It has been an honor and a privilege to lead mission trips for FBC Killeen for the past 15 years. Over the years, we have taken trips throughout Texas (including Brownsville, Port Aransas, and West), as well as Louisiana, Florida, Minnesota, Colorado, California, Belize, and of course Alaska. The trips to Alaska have become a staple in our church’s mission theme over the years. Not only is it a breathtaking state to visit, but it is also a place in desperate need of God’s light.

My love and heart for Alaskan missions stems from my time spent serving, not only in the Alaska State Convention, but as the Education & Student pastor at FBC Eagle River. During my time there I came to realize how desperately the Alaskan people needed to see and hear of God’s love. I watched countless “mission teams” (truthfully, groups only interested in tourism) come through the state but make little to no impact on growing God’s Kingdom.

When God called my family and me back to the lower 48, and to FBC Killeen, I knew that He was also calling me to take intentional mission teams back to Alaska and partner with the local churches to grow His Kingdom. Through my years of service in Alaska, I had made many positive connections within several communities and that is where our partnership began. Over the past 15 years our church has sent 10 mission teams to Alaska.

God has blessed our mission efforts there. Through intentional and personal one on one evangelism we have seen more than 50 decisions for Christ. Over the years, our students and adults have excelled in presenting the Gospel message to people working in shops, to the homeless, to the elderly, to children and teens in group homes, and to children in VBS or Kid’s Camps. There is no telling how many more Gospel seeds have been planted in our time spent in Alaska.

While serving in Alaska we have refurbished and remodeled three different churches; run VBS for three churches; run Kid’s Camps for two churches; run a Sport’s Camp; been allowed to lead, teach and love on the children at Birchwood Behavior Home, a children’s home. We have been the only Christian group allowed to come in to lead Bible studies and spend entire days with the children; refurbished and renovated many of the buildings at BBH; run programs for Prestige Nursing Home and Rehab Center; street evangelism (homeless ministry); and business blasts.

I am looking forward to the summer of 2024 when we will return to Alaska and put in more work to grow His Kingdom. I thank the faithful members of FBC Killeen who have generously supported, prayed and served on the Alaskan mission field.