October 1, 2026
PALMER, Alaska — Jake had brought his three children to a park where a mission team from Brookfield Baptist Church was holding a Bible club. Before the day was over, he had heard the gospel and prayed to receive Christ.
For the 13 women from Brookfield Baptist, the moment was a reminder that God had been guiding the timing of the trip long before they arrived in Alaska.
“We served in Palmer, Alaska, about 40 miles from Anchorage,” Amy McClendon said. “Our main ministry was Bible club in the park, but we did service projects and prayer walks and talked about Jesus wherever we went.”
Rosemary Hightower said serving with women of different ages was a blessing.
“It was a great experience for me to be with all the different age groups, with me being the oldest,” Hightower said. “I received so many blessings from my group and the people we met in Alaska. Every day was a new adventure for us.”
McClendon said the trip grew out of her daughter’s call to missions. Two summers ago, her daughter came home from church camp and shared that she felt called to missions. The family began praying that God would open the door for the right first long-distance mission opportunity.
Around that time, several conversations pointed toward Graceworks Alaska. Longtime friends stopped for a visit and shared about Graceworks. Another friend said her daughter had served there. About the same time, McClendon said, the church’s youth leader’s family traveled to Alaska on vacation and met a team headed to Graceworks.
“It seemed God was throwing Graceworks in our faces!” McClendon said.
The team began to form and reached out by email, but never received a response. “The door seemed closed,” McClendon said. “What we did not know at the time was God was saying, ‘Not yet.’”
The email had been lost in the inbox of Scott Kirby, GraceWorks’ president. A year later, he found it and called to ask whether the team was still interested.
“We prayed about it, and God sent us to Alaska at the perfect time for our team,” McClendon said.
McClendon said she cannot help but think God delayed the timing for Jake, who brought his three children to the park where the team was ministering. Kristie Harper, one of the women on the team, began witnessing to him.
Jake told Kristie that he had never gone to church as a child, but he believed there was a higher power. He just did not know what. Harper responded, ‘That’s my God,’ and led him through the plan of salvation. When he walked up to McClendon afterward, “his face was literally shining, and he was so excited.”
Harper said the experience was a reminder of God’s purpose in obedience.
“We do not always know the ‘why’ behind things, but when we are obedient to God, He gives us the ‘why,’” Harper said.
McClendon said a typical day on the mission field began with the team rising early, having quiet time, and eating breakfast served by host missionary cooks. Some mornings included chapel with praise and worship and a sermon by either the team’s site leader or the host church’s pastor. Other mornings were spent on service projects, including upkeep projects for the church that hosted the team.
Each afternoon, the women held a Bible club at their assigned park.
“We would play games, do crafts, sing, serve snacks, and teach a Bible lesson,” McClendon said. “It was not a typical VBS! We had to pivot, be flexible, and God sent us different families to interact with each day.”
The team also had time in the evenings to see the beauty of Alaska.
“Since we were there when there are only four hours of dusk-dark, we had plenty of time to explore the beauty of God’s creation each evening,” McClendon said. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a more beautiful place in my entire life. God’s creation is amazing.”
Hightower said she encourages others to be willing to go. “Step out of your comfort zone and let God lead you. It changes others and yourself. Mission trips always bless me and make me a better servant of God. I go to give a blessing, but I receive more blessings.”
McClendon asked others to pray for Alaska and for churches laboring there.
“Pray that more people will see God is the one true God,” she said. “Only 10% of people in Anchorage attend church. Pray that the churches will have the faith, stamina, and resources to keep up with the work of spreading the gospel and discipling the flock. There is such a spiritual darkness in Alaska. That is in part due to them being in physical darkness half the year.”
The spiritual need became clear in simple conversations. Mandi, one of the women on the mission team, asked a 9-year-old girl named Harley if she went to church.
“How much does it cost?” Harley asked.
Mandi started crying.
“It’s so free!” she said.
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