Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)Synod of Alaska-Northwest
Every day, simple acts of mission and ministry define the community which is the Presbytery of Alaska. All of this is happening in one of the most beautiful and remote places in the U.S.A. The Presbytery of Alaska is made up of 15 churches and one mission point – 1,066 people – located mainly on remote islands and inlets in Southeast Alaska. Traveling from village to village or to larger towns is by boat or plane only. Many in the congregations of the Alaska Presbytery are Alaska Native people – Tlingits, Haidas and Tsimshians – who live a subsistence lifestyle: hunting, fishing and gathering their food. They are dedicated to preserving their lifestyle and the resources that provide their living. The way of life that they have practiced for hundreds of years, though life giving, is not an easy one. It is contributions from congregations and individuals in the PC(USA) that have allowed the good work in Alaska to continue and grow. The focus of the Presbytery of Alaska is on leadership development, especially for those in tiny village churches that sometimes number 15 to 20 people. The Presbytery is dedicated to providing a Minister of Word and Sacrament to each church on a regular basis, as well as providing leadership training and workshops for those who are church officers and teachers. Financial, hands-on and prayer support make it possible for these churches to continue the acts of mission and ministry that God has given them to do both locally and globally.