THIS IS THE STORY OF HOW THE  LORD USED A WILLING

HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT TO REACH THE STATE OF ALASKA

FOR THE GOSPEL

"My personal covenant with my Savior and King: Lord, I give up my own purposes and plans, all my own desires, hopes, and ambitions, and accept Thy will for my life. I give myself, my life, my all utterly to thee to be Thine forever.


I hand over to Thee all my friendships; all the people whom I love are to take second place in my heart. Fill me and seal me with Thy Holy Spirit. Work out Thine own will in my life, at any cost, now and forever. I'll follow on, my King! I'll follow Thee, come what may, until my life's work on earth is done, then…Eternity with Thee! Amen."

— Vincent J. Joy

1930

BEGINNINGS

Vincent J. Joy, founder of Central Alaskan Missions, felt the calling on his life as a high school student. He was willing to surrender His life to the Lord's calling. That calling would lead him to the Copper River Basin of Alaska.


His willing heart would eventually pave the way for many more missionaries to have a great impact on Alaska and northern Canada. 

1930

JOURNEY TO ALASKA

On April 30, 1937, Vince and his wife, Beckie Joy, took their fifteen-month-old son, Jimmy, and headed to Alaska. On May 14, they arrived in Copper Center with their team, consisting of Vince's brother, Austin Joy, and Lillian Scott. 


Upon arriving in Copper Center, they were immediately met with opposition. When they landed, a young man told the missionaries to return home and that they were not needed. Being confident that the Lord called them to this region of Alaska, they stayed. 


The mission team rented a one-room cabin behind the Roadhouse in Copper River. At this Roadhouse, there was a piano where Beckie could play hymns, and Vince would "talk" around the hymns to avoid the "no preaching" rule. The "services" grew, and soon, the Joy family held Sunday school and regular services in their new log home.

1942-1950

FIRST STEPS

In 1942, having outgrown the small log home, Chapel on the Hill was built. The church held its first service on Christmas Day, 1942, and this was just the beginning of the ministry of SEND North. 


The faithfulness of the Joy family was quickly multiplied by the Lord, and the Central Alaskan Missions (CAM) ministry grew. The Lord continued to provide people to serve, teach, and help develop leaders to reach the hearts of Alaska. 


Four years later, the Joys moved to Glennallen. Glennallen would eventually become the headquarters of Central Alaskan Missions and the many other partner ministries, such as the Faith Hospital, KCAM, Bible studies, and Alaska Bible College.