Prayer assembly brings hundreds to Wasilla

WASILLA — They’re calling Alaska “the gateway for an outpouring of the Holy Spirit” as prayer and spiritual meditation spreads among a variety of Valley churches and spills across the state and the nation.

Hundreds of prayerful Christians from around the Valley, the state and the country filled the Curtis D. Menard Memorial Sports Center Friday and Saturday in the hopes of helping the country heal its spiritual wounds at the Kingdom Come Alaska conference and the more controversial, anti-abortion prayer assembly known as The Call.

Although a Wasilla police officer stood outside the center and about a dozen security guards roamed the arena in anticipation of pro-choice protesters, Friday’s activities remained peaceful as everyone in attendance seemed to have only one purpose: to pray and fellowship with others in what they said is “a time of spiritual crisis.”

Wasilla residents Ruth Pearcy, of Northgate Church, and Judy McKinley, of Church on the Rock, said they were excited to see Christians from all denominations and cultures gather with one voice.

“We need to get the word out about God and the work God has for the movement in the Valley,” said Pearcy, a state-at-home mom. “We want to bring unity in our state at every level to focus on things like domestic violence, sexual abuse, alcoholism and our high suicide rates.”

McKinley, a special needs teacher at Teeland Middle School, said she loves that so many local nonprofit organizations like the Food Pantry and the statewide campaign to end domestic violence called Choose Respect can be a part of the conference by displaying information on tables around the perimeter of the arena.

“There are groups here from the Yukon, Mexico, Spokane, Kansas City, North Pole, Kenai and a bunch of other places, and that’s really cool to see,” McKinley said before moving closer to the stage.

A ministry band was providing soothing, inspirational songs for those who wanted to pray and dance.

At one of the tables set up around the arena, Wasilla High School graduate and former Valley music teacher Bill Pagaran gathered with fellow members of the Native America musical ministry group Broken Walls to sell CDs and T-shirts.

“The Call is really a cry from the hearts of the people for a healed land and a healed people,” said Pagaran, the band’s percussionist. “We pray and cry out for God to come and heal our land, but we have to heal ourselves first.”

Broken Walls reaches out to Alaska Native communities, he said, because of the high alcoholism and suicide rates plaguing villages.

“We want to see those negative statistics reversed,” he said. “Alaska is the key place for the nation because it’s a place of crisis in many ways. Two weeks ago we had ‘One Lord Sunday’ here, where 30 churches gathered to pray to one God. It was really beautiful.”

At the other end of the table, 19-year-old Wasilla resident Gayla Kalnins was carrying on her father’s legacy to get the word out about a local program for spiritual leadership known as Master’s Commission Wasilla.

“My dad was the first to graduate from this program, so I grew up hearing about it and it’s the coolest thing to be able to participate in it now,” Kalnins said of the nine-month college alternative. “It’s a really good opportunity to get a foundation set for your life if you’re interested in mission work or evangelism. That’s where my passion is.”

As Kalnins spoke, the live guitars, drums and wind instruments being played on the arena stage provided a continuous, inspirational opportunity through which participants danced uninhibited with colorful flags or raised their arms up in prayer, their fingers reaching out for the spiritual energy that seemed to fill the room.

Even a lone security guard standing at the top of the bleachers stretched his arms out and became lost in prayer, his body softly silhouetted against the arena windows.

“This is such an amazing gathering of people from all walks of life and backgrounds,” Northgate Church member Stephanie Tinney said. “It feels so right.”

Contact K.T. McKee at kate.McKee@frontiersman.com or 352-2252.