Valley Christians gather

WASILLA -- Good Shepherd Lutheran Church hosted the Valley Christian Conference dinner on Monday, with more than 80 people crowded into the church basement to eat lasagna, listen to the vocal talent of Cantora Arctica, the local community choir, and celebrate the ecumenical work being done through members of VCC.

"Through you, God has been at work in different ways in the Valley," said master of ceremonies Bert Hall.

VVC sponsors several community programs that do work inspired by the life of Christ. The Wasilla Food Pantry, Valley Residential Services, Daybreak Services Coordination, Furniture Ministry and The Treasure Loft Thrift Store are all services that are sponsored by VVC. Many of these programs are held together by numerous volunteers from the participating churches that make up the conference: Christ First United Methodist Church, Church of the Covenant-American Baptist, First Presbyterian Church of Wasilla, Good Shepherd Lutheran Church, Majestic Mountain Native Ministries, Sacred Heart Roman Catholic Church, Saint Bartholomew's Episcopal Church, Trinity Lutheran Church and United Protestant Presbyterian Church.

Hall described the calling that so many VVC members have felt since the conference was organized in 1992.

"It calls upon ourselves as volunteers, our worldly possessions and our time to do these great things," Hall said.

The volunteer work done by members of the conference include donating food to those who may not eat otherwise; providing housing opportunities for people with special needs such as low-income persons or person with disabilities; providing social work counseling for those with special needs; providing furniture, at no cost, for people who need to furnish their home; low-cost, good quality used clothing; and the opportunity to rent medical equipment.

The VVC also provides opportunities for worship and a vacation bible school and Christian arts camp along with sponsoring ecumenical ministries. Those who work or volunteer for those ministries say they find pleasure in helping others, and that the opportunity for others to join in service are available.

"We're all mixed up and intertwined," said Treasure Loft manager Diane Kauzer, about how each church comes together to do Christian work as a team. "We aim to help people falling through the cracks."

Contact Jen Ransom at jen.ransom@frontiersman.com.