A New Generation of Believers in Alaska's Darkness

Reachable only by air or sea, the tiny city of Dillingham lies deep in the bush of Alaska, surrounded by miles of tundra. In this fishing hub of just over 2,000, a rich indigenous cultural heritage continues to thrive, with many locals carrying on activities such as moose hunting, berry picking, and wood hauling. Additionally, the cultural values of sharing and helping others in times of crisis infuse this rural community with a beautiful spirit of generosity and kindness.

At the same time, this city is also filled with darkness — and not just because of its Alaskan winters. Suicide, drug overdose, and alcohol-related death rates remain high, and life-ending accidents at sea or on snow machines are all too familiar. Few know the love of Christ, trapped in the lies of legalism, cultural Christianity, or spiritual apathy. Additionally, the belief that anyone can be prayed into heaven by loved ones, no matter what that person has done, acts as a false comfort in the harsh life faced by many in Dillingham.

But in the midst of this spiritual confusion, God is bringing true hope to this city. A small community of believers have faithfully served the Lord in their hometown for decades, and SEND missionaries have come alongside these brothers and sisters to proclaim the good news to Dillingham. 

Along with some local church partners, one missionary couple, Trevor and Aeryn McGee, lead Sunday school for teens as well as a Saturday-night youth group, teaching middle and high school students about the peace and eternal life they can find in Christ alone.

Like most of Dillingham, these adolescents have mourned the deaths of close relatives and family friends, and they often believe that all people go to heaven.

“So then, when they’re coming to youth group, and I’m teaching Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life, it can be challenging for some of them to hear that,” Trevor explains. “They’re like, well, wait a minute, what about my uncle, what about my cousin? And those are hard conversations, but they’re really good conversations.”

Over the summer, Trevor and Aeryn also volunteered at a youth camp where they befriended a girl named Amlliq*, who decided to place her faith in Jesus and started attending youth group. Surrounded by tragedy and negative role models, this new believer has struggled to escape the darkness clouding her life.

In response, Trevor and Aeryn have opened their home to her whenever she needs a refuge from friends who might lead her into substance abuse or other destructive behaviors, and God is clearly at work in her heart. She often tells Trevor, “Man, I just want to get my life cleaned up.” Answering with grace and the simple question, “What are the next steps you should take?” the McGees have continually reminded her of the forgiveness that God offers each time she falls short and have spurred her forward in her relationship with Jesus. 

Amlliq is still at the beginning of what may seem like a long and difficult path of spiritual growth, but God has faithfully placed this missionary couple in her life to walk alongside her through the ups and downs. “We’re praying for her a lot, that as these situations and temptations come up, she chooses to be around like-minded Christ-followers and not worldly things,” Trevor shares.

Not only do the McGees seek to make and build up disciples like Amlliq, but they are also raising up youth who will become disciple-makers themselves to their own community. Through a lesson series on the gospel this summer, Trevor and Aeryn showed students that faith in Christ can replace fear with a bold trust in their Savior’s power.

This especially encouraged Yaari*, a cross-country runner and volleyball player who has felt afraid to share the good news with her teammates, all of whom are unsaved. Now, she realizes that Jesus will empower her to overcome fear, and she wants to tell her fellow athletes about how he has changed her life. As the cross-country season kicks off, Trevor and Aeryn are continuing to cheer Yaari on both at meets and in prayer, excited to watch God move through her to shine Christ’s light.

Although these diligent gospel-laborers have seen the Lord draw young people closer to Him through their ministry, they recognize that God is not just using them but also the many believers who are praying for them and partnering with SEND. “We really could not do this on our own,” Trevor says, “I could not afford to provide snacks, to provide materials for activities, to travel to other villages if it wasn’t for donors filling up these funds and for donors praying for us that God would provide.” 

Through the obedience of missionaries in Alaska like the McGees and through the faithfulness of SEND partners to pray and to give, the Lord is bringing about gospel transformation in the next generation of Dillingham — and this is just the beginning! 

“Posterity will serve him; future generations will be told about the Lord. They will proclaim his righteousness, declaring to a people yet unborn: He has done it!” (Psalm 22:30-31)

*Names changed for privacy.

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"...the McGees have continually reminded her of the forgiveness that God offers each time she falls short and have spurred her forward in her relationship with Jesus."