Alaska Mission Trip

By Michael Burris

Click here for more photos from the trip

During the month of February, 2009, I took a message of hope to state of Alaska. My good friend and brother in Christ, Larry Crabtree, traveled with me to “The Land of the Midnight Sun” to share the hope of the eternal Son.  We landed in Anchorage on February 5th and began our journey.

I first spoke at North Pole Worship Center on February 7th. At ten degrees below zero we considered the weather in North Pole to be fantastic given that a few weeks earlier the climate had been a frigid sixty below. The meeting was a men’s conference and I spoke openly about sensitive topics which are often not addressed in many of today’s churches. We discussed lust, pornography and the impact of these issues on their wives and the marriage relationship. A very special thank you to Pastors Darryl Carnley and Cal Coblentz for a warm welcome and an awesome opportunity to address the men of North Pole Worship Center! I look forward to seeing you again soon!

Larry and I re-boarded an Alaska Airlines jet that same afternoon and were back in Anchorage later that evening! The next morning I shared about God’s message of hope in my life, how He has directed my walk through terminal cancer. (For more about my diagnosis of Glioblastoma Multiforme see my story above.) I was much honored to share what God is doing in me with the church where I first gave my heart to Jesus Christ in July of 1973 - First Baptist Church of Eagle River, Alaska. Thank you to Pastor Todd Burgess and the deacons of the church for the invitation to minister to your congregation.

Larry accompanied me to serve God and to be my friend and driver. He also was there to take care of any medical issues that arose. The greatest blessing of this trip for me was to see God establish a new ministry through Larry. This ministry focuses on the persecuted church in America. He spoke with a conviction that I have rarely seen. I am looking forward to watching God use Larry with this timely message.

I did have three seizures in six days, but all were small. I actually had one when I was preaching in North Pole. I advise congregations before I speak that a seizure could happen. I explain that the seizures are very small and may interrupt my speech for a few moments. Then I ask people to pray for me while I experience the interruption. When the seizure ends, I simply resume the message the Holy Spirit has given me for the people.

Larry and I have been invited back to minister to in the Eagle River area. Larry will be returning later in the year. I am prayerfully considering this opportunity.

A heartfelt thank you to our new friend, Curtis Homme.  Curtis shared great hospitality with us as we stayed with him in Anchorage. Larry, my brother in Christ, thank you for all your help and friendship as we did the work God called us to do.

Thank you to all the wonderful people who have given financially to make this trip possible! Words cannot describe the ways you have changed lives in Alaska.

Please look at the pictures we took. (Moose seem plentiful as deer in Missouri!)

God, thank you for giving me the desire of my heart!

Psalm 37:3-5 (New International Version)

 3 Trust in the LORD and do good;
       dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.
 4 Delight yourself in the LORD
       and he will give you the desires of your heart.
 5 Commit your way to the LORD;
       trust in him and he will do this: