Calvary Missions, Kalskag, Alaska

Calvary Missions, located in Upper Downtown Kalskag directly on the edge of the Kuskokwim River, is an interdenominational church. It was established in 1959 by missionaries, Martin and Audrey Ausdahl.  Today, their son, Mark Ausdahl pastors the church. The two story building was built in 1986.   The church is a landmark on the Kuskokwim River as it has a yellow lighted large cross on the top of the building providing a beacon of spiritual light to people passing Kalskag by boat, snowmachine or plane.  Preaching is straight from the Word of God.  The congregation spends time in worship with hymns and choruses and in prayer.  A fellowship dinner follows each Sunday Service.  This church building can hold about 35 people.  It serves people from both villages since this is the only Protestant church in the area.

 

The Lord has given me the honor and brought me out to Kalskag from Wasilla, Alaska in the summer of 2012 to work along side Mark and minister in this church and village.

What Calvary Missions does to help

In 2012 businesses, schools and churches in Wasilla, Alaska launched a “Coats for Kalskag” Drive.  They collected over 100 coats and mailed them out to us that we gave away on Halloween.  In Kalskag we called it “Coats and Candy.”  The coats were gone within the first hour.  Weeks later people were still asking for a coat. We attempted to get these people a coat.


In January a girl scout group collected clothing and boots  and we handed those items out at one of the schools. The kids were so happy and grateful for their new clothes, toothbrushes and books.  Prom dresses were mailed out and we were able to bless teenage girls with a beautiful dress for Prom in May.



People from the lower 48 have mailed up new socks, shoes, hats, scarves, and other clothing items for the children in Kalskag.  We have distributed them with "no strings attached."

 

Dinner is served to the children once a week during “Kids Club”, a weekly Bible Study for children/teens in the village. Last spring, 23 children were saved through our Kids Club. We encourage the children to respect and honor the elders and teachers by picking up trash in the village and around the schools, baking cookies and giving them away and other service helps with needy elders.  Besides Kids Club, Vacation Bible School is a ministry we do during the summer between fishing and berry picking season. 

 

 

 

For adults we offer a Bible Study called "Coffee with Jesus."  The people are so hungry for the Word of God that one night a week was not enough and they asked to meet two evenings a week. We offer soup or light dinner for the participants.  The meals are provided by people who want to donate and mail us food, such as dry soups, breads, pasta & pasta sauce, and crackers to help feed the adults and children. Many of these items are just not available in the village and if they are the items are quite expensive. Bibles are also sent out to Kalskag by people wanting to donate to the church.  We can hardly keep the Bibles stocked that are sent.  There is always someone who would like one.

 

Women's Brunch was a popular outreach I did twice last year. Several ladies looked forward to gathering together for community fellowship and a variety of yummy brunch items.

 

THIS YEAR'S MINISTRIES

This year we plan to have a dinner for the elders of the Villages.  We will serve native food and have it in our church building. In the Spring we plan to have a teacher appreciation dinner for the teachers of the schools. 

 

Our Big Project is the Kalskag Christmas Project...coming up next!