ALASKA
Alaska is a non-contiguous U.S. state on the northwest extremity of North America. Part of the Western United States region, it is one of the two non-contiguous U.S. states, alongside Hawaii. Alaska is also considered to be the northernmost, westernmost, and easternmost (the Aleutian Islands cross the 180th meridian into the eastern hemisphere) state in the United States. It borders the Canadian territory of Yukon and the province of British Columbia to the east. It shares a western maritime border, in the Bering Strait, with Russia's Chukotka Autonomous Okrug. The Chukchi and Beaufort Seas of the Arctic Ocean lie to the north, and the Pacific Ocean lies to the south. Technically, it is a semi-exclave of the U.S., and is the largest exclave in the world.
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Opinion: Health care is sacred. As Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders in Alaska, we urge that Medicaid be protected In sanctuaries, synagogues and mosques across Alaska, we see the face of suffering — and of strength. We offer prayers, food, rides to clinics and comfort to families navigating the impossible. But there are moments — too many of them — when all we can do is bear witness to unnecessary heartbreak. A man comes to church limping, unable to afford a doctor’s visit after injuring his foot. A young woman battling cancer remains on a transplant list as her family sinks into medical debt. Another woman, feverish with illness, shows up to work sick, knowing she couldn’t afford to miss a shift. Another man died of sepsis from spider bites — something a $30 antibiotic could have treated. Another woman, struggling with addiction, couldn’t afford a medical detox. She tried to do it herself and died alone. (Anchorage Daily News 4/25/25) READ MORE>>>>> Anchorage marks Good Friday with Stations of the Cross walk for reflection The Archdiocese of Anchorage-Juneau marked Good Friday with a powerful tradition—the Stations of the Cross walk. Good Friday is a significant day for Christians, commemorating the day Jesus Christ died on the cross, before rising again on Easter Sunday.In Anchorage, the walk began at 8 AM at the Cathedral of Our Lady of Guadalupe on Wisconsin Street, with many people joining in along the route (Your Alaska Link 4/18/25) READ MORE>>>>> Native America Calling: Ringing in the Orthodox New Year in Alaska The Orthodox New Year in Alaska is a mix of seal meat, tea cakes, and Alaska Native and Slavonic languages. It’s a cultural blend more than 150 years after Russia formally withdrew from what would become America’s 49th state. In that time, the Orthodox Christian customs continued to flourish and merged with Native traditions. In many ways, they are more established than in their home country, which saw religious persecution during the time of the Soviet Union. Join Native America Calling to hear from Alaska Native adherents of Russian Orthodox Christianity about how they’re welcoming the New Year on January 14. (Indianz 1/14/25) READ MORE>>>>> Soldotna church to host LGBTQ story time for kids, after library drag show cancelled After cancelling a planned drag queen performance for kids at the Soldotna Public Library last month, a radical LGBTQ organization has finally found a local church willing to host its story hour event for area children. Christ Lutheran Church in Soldotna has agreed to open its doors to the so-called “Love Your Neighbor Storytime” on Saturday, Feb. 10, in its fellowship hall. (Alaska Watchman 2.6.24) READ MORE>>>>> 
Alaska is on track to become the latest state to ban trans-identified males from competing in women's sports, as nearly half of U.S. states have measures in place designed to preserve fair competition for female athletes.
On Thursday, the Alaska State Board of Education & Early Development approved an amendment to state law declaring that "if a separate high school athletics team is established for female students, participation shall be limited to females who were assigned female at birth." --Christian Post; Alaska to become 24th state to ban males from women's sports 9/6/23 July 7, 2023: Washington Post: Born-again Christians are less Southern Baptist than they used to be
“Mike Bickle is not distractible,” said Steve Hickey, a seminary professor at Alaska Christian College and a former pastor. “He’s very focused. He’s got a very biblical and responsible approach.” |
January 3, 2023: Christian Post reported: A Baptist church in Alaska older than the state itself is changing its name.
Anchorage Baptist Temple, a well-known and politically influential church for decades, will now be known as Mountain City Church. Pastor Ron Hoffman announced the change Sunday, saying the name would better reflect the identity of the roughly 2,500-member congregation. One of the issues with the former name, according to Hoffman, was the usage of the word “temple,” which Hoffman said is more associated with “false religions” than Christian churches. “Our current name has unnecessary barriers in it,” he said. “The word ‘temple’ is more associated with false religions today than it is about true places of worship. The word that once enhanced our church’s vision now hinders it.” March 4, 2023: ProPublica reported: Alaska Says It’s Now Legal “in Some Instances” to Discriminate Against LGBTQ Individuals. In June 2020, after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that workplace discrimination against people based on their sexual orientation or gender identity was illegal, Alaska quickly moved to follow suit. August 11, 2022: Religion Unplugged reported: Blessed Olga (1916-1979) is expected to become the first female Orthodox saint of North America, possibly as soon as 2023. Born Arrsamquq in the Yup’ik tribe, she’s considered a patron for sexual abuse victims, women who have suffered miscarriages and expecting mothers. “She’s venerated not just here in Alaska but in the Lower 48 and also abroad now,” said Father Vasily Fisher, the dean of St. Herman’s Orthodox Seminary in Kodiak, Alaska, who was born in Kwethluk. “It’s safe to say it’s very close to her canonization. It’s quite sure.” |
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Nov 11, 2021: Anchorage Daily News: One Alaska Christian’s response to the mask mandate discord With all the recent discord over how to best respond to the COVID-19 case increase in Anchorage and masking, I’m feeling strongly compelled to reach out to Christian believers in Anchorage and ask all to consider a “level-setting” of thoughts, words, and deeds with respect to the volatile issue over COVID-19 and local government’s approach to managing health risk. |
If anyone takes stock in the Bible (to me, God’s inspired Word), and specifically the account of Christ’s ministry leading up to and through His crucifixion at the cross as a perfect sacrifice for mankind’s sin, then those individuals should make note that Christ did not come to the world to raise and debate “civil rights” violations in His day.
Instead, He trusted in God the Father’s sovereignty and stayed focused on the Godly purpose of sharing a greater message of repentance and pursuit of restored righteousness. His greater message came not because people were oppressed from civil rights violations, but because peoples needed something greater then a local, state or federal government’s efforts looking to address physical health and “civil rights” issues. Admittedly, in Jesus’ time, there was severe persecution of people’s civil rights, going far beyond personal choice infringement and mask mandates. Anyone taking stock in His message, I’d encourage and plead with you to steer clear of placing greater attention to the civil rights concerns over masking, versus what mankind’s heart is in real need of — His grace and mercy, without respect to perceived civil rights violations. Receiving His grace and mercy, for me personally, makes the debate of “civil rights” violations moot. I’m secure in His sovereignty, His grace and mercy, and His love to the point of dying on a cross without crime/cause. I cannot find anywhere in Christ’s testimony and message where he placed greatest emphasis on mankind’s “civil rights.” His focus was higher and eternal. --Steven Vandagriff; 11.11.21; Anchorage Daily News |