July 2014

NOTE: To download the newsletter with pictures, click HERE

Greetings, in the name of our Lord.

The month of July began with a bang as KIAM participated in the second annual Nenana Gospel Music Festival. We were able to broadcast the event live throughout the State of Alaska on KIAM, KAGV, KYKD, and on all our translators and affiliates.

The event was held on a vacant lot right on "A" street which is the main Street in the center of the village. There were many people in town for the Fourth of July parade and other events which preceded the Gospel Fest. The Gospel was clearly proclaimed and this year the majority of the musicians and singers were from Alaska. The groups included several prominent Native Alaskan bands, and many of the musicians gave their testimonies as to how Christ has changed their lives. It was a great time of ministry and outreach especially as we were able to bring the event via radio to many remote villages throughout rural Alaska.

The Gospel Fest began as a vision six years ago to offer a family-friendly alternative to a Bluegrass Festival that was held every year in the nearby town of Anderson. In recent years, this Bluegrass Festival had suffered from a lot of drunk and disorderly behavior and an unpleasant atmosphere of drugs and vulgarity.

Three years ago God sent a couple to visit Nenana who organizes these Gospel Festivals as a ministry. They, along with several local folks and churches worked to put something together for Nenana. Last year, this ministry of outreach to our community and beyond became a reality.

Kelsie Anderson hosts the live broadcast from Musicians warm up as the town prepares to the second annual Nenana Gospel Fest. commence the Fourth of July festivities.

As for the Bluegrass Festival in Anderson? Last year the organizers of the event decided to discontinue it. They cited a variety of reasons, but we know Who's unseen hand moves and directs all things. All praise be to Him!

Another event we have covered is the World Eskimo-Indian Olympics in Fairbanks. We interviewed a number of the athletes and were able to have a presence at an event that has great significance to Native Alaskans. Our prayer is that as we show interest in the life and culture of their people that God will give us the opportunities to show forth the love of Christ and communicate the good news of hope and salvation in Him.

We have been slowly working on getting the projects we had planned to get done this summer completed. We have experienced the wettest summer on record so far and the unrelenting bad weather has prevented us from getting as much accomplished as we wanted.The threat of flooding here in Nenana had also kept us occupied with moving items to higher ground and dealing with water under our buildings. Pray with us that the rain will stop and the rivers and ground water will go down. The two days of the Gospel Music Festival were the only days in nearly two months that it was bright and sunny with no wind and few bugs.

Lord willing, by this time next month we will be broadcasting in the village of Kalskag. This will complete the third of four translators that we were granted last year by the FCC. God has provided the resources to complete this project well before the FCC deadline for getting it on the air. The only remaining translator is in Iliamna and we are still looking for a suitable location for it. Be praying that God provides the necessary contacts and openings to facilitate this. We originally applied for the licenses over ten years ago, and many of the people we were working with at the time are no longer there.

We still have several of our existing translators that are currently off the air. We have all the necessary items to repair them, but we are waiting for logistics and weather to accomplish this. These are in some of the more remote and inaccessible places so we are trusting and praying that God will provide us with the means to get out there.

As always, we thank you all for your faithful prayers and support. Your partnership in this ministry extends the reach of God's word and message of salvation into lands that are truly at "the ends of the earth".

Thank you, and may God bless and encourage you as you serve Him.

Blessings,

Art Thompson
VFCM Executive Director.