Tell Your Story Alaska

A new one-year Bible school program is launching this Fall at Northstar Bible Camp near Willow, AK. Father-son duo Mark and Luke share their passion to see young Christians gain a solid foundation of faith in the most beautiful place in the world. The program will be 28 classes on New and Old Testament Surveys, Introduction to the Bible, Spiritual Disciplines, Creation Science, Systematic Theology, Apologetics, Global Missions, and Practical Christian Living. Mark and Luke are passionate about moving from head to heart in this Academic year of Bible School in Alaska.

Check out and apply on their website:

nsbs.life

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Clark's Point is located on a spit. What's a spit? I'll tell ya. Named after John Clark who managed a large cannery which today is a huge abandoned facility. Lake Clark is also named after him. Clark's Point is constantly threatened by erosion and was even moved to higher grown in the 1980s. Like many villages, the Russian Orthodox Church was the first church to have a presence in the area, but today, St. Peter the Fisherman Catholic Church is the prominent church in the village.

Coffman Cove is nestled on Prince of Wales Island on the panhandle of Alaska. It's unclear whether it is named after Navy man Lt Dewitt Coffman or logging man Robert F. Coffman. Who knows? There's some interesting archeology at Coffman Cove and the largest mapped cave in Alaska!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Circle Hot Springs was a booming resort until it shut down in 2002. Now the resort is abandoned but apparently a few people still live there.

Clam Gulch sits on a tall bluff along the Kenai Pininnsula where clamming enthusiasts reduced the population of clams so much that it had to be shut down to save the clams. Today, Clam Gulch may be a worthy stop on your drive to Homer on the Sterling Highway for some mountain and volcano views across the water.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chuloonawick is an abandonded Yup'ik fish camp and there's nothing there! So why is it a registered village? because there's a desire to preserve the heritage of the native people in any way they can.

Circle is a gold rush town making it's hey-day in the late 19th century. When the gold rush simmered down the town declined to just 91 residents today mostly of Athabascan native people. Why is it called Circle? because they thought it was on the Arctic Circle, but they were off by 50 miles!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chitina was originally a thriving Athabascan village until the outside world brought in disease and conflict and the population was decimated. It later became the commerical center for the famous Kennecott Mines. Since the mines closed in 1938, the village has become more of a historical landmark but is still home to over 100 residents.

Chuathbaluk was orignally a native summer fish camp and became what it is today when a man name Sam Philips settled there and many followed after him. The Russian Orthodox church played a key role in the village culture and history.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chiniak is located on a little corner on the beautiful Kodiak Island. It may be small, but has had national attention that made it's way to the White House. It hosts a SuperDARN, a radar system that studies phenomena in our atmosphere, one of 35 in the world. Early explorers noticed this spot as a native village, but today it's almost all white. Not sure what happened there.

Chistochina is on the Tok Cutoff Highway and at the confluence of the Chistochina and Copper Rivers. It was originally an Ahtna Athabascan fish camp, then a stop for weary travelers seeking gold, and finally a small village of just 60 residents. We discuss the naming of the nearby Mount Stanford which in the Ahtna Athabaskan named "Kelt'aeni" means "The one who controls the weather" and I compare Athabaskan spirituality to the biblical worldview, just for fun.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

There are three Chigniks in Alaska all within a few miles from each other. They are, however, three distinct villages: Chignik, Chignik Lagoon, and Chignik Lake. This area was originally occupied by Kanaigmuit Ekimos and there are some archeological remains. When the Russians arrived they intermarried with the Kanaigmuit and became known as Koniags and half the native population was wiped out by disease.

The only church for these villages is St. Nicholas Orthodox Church and I spent a little time discussing who St. Nicholas was and whether Protestants should be content with only an Orthodox church in a village or should they try to plant a Protestant church.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chickaloon sits in a beautiful valley among the Talkeetna Mountains and is by far the most fun village name to say. Founded by Chief Chiklu and is still called the native name Nay'dini'aa Na' in the village constitution. Chickaloon is home to the Chickaloon Retreat Center which looks like a nice place to book your next church retreat. It's also near Kings Ranch where Kindom Air Corp is training the next generation of missionary pilots.

Chignik is way out there where the Aleutian Chain begins and is home to a Trident Seafood facility, one of the largest seafood companies in the world. Benny Benson, the designer of the Alaska State flag at just 14 years old was born in Chignik. It's also the birthplace of "The Singing Fisherman" known for his country style gospel music.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chenega Bay is located in Sawmill Bay on Evan's Island. What's up with that? The reason is fascinating. This area has been home to the Alutiiq people whom Captain Cook encountered in 1778, and later a scoundrel named Ivan Petroff was the first to mention a village here in the 1880 census. The 1964 earthquake created a tsunami that killed a third of the village population, an unbelievable tragedy. Then in 1989 the Exxon Valdez oil spill disaster devastated the fishing economy of Chenega Bay. Yet a beautiful blue orthodox church resides here and it appears that the Orthodox Church has been the most prominent faith in this place for a very long time.

Chevak is the moving village as it has been moved twice in it's history because of flooding. The people of Chevak call themselves Cup'ik, a slight variation of Yup'ik and many residents still speak this language. A very blue Catholic Church resides in Chevak and Catholicism seems to be the prominent faith in Chevak.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Chase is a sparsely populated village near Talkeetna, AK with just 19 residents sharing nearly 100 square miles of land. If you are interested in a life of isolation, you might want to check out Chase, AK.

Chefornak was founded in the early 1950s by Alexie Amagiqchik who wanted to find higher ground to live on. The village is located inside a large wildlife refuge to protect waterfowl nesting grounds of many interesting birds. St. Catherine of Siena Catholic Church has make this village a mostly Catholic community, but who was St. Catherine of Siena? We go down that bunny trail for a bit. Also, is the nearby Tern Mountain a mountain?

Thanks for listening as we get to know our state one village at a time!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The word "Aarigaa" means "it is good" in Inupiaq, and the Aarigaa House fills a massive need for Alaskan youth to transfer well from village life to university life while being discipled in a life giving community home.

Karl and Simone Thistle facilitate the home and invest themselves in the residents of the Aarigaa House. Each resident has a unique story with wounds and challenges to overcome, and the Aarigaa House is a place where they can unravel the layers of life's hardships one at a time.

Check out the Aarigaa House website here:

https://www.cyak.org/aarigaa-house.html

To financially support Karl and Simone click here:

https://forms.donorsnap.com/form?id=93ee73e8-0417-4da2-b2fe-f8392f2b4328

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Steve and Jill Horsman are the Field Directors of InterAct Ministries of Alaska and I had a great time speaking with them about the history of InterAct as well as a wide range of topics wherever the wind took us. The wind took us to the richness of risking a missionary life, the gospel, volcanoes, native languages, native oral histories, and more!

InterAct has been working in Alaska, Canada, and Russia for 70 years and has played a heavy hand in founding many ministries such as Victory Bible Camp, Lazy Mountain Church, Wasilla Bible Church, Tanalian Bible Camp, Kako Retreat Center, Kokrine Hills Bible Camp, and more!

Check out their website at: ⁠interactministries.org⁠

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Central, like many other villages, started as an outpost for gold miners at the turn of the century. It is the location of the midway point for the Yukon Quest Race which happens every year in February at the Steese Roadhouse. You can also check out the Circle District Museum which holds artifacts from the gold rush days and the first printing press north of Juneau on which the first Alaska newspaper of the interior was printed.

Chalkyitsik means "Fish with a hook, at the mouth of the creek" in the Gwich'in language. It started 70 miles upriver when William Salmon built a home in 1901 and called it Salmon Village. When a boat carrying building materials for a school at Salmon village made it's way up the river, it only made it to today's site for the village where the school building was built and the village sprung from there. William Salmon's son, David Salmon became the chief of Chalkyitsik and "First Traditional Chief of the Gwich'in people." David became an Episcopal preacher spending most of his life sharing the gospel in the language of his people in Chalkyitsik and the surrounding area. He has also advocated for education and preserving the traditional ways of the Athabascan people. What a legacy!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Jeffrey and his wife Moriah are the founders of Genesis Coffee Lab based in Wasilla, AK. Jeffrey shares how he went from growing up in an alcoholic home to a gang member in Los Angeles to a dedicated follower of Jesus and tentmaker for the gospel in Alaska and Ethiopia. His passion for the transformational power of the gospel is evident in his testimony. Be sure to check out genesiscoffeelab.com and buy the best coffee roasted in Alaska according to Food and Wine Magazine which will support efforts for schools, pro-life efforts, and churches in Ethiopia.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Butte was originally named Bodenburg Butte name after John Bodenburg, the first modern settler of the site in 1917. It's most known for the geological formation called a butte which is a popular hike with spectacular views. If you have seen YouTube videos of Alaska adventures it's very likely it was filmed near Butte because it's located next to the Knik Arm, a very popular outdoor adventure area.

Cantwell started out as a railroad stop and became a community when the fur trade dried up and work was found at the railroad. Cantwell was named after a military explorer who explored Alaska in the late 19th century. It's the place where the popular 2007 movie "Into the Wild" was filmed and home to an iconic igloo building where tourists stop for selfies. Be sure to stop by Cantwell Bible Church. I met the pastor there recently and he is a down to earth, easy to talk to guy.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Elishaba is the eldest daughter of the infamous "Papa Pilgrim," a man who raped Elishaba and abused her other 14 siblings in the wilderness of New Mexico and Alaska for a decade. Elishaba goes in depth of how she was able to forgive her father of what most would consider unforgivable, and how she continues to be a follower of Jesus when Christianity was used by her father as a tool to keep his family under his thumb. In 2022 she released a book "Out of the Wilderness: Escaping My Father's Prison and My Journey to Forgiveness" which tells her story, and she discusses the challenges from her siblings not wanting the book published as the wickedness of her father are still having ripple effects today even though he died in prison years ago. Elishaba has recently defeated stage 4 brain cancer, and went through a nasty divorce. She discusses her ongoing pursuit of forgiveness while grappling with the hurt she continues to endure.

Check out Elishaba's website:

www.outofthewildernessbook.com

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

It's not the bears or the moose, it's the mosquitoes.! The airplane ride to the camp is not so scary, but full of beautiful views. You go to serve and help others and you end up being the one who changes. Learning that the "bad kids" may be testing your sincerity of whether you really love them or if you are there for some other reason (social media attention?) . Does sleep even happen?

Rosy, Angela, and Audrey have served at Kokrine Hills Bible Camp as counselors for multiple years. The counselor's job is by far the most challenging and they share how doing this every year has shaped their lives and even their future plans. The camp experience matured them as their faith faced real world realities. Doing hard things become the best things you ever do. So check out the camp website and sign up to volunteer here:

www.kokrinehills.org

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

DeeDee Jonrowe is most known for her Iditarod racing career having started 36 races, finished 33, placed 2nd place twice, and placed in the top ten 16 times. She also set the record for the fastest time set by a woman until it was broken recently. However, there's so much more to DeeDee than her races. Her formative years living among many cultures around the world, her many injuries and setbacks, how the native coastal people taught her the value of sincere living, her hunger for adventure, her time working for fish and game, her passion for quality dog care, and how the positive spirit of a pilot picking her up out of the wilderness restored her faith in God.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

A quick summary of what we know about this tragic flight that has left Alaskans grieving. On February 6, 2025 Bering Air Flight 445 departed Unalakleet, soon went missing and was later found with all 10 souls deceased just 34 miles south of Nome on the Norton Sound. I summarize the flight data that we know about, and share some thoughts of what might have happened, and discuss how encouraging it is to see how Alaskans are coming together to grieve well.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Beluga hosts the Chugach Electric Power Plant which provides half of the power for Anchorage. The 32 resident get to enjoy 100 square miles to called their town which is an impressive back yard to play in. Fishing and particularly popular including some record Northern Pike caught in this area.

Buckland is a village on the move as it has relocated up to five times in it's history including Elephant Point named for the mammoth bones found there by a British Naval explorer. Native Christian leaders including the Egaq family and Uyagaq played an impactful role for this area. Shamanism and the gospel came face to face, and the shamans reported that they were unable to harm the Christians because of the strong Spirit they possessed. It was the native Christian leaders who then protected the community against Christian legalism the white missionaries were introducing.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Pete Doner is currently planting a church called Restoration Community Church in Big Lake, AK and we take a deep dive into everything involving church planting.

Why plant a church in a town where there's already churches? What is the relationship between church and politics? What is the difference between unchurched and dechurched? How should a pastor navigate new church members who come from other churches because of "church hurt"? Have sermons become Ted Talks? Why was the name Restoration Community Church chosen?

Pete and I discuss a wide range of topics surrounding church planting in the context of Alaska.

Check out the church website at: rccak.org

Contact Pete Doner at Pete@rccak.org

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Birch Creek sits in the middle of the Yukon Flats in Central Eastern Alaska. I am surprised at how random it's location seems to be. A man called "The Chief of Chiefs" called Birch Creek Jimmy was the first to build a cabin on this spot in 1898. Jimmy's extended family soon followed suit, and the Dendu Gwich'in Athabascan people had made one of their first permanent settlements. The population over the years has changed little, lingering around 35. This tiny village is 100% native, as it's a requirement to be native to be considered a member of the Birch Creek Tribe. So far, this is the first time I have seen this in a village. Birch Creek is truly a unique place!

Brevig Mission was originally occupied by the Kauwerak Eskimos who impressively traded with people in Sibera, Little Diomede, and King Island demonstrating seafearing skills. In the late 1800s, Sheldon Jackson, the famous Presbyterian Missionary launched an effort to bring 1300 reindeer from Siberia to Alaska as a sustainable food source for Alaska native people. This effort came with Lutheran Missionary Tellof L Brevig who name became the village name. His sacrificial effort in Brevig village is still remembered today as the Brevig Mission Memorial Church is still functioning today. There's so much more to this place and I did my best to brush over it's history, but know I just barely scratched the surface in this episode!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

"Supporters probably think I'm not doing enough." "I must be more like that other missionary to succeed." "God is unhappy with my performance for him."I must gain the approval of others to be happy."

Lies like these have a way of handicapping missionaries into inactivity and going to some dark places.

Last Fall, Jake Fries shared his heart in front of a group of missionaries about lies he had been believing, and how he has been on a journey to free himself from the enslavement of lies like these. I've been thinking about what he shared since then and I asked Jake to share his story on the show. Believing these lies is more common than missionaries want to admit out loud, but today, Jake is breaking the ice.

Check out this resource Jake used in his journey to freedom from lies missionaries believe: Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil T. Anderson

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The creatively named Big Lake, AK (sarcasm intended) was formed as a town in 1958 starting with a population of 74. Today it has grown to just under 4000 and has a small community feel to it with community events, churches, small coffee shops, a library, a post office, small businesses, an airport where a handful of locals begin their Alaskan adventures, and (believe it or not) a really big lake.

Bill Moore's Slough is next to Kotlik, Ak on the Yukon River Delta. It immediately made me wonder: who is Bill Moore and what is a slough? It's very difficult to find information about this elusive community, perhaps by design. How Alaskan is that? Some brief notes from a scientist from 1899 offers us frustratingly little information about the early days of Bill Moore's Slough.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Bettles is a small, remote community started by a man setting up a trading post for gold prospectors during the Alaska Gold Rush. Since then, Bettles has moved locations and is only accessible by plane or a winter-only road to the Dalton Highway. Bettles is not for the faint of heart. If you are an outdoorsman you might consider canoeing 100 miles from Anaktuvuk Pass to Bettles for the ultimate Alaskan adventure. Bettles is also where Brooks Range Bible Camp started back in 1978 and is still in operation thanks to the efforts of Kingdom Air Corp.

Big Delta started with ambitious homesteaders and has become an economic producer with the Pogo Mine and farms in the area. The community has a Christian communal history with some rumors of cult-like activity, but I'm not certain. The elusiveness of it sparked my curiosity. Big Delta is home to Whitestone Farms and Rita's Roadhouse, a place with a story for the community of Big Delta.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Belkofski’s story has already ended as it is an abandoned village today. Founded as a Russian Fur Trade settlement, it faded away as the fur trade faded. However, a 2013 effort to save the 850lb bell in the Russian Orthodox Church is keeping the memory alive.

Bethel’s story begins with the Yup’ik people who called the place “Mumtrekhogamute” which means “Smokehouse People.” They showed kindness towards the first missionaries who labored to work in the host culture’s language and help with desperate medical needs in the late 1800s. As it became a hub for the surrounding area, Bethel became an aviation haven for adventurers and hunters. The busy airport, cultural events, and a handful of churches are all a part of what makes Bethel, Bethel.

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Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Barrow is the northernmost community in North America. It's also an economic giant for the state of Alaska with the oil that comes out of the area. Ancient Native American remains, early explorers, whaling disasters, survivial stories, missionaries, the controversial name change to Utqiagvik, and aviation tragedies are all a part of the story of Barrow. There is so much information and stories about Utqiagvik it was difficult to narrow it down so my apologies for the longer episode!

Beaver, AK is a small village of just 48 people. It started as an outpost for gold seekers in 1907 traveling north to the Chandalar River, but it was some clever entrepreneurs (including a Japanese man and his Eskimo friends!) who made the village of Beaver happen. Beaver's residents are a mix of various tribal peoples from the surrounding region. The blending of native cultures in one village has made Beaver, AK a unique culture of it's own combining old, traditional ways, with the new western culture.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Atmautluak is situated in a sea of lakes on slivers of land among the vast tundra of Alaska. The entire community is built on stilts and wooden walkways are the way to get around town. It's a relatively young village being founded in the 1960s, but still has a rich cultural flavor with the Atmautluak dancers and two churches. I enjoyed the story of Saint Herman, a Russian Orthodox monk and missionary to the Aleut peoples whose sacrificial love for the people is worth remembering as he bears his name of the church in Atmautluak.

Atqasuk is also a youthful community being originally settled during WWII because valuable coal was found there. The village was abandoned in the 1960s and re-settled in 1977 changing it's name from "Meade River" to the Inupiat name "Atqasuk" which means "The place to dig the rock that burns."

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Arctic Village was a semi-permanent spot used by the nomadic Gwich'in people until firearms were introduced and they began to permanently settle in Arctic Village in 1909. Robert McDonald, an Anglican Missionary brought literacy to the Tukudh language by translating the Bible, other religious material into the Gwich'in Tukudh language. Through the conversion of Albert E Tritt, a local Gwich'in man, the Episcopal Church in Arctic Village became a permanent part of the community. After legal battles with the US government, Arctic Village has worked to preserve their tradional ways of hunting caribou which continues to today.

Atka is the westernmost community in the United States. It's waaaay out there on the Aleutian Island Chain. Only scant archeological evidence gives us hints at the first peoples which intrigues my interests. The Russian experlors made first contact followed by fur traders. When WWII struck, the US government forced all residents to leave and burned the village down to prevent the Japenese from using it. After the war, the residents returned, but were never the same again. St. Nicholas Orthodox Church has been there through almost all of the known history of Atka making it a key element in the story of Atka, AK!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Terry and Krystie DePue have been pastoring Eagle Bible Chapel in the small village of Eagle, AK for 27 years. Terry was a missionary kid in Bolivia and ended up in Alaska of all places. They raised their six kids in Eagle. Three of their kids were adopted. Terry shares the adoption stories and how his family is his #1 ministry. I took away from this interview that steady faithfulness will bear much fruit in a world full of brokenness and chaos. He also recalls a story when his wife rode out on a snow machine in 50 below temperatures to save a musher that passed out on the Yukon Quest race. Brrr!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Aniak's ancient history is wrapped up mystery. When the first Russian explorers first got a peek of the area, the original inhabitants had already abandoned it. The Russians found some gold which ended up bringing in prospectors hoping for quick riches as Alaska became more and more American. Today, Aniak is home for over 500 people and still remains a mostly native community. The airport is surprisingly nice and I'm not sure why.

Anvik was first noticed in written records by a mixed race Russian/Native man setting out to find new routes and trading opportunities for the Russian Fur Company. He reported 100 people living at Anvik in 1834. Anvik was home to a missionary who left us a detailed record of his stay starting in 1888. John Wight Chapman lived there for over 40 years learning the language, teaching reading and writing, translating prayer books, laboring to record oral histories of the native people to preserve their culture, and helping many with medical care through the terrible flu epidemic of 1918-19.

The story of these two villages just scratch the surface of a rich history in this region.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

On October 26, 1882, The US Navy Steamer Ship Thomas Corwin positioned itself just offshore of Angoon, Alaska. It loaded it's weapons, and fired shells upon the village occupied by innocent men, women, and children. This event started a 142 year journey of the Tlingit people of Angoon to find reconciliation with the US Navy. Finally, on October 26, 2024, (just a month after this recording) the US Navy officially apologized for the bombardment. "We accept your apology" the Tlingit elders responded. And so begins the healing of Angoon.

View the the official apology ceremony here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_uxPqjg-xlo&t=16s

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The largest city in the state of Alaska, Anchorage started with a couple of families camping out by Ship Creek and grew to contain 40% of the states population with just under 300,000 people. How did that happen? I discuss the history of the church in Anchorage, the homelessness issue, my favorite places in Anchorage, and four very unique airports within the city.

Anderson is home to the workers of the Clear Space Force Station in central Alaska. What is this place? What secrets lie within? I don't know, but I do know some very powerful equipment is operating there and no one should fly over it.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Anaktuvuk means "the place of caribou droppings" so you can imagine this place has a history of caribou hunting, and it does! The Nunamiut people of Anaktuvuk Pass have proven themselves to be historical survivors and masterful artists with their famous Anaktuvuk masks. The first missionaries were Presbyterians who came in with float planes and starting the Chapel in the Mountains which is still there today. At a place appropriately called the "Gates of the Arctic" there is much beauty to be had.

Anchor Point gets its name from the famous 1778 expedition of Captain James Cook because he lost an anchor at this spot while looking for the Northwest Passage. This European settlement has become a place of storytelling and nostalgia about the good 'ol days of the first settlers in the 1940s.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Ambler is one of the few villages I have been to north of the Arctic Circle. It's the site where the famous Eskimo Prophet Maniilaq made some predictions, and the famous archeological site called "Onion Portage" is nearby which is one of the sites our modern understanding of ancient Alaska native history comes from.

Amchitka Island's ancient history is wrapped up in mystery with only a single human remain found there. The island was home to Russian Fur Traders and the Aleut Uprising of 1784. Japanese castaways made there way to Amchitka in a wild story of survival. Up to 15,000 troops were stationed there during WWII, three underground nuclear tests were conducted on Amchitka, and today the island has zero inhabitants. I bet you didn't know that the activist group Greenpeace got it's name because of Amchitka!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

In 1962 the United States and Russia were swept up in the Cuban Missile Crisis and a nuclear holocaust seemed imminent. Meanwhile, a U2 spy plane out of Alaska accidentally wandered into Russian Airspace making the Russians believe they were being attacked. How did that happen? It was the Aurora Borealis' fault. In this episode about Alaska's history, I tell the true story of how the Aurora Borealis nearly caused the start of a war far more deadly anyone could imagine.

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Alekgnagik means "the wrong way home." What's that all about? Situated on the beautiful Aleknagik Lake and Wood River, this village is the site of fish camps from long ago. Disease wiped out the 200 residents in the late 19th century and the village has since recovered. Today, it's a destination location for tourists, but still remains a mostly native community.

Alexander Creek still contains ancient archeological sites and became the best fishing in the entire MatSu Valley until invasive plant and fish species devastated the salmon runs. Today, the Alexander Creek community consists of remote cabins for private getaways for locals. We finish today's profile with a recording of the wordsmith Ruben Gaines as he describes beautifully what it's like to visit Alexander Creek.

The Ruben Gaines recording was used with permission from the UAA Archives and Special Collections.

Citation: Ruben Gaines papers, Archives and Special Collections, Consortium Library, University of Alaska Anchorage. Archive Identifier: uaa-hmc-0110-s3-a12-15

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Alatna and Allakaket are neighboring villages which are old trading posts between Athabaskans and Eskimos. It's the location of the first mission by the Episcopal Church on the Koyukon River in 1906. A major flood wiped out the village in 1994 and the residents had to be rescued by helicopter! Alcan was established by the federal government for housing customs agents on the Alaska/Canada border. That's a different sort of village!

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TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Mathew is the Pastor of Safe Harbor Church in Akutan, AK. This is no ordinary church, not only because it's on a remote island on the Aleutian Islands, but also because people from Ukraine, Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Mexico, Guinea, Congo, Liberia, Mongolia, and other places are in Akutan working for Trident Seafoods Company. Mathew discusses how he pastors a church with this kind of diversity, what life is like in Akutan, how he talks to atheists, and describes the colorful characters that darken the doors of Safe Harbor Church!

Click the links below to check out Pastor Mathew Vroman's content:

This is the Way: Traveling the Way to Life by Dr. Mathew Vroman

https://www.amazon.com/This-Way-Traveling-Life/dp/B0DHZZBTVC/ref=mp_s_a_1_1?crid=5AE0EHUA76NN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ElewKBmkIFtcT3IhR3BflTnqCztezlpyirDN4xVv5Y_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.lpMaceJHdfWiY2PD6GyoU66X88Z88IeOlKIeuYGrZJM&dib_tag=se&keywords=mathew+vroman&qid=1729106857&sprefix=mathew+vroman%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-1

One: Finding the One Answer to Life's Questions by Dr. Mathew Vroman

https://www.amazon.com/ONE-Finding-answer-lifes-questions/dp/B0DHSXVNN5/ref=mp_s_a_1_2?crid=5AE0EHUA76NN&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.ElewKBmkIFtcT3IhR3BflTnqCztezlpyirDN4xVv5Y_GjHj071QN20LucGBJIEps.lpMaceJHdfWiY2PD6GyoU66X88Z88IeOlKIeuYGrZJM&dib_tag=se&keywords=mathew+vroman&qid=1729106857&sprefix=mathew+vroman%2Caps%2C189&sr=8-2

By the Bible YouTube Channel

https://youtube.com/@practicalpastoring5335?si=KnRKi9MVgo8q_Wmk

Hour of Hope Radio Show

https://www.apradio.org/news/hour-of-hope-october-13/

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Akutan is a very diverse village most known for being the home of Trident Seafood Company's largest seafood plant in North America. Even more unique is the nearby volcano and an airstrip that's not even on the same island! Safe Harbor Church serves as a community center and hosts some of the most diverse people in the state of Alaska! Alakanuk sits on the mouth of the Yukon River with a surprising population of 747 for a very remote village. Alakanuk was reportedly founded by a Yupi'k Shaman long ago and is named after the confusing maze of waterways in the area.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Akiachak and Akiak happen to be neighbors and both of which I have flown into. They are located northeast of Bethel in the Yukon Delta region on the Kuskokuim River. These are ancient subsistence communities that are majority Native Alaskan still today. The Moravian Church and Russian Orthodox Church have had the most influence historically.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

This week, I am starting a new series that profiles the villages of Alaska. I have a complete list of every village, all 267 of them (including major cities). The purpose is to get a quick glimpse into each village of Alaska so we can know their history, what churches are there, how to get there, and any insights to each village I can find so we can know how to better pray for our great state.

I will be going in alphabetical order. So we begin with Adak and Akhiok. Adak has a rich history in WWII way out on the Aleutian Island Chain, and Akhiok is the southernmost village on Kodiak Island that subsists on fishing. Let's dive in!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Way out in the middle of Lake Clark National Park & Preserve in Port Allsworth, Alaska is Tanalian Bible Camp. I spoke with Mark McGee, the executive director of the camp to discuss what the camp is all about, the history, purpose, and everything in between. The camp has been around since 1963 and has become a sanctuary for the 31 villages in the surrounding area. Mark has served at the camp since 2003, and he shares his heart for this little corner in the world.

To get involved at TBC contact Mark McGee at:

mark.mcgee@tanalianbiblecamp.org

Or check out the website at:

www.tanalianbiblecamp.org

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Kingdom Air Corp has been training pilots in remote Alaska for 25 years. Recently, I had a chance to fly over to King's Ranch to share morning devotions and sit down with Dwayne King, founder, and Joe Gerwig, director of operations, to learn how Kingdom Air Corp came about. Both of these men are passionate about missions around the world and shared their hearts with me on this episode.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

I've just returned from flying for Kokrine Hills Bible Camp in Central Alaska along the Yukon River. There's far too much to fit in one episode so I simply share some flying stories from the last month and talk about the legacy of this camp. Navigating around storms, making tough decisions, how to find a hole in the clouds, how to fix a runway, how the latest technology saved our skins, and how miserable it is to land a plane in thick smoke from forest fires.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Husband, father, pastor, pilot (Maule M7 and Cessna 206), mechanic, missionary with The Master's Mission, radio broadcaster at KIAM, influential member of the Airman's Association, and two-time winner of the Nenana beard competition: Adam White is a man with many talents and roles. I sat down with Adam at the KIAM radio station base in Nenana, AK to hear his story. He was on his way to serve in Ecuador with MAF at the same base as Nate Saint, but those plans were frustrated by some very irritating circumstances, and that lead him to Nenana, AK where he has been serving since 1995. Adam's story is a testimony to how to handle broken dreams and trusting in God's providential leading. We also discuss how his faith impacts the way he interacts with the FAA through the Airman's Association regarding aviation law. Buckle up! It's time to learn a few things from Adam White!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

I recently returned from flying for Kako Retreat Center located in remote Alaska Yukon Delta area. I briefly tell the history of Kako, talk about the challenges of the airstrip, the area, the unreliable forecasts in Alaska, and all about "Family Camp" at Kako! We stopped in at Port Allsworth, AK where Tanalian Bible Camp and Samaritans Purse have ministries. When we returned home some family visited and we had some fun on a glacier tour, flying my Maule to Rohn airstrip and Knik Glacier! This episode is offers a taste of what flying is like in Alaska and why we do it. Don’t miss the very end where the native band at Kako play "How Great Thou Art" in the Yupik language.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

John grew up in Kotzebue and Kobuk facing childhood trauma's and the loss of many close to him to suicide. He himself attempted suicide several times as he drank and smoked to numb the pain brewing inside. When his daughter committed suicide he hit rock bottom and there seemed to be no way back. That is, until God plucked him out of himself while on a walk with a knife in hand with a suicidal plan. Everything changed. Today, John's life is about proclaiming the Kingdom of God throughout Alaska so his fellow man can enjoy the same joy that he has. John's plea for those in those low places like he was in is: "It's not time for you to go."

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

What attitude should a native christian have towards the injustices done in the past? How does one begin to heal from childhood wounds? What does biblical manhood look like for young native men? Daniel Esplin joins the show to discuss.

Daniel Esplin is the Director of Admissions at Indian Bible College in Flagstaff, AZ where he teaches a class on biblical manhood. He traveled up to Alaska to promote IBC as a good option for training native leaders. Daniel tells his story of his father leaving him as a young boy, losing family members to suicide, how he became a follower of Jesus Christ, and finding freedom in forgiveness.

The opening worship song was written and performed by Daniel Esplin in the Navajo language. We had a great discussion after we stopped recording about the beauty of the expression of worship in each culture and he agreed to perform this song he wrote. Enjoy.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The Baha'i faith is one of the most widely distributed faiths in the world and it is here in Alaska. I discuss what the Baha'i faith is, its presence in Alaska, the history of the faith, and its doctrines. One of the values of the faith is the "independent investigation of truth." So that's what I did. Here are my thoughts.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

50% of missionaries quit before they reach 5 years on the field. 70% leave for preventable reasons. Why is that?

Are missionaries being properly prepared? Has the western church prepared missionaries for spiritual warfare? Are missionaries just arrogant people telling other people how wrong they are about everything? Why can't missionaries just get along?

Two veteran missionary couples join me to discuss the importance of dealing with our own story, understanding spiritual warfare, and why it's so hard to get along.

Resources mentioned in this episode:

The Unseen Realm by Michael Heiser

Steps to Freedom in Christ by Neil Anderson

Understanding the Wounded Heart by Marcus Warner

https://novo.org/sacohort (free online spiritual authority cohort)

Mending the Soul by Steven R Tracy

I Give you Authority by Charles Kraft

Waking the Dead by John Eldredge

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

In 1898, tens of thousands of people infected with gold fever rushed up to Skagway, Alaska to begin their journey to the Yukon Territory in search for quick riches and adventure. This influx of people changed Alaska and the Yukon Territory forever. We take a look at this interesting time of history and its impact today.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

The struggle with anxiety is so common and it's talked about so little. The endless, spinning, miserable thoughts that can't be shaken. The sleepless nights, the panic attacks, the crying out to God and hearing nothing but silence. If you have experienced that I hope my story gives you hope today.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Missionary Aviation Repair Center has been serving Alaska's missionary aviation's community since 1964. I flew to Soldotna, Alaska to have some work done on my Cherokee 6, and while I was there I sat down with the Executive Director, Peter Bastke to share a bit of his story, the history of MARC, and what they are up to today.

Check out their website: marcalaska.org

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

Does forgiveness mean the person who hurt me gets away with it? Do you crave justice, but see no hope of it happening? Do you find yourself imagining revenge to the person who hurt you? Does a video play over and over in your mind of how someone did injustice against you? Forgiveness might be the last thing you want to do. Forgiveness doesnt seem fair. Let's talk about that.

I break down misconceptions of forgiveness and explain what it really is. It might shock you.

Alaska desperately needs forgiveness. Here's why.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

He is known as "The Eskimo Prophet." He is remembered for his many predictions that have come true including the coming of Christianity to Alaska. In this episode, I summarize the many testimonies given about him from native elders who either knew him when they were children or grew up hearing about him from their parents who knew him. Was Maniilaq a legitimate prophet? I explore this question and discuss his impact on modern native Alaskan culture.

Data source: alaskool.org

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music was created by Isaac Bedingfield

You won't believe some of Kurt's flying stories!

I traveled up to the homestead of Kurt and Lynnette Bedingfield to hear their story! They recount their faith journeys growing up with preacher fathers in Alaska. Kurt became a pilot game warden on Kodiak Island, Kotzebue, and Coldfoot on floats, skis, and wheels! Lynnette recounts what it was like to move again and again (hint: she loved it). Kurt shares just a few of his many unbelievable flying adventures while Lynnette recounts what it was like worrying about her hubby who didn't come when expected from his flights. Things changed after he was struck by lightening, but it never stopped him from flying! He started his own Part 135 flying business and he's still going strong!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

I want to give a special thanks to Isaac Bedingfield for creating this new theme music for TYSA!

54.5% of families in Alaska are “non-intact families.” Absent fathers is a pandemic in Alaska. What is the role of a father? Why are fathers so important? What does the Bible mean by “wives submit to your husbands”? What does a family-centered life look like? How can we break generational sins so fathers don’t pass on their wounds to their children? What can be done if your family is already broken?

Aaron, from the episode “Aaron’s Story,” joins me to discuss these issues.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Brian grew up as a missionary kid in Bolivia. Going out to play with the crocodiles led his parents to send him to boarding school on the other side of the country. Watching the airplanes back then put the flying bug in his soul and he became a missionary pilot in the Philippines and Bolivia. Brian tells his best stories including one where he helped deliver a baby in the back of a taxi cab, and it wasn't breathing. From building an airstrip into the side of a mountain to dealing with engine failures, Brian's lifelong experience in aviation has accumulated plenty of wisdom which he shares in this episode.

What makes twin engine airplanes safer?

Are twin engine airplanes more economical?

How can pulling the mixture save a dying engine?

Is the impossible turn impossible?

What if you get disoriented in a box canyon?

Brian has some thoughts on these. Don't miss it!

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

I have long wondered about this puzzling question and in this episode I take on the task of going through Scripture regarding this topic. Could we meet in heaven Native Americans who lived in 1000AD? Listen in to explore this question with me.

Further reading:

Is Jesus the Only Savior? by Ronald H Nash

Jesus, the Only Way to God: Must You Hear the Gospel to be Saved? by John Piper

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Being in the world of commercial fishing in Alaska produces exciting stories worth telling. Ellis recounts stories that involve a volcano, fishing nets ripping and snagging, catching a whale, sharks, and porpoises, deer hunting in bear country, and catching a record sized halibut with fresh salmon still in the belly. Ellis gives us a glimpse into the world of commercial fishing with his incredible adventures in the treacherous Alaskan waters.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Ellis is a 3rd generation commercial fisherman in the Alaska waters, dog behavioral specialist, and inventor of several unique guitar effects pedal. Ellis' unique resume comes from a unique story. Growing up on the fishing boat with his father, it wasn't the risk, adventure, and excitement that defines who he is today. It's grace and forgiveness. Ellis recounts how God intervened in his father's life and his life which changed everything. His experience as a dog behavioral specialist has drawn out insight into the human condition that you may not have expected.

Check out Ellis' business at https://dadshoegazers.com and pick up a hand made guitar effects pedal.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

I dive into the weeds of take-off and landing techniques and describe how I consistently land my Maule M5 in 300 feet or less. I also discuss how landing a plane finally "clicked" for me so I could do it well consistently.

Keep in mind I am not a flight instructor and I recommend you consult with a licensed flight instructor before taking any advice from me.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was created by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Sitting in a solitary prison cell, at rock bottom, the Holy Spirit says "Are you done?"

From that moment on, Ota's life changed directions. Listen to Ota recount how he hit rock bottom in that prison cell: a broken home growing up, to drugs and sex, juvenile detention, in and out of prison, joining a white supremacist prison gang, and facing a 490 year sentence for serious crimes. Ota's story is a great testament to the power of the gospel. Don't miss it!

"...a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench." Isaiah 42:3

If you resonated with Ota's story, he is open to connecting with you. Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com and I'll get you in touch with Ota.

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

In this final episode of the series, Adam provides us with the history of the Salvation Army and the Lutheran Church in Alaska.

Adam beautifully wraps up his thoughts about the role of the church in Alaska's history. Was it a force for good or was it destructive?

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

We continue our series with the history of the Moravians and the Evangelical Covenant Church in Alaska.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

We continue our series with the history of the Baptists and Friends (also known as the Quakers) in Alaska.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Adam and I continue this series with the history of the Anglicans and Presbyterians in Alaska. I have heard over and over that the church's goal was to colonize and remove the native culture that was here. The true history is not that simple. Adam brings clarity to these often cited versions of history.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Is the church responsible for the loss of language and culture of Alaska native people? Did the church come to colonize Alaska? This is the narrative I have often heard about the history of the church in Alaska. Pastor Adam London is an expert on this topic and explains the true story which is so much more interesting and rich than I had thought. This will be a five-part series starting with the Russian Orthodox and Catholic Churches.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Chris Kopp is a pastor at the largest church in Alaska: Changepoint. He has spent most of his life in Alaska including over 12 years pastoring a church in the village of Galena, AK. He has become a voice Alaskans turn to for insight on how to do missions well in the Last Frontier State. Chris and I discuss the differences between churches on the road system and churches off the road system and the challenges the missionaries and churches of Alaska face today.

Contact the show at tysalaska@gmail.com

TYSA Logo was by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

If you are interested in aviation and are not sure where to start, you should start with Av-Stem's Introduction to Aviation course. Grant and Barney Funk are a father-son team who developed this course that's perfect for young aviators. Av-Stem does not sponsor this podcast, I just see value in this course as I fly so many young people across Alaska who want to become pilots, and now I can point them to this course to get them started. The course interviews a Fish and Game pilot, a smoke jumper, and others so you can learn the many applications of aviation. Instructors have reported shock at how much knowledge their new students have because of this course!

Check out the website here: https://av-stem.com

TYSA logo was by Evan VanKirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Hayley is an accomplished pilot and a vital part of One Wilderness Ministries in McGrath, AK. She suffered the loss of her husband to ALS at only 35 years old only two months prior to this recording. She tells her story of growing up off grid in Idaho, being a part of the develpment of the Kodiak aircraft which is being used in missions around the world, and her training at Moody Aviation in Spokane, WA. She recounts what it was like to watch her husbands health deteriorate, how he passed away, and how she is grieving this terrible loss. What gets here through day to day? How does one grieve this unimaginable loss? How can she feel joy in the midst of this loss?

TYSA logo was by Evan VanKirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

One Wilderness Ministries is located in the remote interior village of McGrath, Alaska. It is a ministry of McGrath Community Church. I had a chance to sit down with Brad Sturm who shares his heart for the interior of Alaska.

Click here to check out the One Wildernesss website to learn more:

http://onewilderness.org

TYSA logo was by Evan VanKirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Merv's father was a WWII vet who had anger issues which provided him with a challenging childhood. He became a helicopter pilot in Vietnam and was shot at, shot down, and lost close friends. After the war, he started his own helicopter business flying over Mount Saint Helens as it was preparing to erupt, and he flew some big whigs around. He went though a divorce with a hard custody battle over his two kids and become one of the rare cases where the father wins custody. Listen to Merv tell his war stories, what PTSD was like for him, how he deals with survivors guilt, how faith played a role in his healing, other flying stories, divorce story, and about his life in Alaska today.

TYSA Logo was made by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

You may have had Mormon missionaries knock on your door. A few weeks ago I got the knock and I engaged them for about an hour. This prompted me to look further into Mormonism than I had before as I promised these young, bright Mormon missionaries. Mormons make up 5% of Alaskans so I thought it was worth looking into it's doctrines and reasons they believe it's true. Was Joseph Smith a legitimate prophet and did he restore the church? I share my thoughts and hope to equip you to engage with Mormons.

Logo art by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Where there's a few hundred feet of flat ground, we can land a plane and camp. It's a real treat to find hidden gems of camping spots in Alaska. I talk about my first airplane overnight camping experience and some of the devotional thoughts I had during this little adventure.

Logo Credit: Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

I finally spilled the beans! If you are wise enough to learn from the mistakes from others you will want to learn from mine. I tell you my 5 worst flying decisions that I regret, but I learned from them and have become a better pilot for it.

You can watch the short video I made about landing on a remote airstrip on the Yukon River in a Cherokee 6 by checking out my Facebook page or clicking here:

https://www.facebook.com/163800423/videos/1930770690650339/

TYSA Logo Credit: Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Deep in the wilds of Alaska lies Kokrine Hills Bible Camp sitting along the mighty Yukon River. Joey has been the director for 9 years and I had the chance to record his story while flying him from the camp to Nenana, AK. It was an emotional goodbye followed by a one hour flight back to civilization as Joey tells his story. Listen how he grew up in California, was almost kidnapped by the infamous Night Stalker, ended up living in the remote village of Buckland, AK, had to be airlifted out for medical issues, his battle with God over leaving Buckland and the tragic death of his brother, started his own media business back in California, and his desire to return to Buckland, AK.

Kokrine Hills Bible Camp: https://kokrinehills.org

Joey's Media Business: https://storylitfilm.com

Tell Your Story Alaska Logo Credit: Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

An ice dam caused the Yukon to to rise 35' and flooded Kokrine Hills Bible Camp. A week ago, I flew Darryl and his wife to camp to lead a team of 40 people from the Lower 48 to get the camp ready for the summer. Today, I picked them up and flew them home. During our flight through Rainy Pass we talk about what it took to transform a camp devastated by a flood to a camp ready for kids from across Alaska to come so they can hear the gospel.

My contact: tysalaska@gmail.com

Logo Art by Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Ever wonder what Alaskan GA pilots worry about regarding safety? I recently attended a safety conference at Soldotna airport at the MARC hangar. They brought in speakers from AOPA, Moody Aviation, Alaska Airman's Association, Dynamic Defense Solutions, and MARC staff. I was taking notes the entire time, and here I share with you everything I learned at this valuable safety conference.

Contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Logo art credit: Evan Van Kirk

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

My flight down to the Kenai yesterday had a couple of close calls. A few fighter jets flew right in front of my nose and on my final approach to land I was face to face with an aircraft taking off. I discuss what happened and what can be learned.

Contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Logo designed by Evan Van Kirk.

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

We are exploring this historical question by seeing what science can tell us about the history of Native Americans. This will give us insight on who Native Americans are today. So we are not holding back! We focus on carbon dating and genetics to answer the question of when Native Americans migrated to the Americas. The answer may not be what you expect! Buckle up because this episode gets nerdy!

Sources:

https://www.thoughtco.com/blackwater-draw-hunting-in-new-mexico-170385

https://www.newmexico.org/blog/post/the-story-of-the-clovis-people/

https://answersingenesis.org/geology/carbon-14/radiocarbon-dating/

https://www.ox.ac.uk/news/2020-07-22-earliest-americans-arrived-new-world-30000-years-ago

https://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/how-humans-came-to-americas-180973739/

https://www.nps.gov/bela/learn/historyculture/other-migration-theories.htm

https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/the-first-americans/

http://www.dnai.org/teacherguide/pdf/reference_romanovs.pdf

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4381518/

https://genome.cshlp.org/content/suppl/2015/02/18/gr.186684.114.DC1/Supplemental_Text.pdf

See YouTube “Nathaniel Jeanson The New History of the Human Race”

Book: “Traced: Human DNA’s Big Surprise” by Nathaniel Jeanson

Book: “History and Mythology of the Aztecs: The Codex Chimalpopoca”

PDF Doc: “Pedro Sarmiento de Gamboa: History of the Incas”

Book: “The Red Record: The Wallum Olum: The Oldest Native North American History"

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

7 years in Mexico living among the Tarahumara people was a significant time in our lives before we moved to Alaska. Missional work has a dark side and we share about it all. There was trauma, death, and relational strife. Billy felt inadequate and Erika felt a constant need to "justify our existence." We did some extreme outdoor adventures, learned two languages, lived in remote villages among tribal people, interacted with the cartels, flew our little plane around, and struggled the whole time. If you are going into missions, are on the mission field, or were on the field, we hope you find this insightful.

Contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Jeff and I talk about the summer of 2022 when wildfires raged across the state of Alaska, and we had to fly through it. A wildfire broke out just 3 miles east of the remotely located Kokrine Hills Bible Camp. There were 100 souls at camp, and one 6 passenger airplane. Smoke Jumpers arrived to help. Find out how we got everyone out safely, and what we learned along the way.

Check out Jeff's ministry at SoaringForChrist.org

You can contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

WARNING: We discuss themes in this episode that are not suitable for children. I recommend waiting until your little ones are out of earshot before pushing play.

Aaron was wounded by the church, his father, and himself. He became the man he detested growing up which we termed "generational sins." How do you break generational sins? Marriage, fatherhood, combat in Iraq, respect, success, drinking, jail time, and porn didn't heal his wounds. What did? Aaron share's parts of his story most people would be too afraid to share. He brings to light things that for most of us, are left in darkness out of fear. If you are battling something alone, this episode is for you.

If you have a story, contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

I sit down with my friend Roger who tells his story of rejection, struggle with bitterness from the worst childhood wounds imaginable, a broken marriage, a plane crash that burned 60% of his body, and his greatest battle of all: himself. How does one heal from years of built up bitterness? (Hint: it's the gospel). Roger is from the Athabaskan tribe, born and raised in Alaska, directs Kokrine Hills Bible Camp on the Yukon River in central Alaska, and is an all around good friend.

Contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com if you want to tell your story.

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

A Chicagoland suburban kid ends up with a missionary kid from Mexico, and now living in Alaska. My wife and I tell our story up to the time we moved to Mexico together. How we went from Mexico to Alaska is another story. For now, listen how I navigated doubt about the Christian worldview, and how my wife grew up among native people in remote tribes in Mexico.

If you have an Alaskan story or just want to reach out to me, contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com 

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Not a list of technical jargon. Rebuilding my Maule M5 235C was a story that involved incredible generosity of others, the excellent work of regular people with local businesses, the murder of most of my brain cells in paint fumes, conversations about faith, truth, and freedom, and somehow crypto currency was involved.

I mention some businesses and I recommend them. Links:

Advanced Powder Coating in Wasilla, AK: (no website)

Carbon Concepts: http://www.carbonconceptsak.com

Sport Aircraft Seats: https://sportaircraftseats.com

I used several other local businesses for various needs in this project, but didn't mention them in this episode. It's difficult to summarize nearly two years of work in one short episode.

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Who were the first explorers of Alaska? Who first set eyes on its shores? It's wrapped up in mystery, but we'll talk about it. We also cover the first colonization of Alaska by Europeans...it wasn't pretty. 

I am looking for gospel related testimonies in Alaska. If you want your story told contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d

Real Alaskan stories from the perspective of an missionary bush pilot. We will tell stories of how the gospel is impacting everyday Alaskans. We are also going to talk aviation, maintenance, history, theology, and all things Alaska.

Tell Your Story Alaska podcast is starting out with a fun episode about the top ten coolest facts about Alaska. Who were the first explorers? How big is Alaska exactly? Volcanoes, Tsunamis, mountains, earthquakes, glaciers, animals and more!

Contact me at tysalaska@gmail.com.

Music Credit:

Dragonquest by Alexander Nakarada | https://www.serpentsoundstudios.com

Music promoted by https://www.free-stock-music.com

Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0d