Sacrificial ministry on the Yukon River

What did teenagers from Huslia, Galena, Buckland, Noorvik and Selawik have in common last week? They gathered from up and down the Yukon River to attend Kokrine Hills Bible Camp. Kokrine Hills Bible Camp was started in 1964. In the villages it is known as “the Bible camp.” It’s on the Yukon River 350 miles north of Anchorage and 200 miles west of Fairbanks. It is 55 miles upriver (east) from Ruby and 65 miles (west) of Tanana. Teenagers and young adults from the Mat-Su Valley and northern California gathered to lead this ministry. Many of the young people serving at camp spent $1,300 of their own money to do so. My family and I had the privilege of attending the camp and interacting with Native youth from the various villages.

We had a great time. As our plane left camp Thursday evening my heart was heavy as we said goodbye to our many new friends. What is the solution to the many difficult problems facing rural (and urban) Alaska? How will the chronic problems of alcoholism and horrific sexual abuse be solved? The answer is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ and the strong foundation of God’s word.

What is it that motivated teenagers and young adults to serve at the camp? What caused young people to brave hordes of mosquitoes, outhouses and to leave behind their comfortable lives to minister? The answer is found in 2 Timothy 2:8-13. This is the last book ever written by the Apostle Paul. Paul wrote from a Roman dungeon. Nero was the emperor. Paul’s life was about to end. The great apostle spelled out four great motivations for ministry.

Faithful service to the Lord has always been costly. Standing for the truth and making a difference has never been easy. At one time there were some 600 miles of catacombs under the city of Rome. Nearly all of them were dug and used by 10 generations of Christians over 300 years. In the early centuries of the church, the catacombs served as meetings and burial places for perhaps as many as 4 million Christians. How can you endure in ministry even when the going gets tough? 2 Timothy 2:8-13 provides four motivations for service.

The preeminence of Jesus. Verse 8 says, “Remember that Jesus Christ, of the seed of David, was raised from the dead according to my gospel….” Paul said, “Remember who Jesus Christ is — God incarnate.” We must remember Jesus Christ because he is risen from the dead. Jesus came to this earth and lived a perfect life. Our sins were placed upon him at the cross. He suffered as a substitutionary sacrifice for us. He died and was buried. We worship him and serve him today because he is no longer dead but alive. We remember and worship and serve the living Jesus Christ.

Since Jesus is our divine savior and sovereign lord, we should not worry about what happens to us in this life. As our divine savior, Jesus gives us absolute and perfect security. Jesus said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow Me and I give eternal life to them, and they shall never perish; and no one shall snatch them out of my hand” (John 10:27-28). As our sovereign lord, Jesus controls everything that we are and everything that happens to us.

The power of the word of God. Verse 9 reads, “…for which I suffer trouble as an evildoer, even to the point of chains; but the word of God is not chained.” The Scriptures are holy and powerful.

At the Bible camp, young people from Northern California embraced Native youth from the Koyukon region. Young people raised along the Yukon reached out to teenagers from Big Lake and Anchorage.

What broke down the barriers? What tore down the walls between them? The answer is found in Hebrews 4 verse 12. “The word of God is living and active and sharper than any two edged sword, and piercing as far as the division of soul and spirit, of both joints and marrow, and able to judge the thoughts and intents of the heart.” It is the Bible that changes and convicts and softens.

The purpose of the work. The Apostle Paul in verse 10 spelled out the purpose of the work. “For this reason I endure all things for the sake of the elect, that they also may obtain the salvation which is in Christ Jesus with eternal glory.” The greatest work is sharing the good news that Jesus died for sinners. The gospel enables people to avoid an eternity in hell and the lake of fire. The work is noble. The cause is great. There is no higher calling.

The promise of eternal blessing. Verses 11-13 list several promises from God himself. “It is a trustworthy statement: for if we died with him, we shall also live with him…” (verse 11). Even if a Christian experiences martyrdom, the result is eternal life. The martyr’s great confidence is life after death.

“If we endure, we shall also reign with him” (verse 12). Persecution and hostility result in greater reward from God. “If we deny him, he also will deny us” (verse 12). Those who demonstrate their lack of salvation by being ashamed of Jesus will be denied by Jesus before the father. Finally, “If we are faithless, he remains faithful; he cannot deny himself” (verse 13). A lack of saving faith will produce the judgment of God.

How can the great divides that separate Americans today be overcome? The only solution lies in the love and service that Jesus demonstrated. As we turn to Jesus in repentance and faith, the result is love and compassion and concern for others. I saw that demonstrated this week on the Yukon River. May God continue to do his great work in our lives in the future.

Ethan Hansen is pastor of Faith Bible Fellowship in Big Lake. He can be reached at ehansen@biglakefaithbible.org.