 |
.
|
 It
will soon be 3 months since my arrival in
Emmonak to work with the Yu’pik Eskimos and the
Yukon Delta Assembly of God Church! The Yukon
River was still frozen over and the annual
breakup only a few days away. Now, it seems like
all of a sudden it will soon be time to leave.
This morning I was looking out over the village
and noticed the grasses are beginning to turn
brown, the fireweed is still in bloom but in the
process of dying off. The willow “trees” will
soon begin losing their leaves, the weather
getting cooler because “summer” is almost over!
Folks are beginning to
return from their summer vacations and a few
will still leave for a couple of weeks before
school starts. In a few weeks the final barges
will come in with the winter’s supply of fuel,
building supplies, and other products that must
come in before the freeze-up of the river. Along
with this activity comes the repairing and
servicing the snow machines, berry picking,
moose hunting, dragging in logs, cutting them
into firewood. Me? I won’t be around for the
winter but will be back in the Kansas City area
with family and friends. One of the things I
“missed” in being gone was the hot summer days
in that part of the country. This did make me
feel very sad to have missed it! NOT!
I've met many of the
Emmonak residents and among them was one who did
not want to work or at least he said he looked
for work but nothing ever happened because the
employers kept looking into his past. I didn't
ask what they found or what he was trying to
hide, but what I kept "harping on" was that he
needed to work and earn money to keep himself
from going hungry. This is the lot of mankind
since the fall of Adam and Eve back in the
beginning! Like it or not, we all must do our
part in providing for our families, meaning
work!
Remember your first paying
job? Mine takes me back about 65 years. Mom kept
insisting that I get a job. I was 10 or 11 years
of age and I found a job mowing a big yard for
$0.50 a week with a push mower (it didn’t have
an engine on it either). Doing it successfully
led me to other lawns to mow. The depression era
was almost over and WWII had begun and finding
work was hard for a barefooted, shirtless kid in
"overhauls." I learned early to appreciate the
money I earned. I learned early to tithe on what
I earned.
Now back to the idea of the
work God has given me to do. It has been a great
joy to be back in Emmonak. It has been an
interesting time in my life. A time of sincere
evaluation knowing that my “productive” years
may
be almost over (I'm remembering that Moses was
80 years old for his second phase of life).
Work has been a major part of my life, while
endeavoring to do, to be, and to say what the
Lord would have me do, be, and say. Folks, I may
slow down, but I don't plan to "rust out"!
Paul’s admonition to the
Church of Thessalonica was simply “…For
even when we were with you, we used to give you
this order: if anyone will not work, neither let
him eat. For we hear that some among you
are leading an undisciplined life, doing no work
at all, but acting like busybodies. II
Thessalonians. 3:10-11 (NASB)
The hymn writer said it
well…
"WE’LL
WORK, TILL JESUS COMES, WE’LL WORK!”
3-Aug-07 |
 "So
let the sun shine in, face it with a grin,
smilers never lose and frowners never win!
... just open up your heart and let the
sunshine in!" These are the words of a
chorus that used to be sung in children's
church... probably still is, but it has been
a long time since the words came to my mind.
Why now? Because last week we had 7 days of
hot sunshine,75 to 80 degree days and lots
and lots of dust! I know the Camp AN workers
were really happy with the sunshine they had
for at least one week of the 3-week camp
season.The attitude of people, including
the Yupik Eskimos, is different when the sun
shines. Does it affect you that way too?
This week it has been cloudy with misty
rain, just enough to keep the dust down. The
Yukon River, according to the boat driver
and his helper, was at times rather smooth
riding, although most of the time the water
was choppy.
For the local people, camping is more
than just for fun. It is their harvest
season. Not only must it be the catching of
their supply of king salmon, but the
processing of smoking and drying it for the
long winter months. While the whole family
is at their own private "fish camp" they
also pick salmon berries, blue berries, and
wild raspberries by the bucket full to
freeze and/or can for later. Moose season
will open soon. By the way, moose is one of
my favorite foods!
A few days ago I was talking with one of
the men and his boy who had come in from
hunting and they had a swan and 6 to 8
ducks. Some have been seal hunting as well.
There are times when they will come pulling
log rafts down the river to Emmonak and then
drag it to their home and cut it up for
firewood. Life on the delta is not easy.
Some of the Native elders are very
concerned because their young people are not
learning the Native traditions that have
been passed down from generation to
generation.
| Now it came about when all
the nation had finished crossing
the Jordan, that the LORD spoke
to Joshua, saying, "Take for
yourselves twelve men from the
people, one man from each tribe,
and command them, saying, `Take
up for yourselves twelve stones
from here out of the middle of
the Jordan, from the place where
the priests' feet are standing
firm, and carry them over with
you, and lay them down in the
lodging place where you will
lodge tonight.'"
So Joshua called the twelve
men whom he had appointed from
the sons of Israel, one man from
each tribe; and Joshua said to
them, "Cross again to the Ark of
the LORD your God into the
middle of the Jordan, and each
of you take up a stone on his
shoulder, according to the
number of the tribes of the sons
of Israel.
Let this be a sign among you, so
that when your children ask
later, saying, `What do these
stones mean to you?' then you
shall say to them, `Because the
waters of the Jordan were cut
off before the ark of the
covenant of the LORD; when it
crossed the Jordan, the waters
of the Jordan were cut off.' So
these stones shall become a
memorial to the sons of Israel
forever." Joshua 4:1-6
NASB |
My question and concern is simply
this: "Are we laying the foundation for our
children, grand- and great-grandchildren to
know the Way, the Truth and the Life in
Jesus Christ our Lord and Savior?"
Just today I was talking with the husband
of the lady who gave her heart to the Lord 2
years ago about his family and his children
and what they are learning -- or maybe I
should say "not learning" -- of the Yupik
traditions as he had learned from his
grandfather. I hope he will learn not
only the traditions of his people, but what
God wants for him and his family.
Friends, these lessons do not depend on
the weather. Whether it is cloudy or sunny,
are we doing our part? Read what the prophet
Isaiah said. "To whom would He teach
knowledge? And to whom would He interpret
the message? Those just weaned from milk?
Those just taken from the breast?
For He says, 'Order on
order, order on order, Line on line, line on
line, a little here, a little there.'"
Isaiah 28:10-13 (NASB)
In other words,
it is repeat and repeat. Over and over.
Until "HEY, DAD, DON'T TAKE SUCH BIG STEPS,
I AM TRYING TO WALK IN THEM!"
21-Jul-07 |
What a wonderful opportunity of interacting
with people here on the Yukon Delta! Just
this morning I was at Grant Aviation picking
up one of our Camp AN workers and while
waiting I got to teasing a small Eskimo boy,
probably 2-1/2 to 3 years old. He had a
bottle with milk in it and I asked him to
share it with me. At first he didn’t want to
and a little later he was with his mom and I
asked again. He went and got it out of his
diaper bag and brought it to me. I thanked
him and he went back and sat down with Mom.
I read what was on his bottle and it said
“…Now I’ve learned my ABC’s, what do you
think of me?” I gave him a thumbs up and he
couldn’t quite do it but in a little bit he
had his little thumb up! What a guy!
Yesterday someone told me they had
never seen a small airport so busy as this
one here in Emmonak is. One of our young
pastors, Pastor Taylor Hayden who lives in
Aniak, flew in to pick up Nate Wiles who had
been working the last ten days at Camp AN.
He called his little plane the “Rainbow
Warrior.” It is a little two-seater and room
for a small amount of luggage - he had fuel
for about 4 hours of flying. The weather was
questionable and he kept checking the
weather by telephone, by computer and was
looking! He took a nap and when he got up,
he and Nate ate a pizza and about 9:00 p.m.
he decided the clouds were high enough that
they could make it from Emmonak to Aniak! We
joined hands and prayed before they left and
it didn’t take very long for the “Rainbow
Warrior” to be out of sight!
Another of example interacting with
people was Monday morning. The Native
children started showing up for camp; they
were to be here by 11:30 a.m. and the boat
would leave sometime after noon. Suddenly
one of the workers who had been at the Yupik
Assembly of God in Alakanuk came up with
several kids and said there was another boat
load over on the river bank waiting for a
ride! The Camp AN boat had just left with
about 20 campers and workers on board. Well,
during the earlier part of the morning one
of the dads came to pay for his daughter. In
the process of writing his check, he started
sharing some heartaches he was going
through. Long story short…he unloaded his
burdens on the Lord and invited Jesus into
his heart. I KNOW the angels in heaven were
rejoicing, as was his girl friend who died
in December of this past year. Wow, what a
wonderful Savior we have! Oh, back to the
campers. Alakanuk-28; Emmonak-10; Kotlik-2!
Sunday morning my message was from
Matthew's gospel. I shared thoughts about
accepting the “authority” Jesus gave to His
disciples and us. This command is found in
Matthew 28.18-20. One of His commands was
(is) to “go” and “make” disciples!
“…And Jesus came up
and spoke to them, saying, 'All authority
has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the
nations, baptizing them in the name of the
Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I
commanded you; and lo, I am with you always,
even to the end of the age." (NASB)
And…I have only 2 more months to
interact with these wonderful people, the
Yupik Eskimos! I would appreciate your
continued prayers that I might be more
effective in reaching and teaching the
people around me.
Vision is
spelled with 2 “i”s. Are we using our
2 eyes to look for the harvest?
6-27-07 |
.
 Missionary
Dasie Daugherty is the pastor of Yupik
Assembly of God in Alakanuk, 9 miles away by
boat. She invited me to speak on 2
Sunday evenings, May 27 and June 3. I wore
everything I had in order to keep warm!
Both services were enjoyable and it was good to
fellowship with the people. Inspiration has
been slow in coming for me in getting some
thoughts down on paper. However, at this point
there is only one thing to write about and that
is “my life on the Yukon Delta” and the
privilege that has been mine in renewing
acquaintances with many of those Marge and I
first met in 1998!
Just the other day I was returning from the
airport when I was stopped by a young lady who
called out to me “…Pastor Ho”! She asked IF I
knew who she was and I did not. She was the
10-year-old neighbor who would come by the
church and come to the bottom of the stairs
leading to the parsonage and would call out “…whatcha
cookin’ Pastor Ho?” That summer I have no idea
how many dozens of cookies I baked not only for
us, but our “visitors” and the camp workers
passing through on their way out to Camp
Agaiutim Nune, meaning “The Place of God."
When I was presented this year with the idea
of returning to Emmonak to work with the church
and be available to assist in numerous projects
that involve the camp, the workers, the
publicity and holding down the fort, so to
speak, there was no hesitation on my part, only
the working out the details of when to leave and
return to Kansas.
Jesus simply called His disciples to
“…follow.” As believers this is still required
of those who are willing to be obedient to His
call. The new pastor for the Yukon Delta
Assembly is a young couple who came out here as
workers at Camp AN about 4 years ago and God
placed a call upon their lives to return.
If we will expose ourselves to the needs around
us and allow the Holy Spirit to work through us,
we never really know just where that will lead
us!
The old hymn states “…Sweet are the promises,
kind is the Word; Dearer far than any message
man ever heard. Pure was the mind of Christ,
Sinless I see, He the great example is, and
pattern for me.” Chorus: “…where He leads I’ll
follow, Follow all the way; Where He leads I’ll
follow, follow Jesus every day.” Won’t you take
time and open your hymnal and sing the last two
verses as well? Then, respond to what He would
have you do in following Him?
After all this invitational message is found
in the Words of Jesus in Matthew 11:28-29
"…Come
to Me, all who are weary and heavy-laden, and I
will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you,
and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in
heart; and YOU SHALL FIND REST FOR YOUR SOULS.
For My yoke is easy, and My load is light."
(NASB)
Just today, I had one of the
local men stop by needing some food. He had
called a day or two ago and I put him off but
then called him about noon. He came by, I
heated up some soup, had some crackers and fresh
coffee and we had a great time in exploring the
Word. Yesterday another man, whom I have not
met, called and was asking me where in the Bible
it talks about “spanking” kids. His wife had
their Bible and I found a couple of verses in
Proverbs about the “rod” and the results IF we
do not use it. He and his wife have 4 children
and he is planning on coming by for us to meet.
God is working in the lives of the Yu’pik
Eskimos! I am so glad He is “letting” me be a
part of it!
“…There is No place for
RETIREMENT, in winning the lost!”
16-Jun-07
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Pastors are
needed in Alaska. 
