My Initial Letter

A Small Place Making a Big Impact 

Sitka, Alaska is a small, remote dot on the map, but it makes a big impact on the State of Alaska. In 1947 Mount Edgecumbe High School opened as a boarding school in Sitka for rural Alaska Natives from the villages all over the State. Most of Alaska’s current Native leaders were educated at MEHS and tomorrow’s leaders are among the 400 students enrolled here today. Influence Mount Edgecumbe High School and you influence rural, Native Alaska. 

 

And rural, Native Alaska is in need of positive influence. The incidence of drug and alcohol abuse, domestic violence, sexual assault, suicide, and incarceration are extraordinarily high among rural Native Alaskans. And yet still, each fall, beautiful kids -  Inupiaq, Yupik, Athabaskan, Aleut, Tlingit, Haida, and Tsimshian kids - from all over the State leave their villages and families and gather at Mt. Edgecumbe High School for a higher quality education in hopes of a better life. In a very real sense, the mission field of Alaska comes to one place and one school. 

 

Alaska Native Ministry in Sitka 

This strategic place merits a full time Young Life staff person. There has been great volunteer Young Life ministry in Sitka to MEHS students for over 15 years, but there is so much more that can be done. We want to be able to reach more kids and keep in touch with them after they leave Sitka for their village. Many Alaska Native kids get trapped in a cycle of dysfunction, alcohol and drug abuse, and low expectations for life following high school. A focused dynamic ministry at Mt Edgecumbe will give kids the chance to hear clearly about Christ and to have their life transformed. A full-time staff person growing a team of volunteers and devoted to connecting with MEHS kids and their families will make a huge difference throughout Alaska. Maybe these kids would start Young Life in their villages and transform the next generation!  

 

Introducing:  Aaron & Emily Routon!  

Alaska Young Life has asked Aaron Routon to lead this ministry as a full time Young Life Mission Staff.  Aaron is engaging, inspiring and a joy to be around. He has worked in Sitka for 10 years with kids from around the state as a recreation director, coach, and public school teacher in both the regular classroom and in an alternative drug rehab setting. He has volunteered faithfully and effectively as a Young Life leader and a summer Bible Camp counselor in Unalakleet, Alaska. His wife, Emily,  is a teacher at MEHS and volunteer Young Life leader. She is a bubbly energetic addition to his ministry! 

 

The Alaska Native Ministry at MEHS will be a part of the Sitka Young Life area, led by Area Director Chris Voron, and gain supervision and training from Regional Director Brent Cunningham. The Sitka area staff and regional leadership resources will use a team approach to support and encourage the Native Ministry in Sitka. The Murdock Foundation, recognizing this great potential, has given a start-up grant to partially fund the first 3 years of ministry,  but much more support is needed to make this a sustainable ministry.  

 

 

 

Funding Plan for Alaska Native Ministry
Salary/Benefits	$ 65,000.00
Office and Program Expenses	$    3,600.00
Staff/Volunteer Training	$    4,800.00
Alaska Bush Travel	$    3,600.00
Camp Scholarships	$ 10,000.00
TOTAL	$ 87,000.00

 

 

“The way to impact Rural Alaska is to impact Mount Edgecumbe High School. The state is enormous and inaccessible. Most villages can only be reached by small plane. In Sitka, Alaska kids come to us! It's so important and strategic. I have wanted a staff person there for years who can give a full time focus and energy to these kids, and I think we have a perfect staff person in Aaron Routon. He has shown his heart for village kids and a longing to share the love of Christ with them.” Brent Cunningham, Alaska Regional Director 

 

“During the past decade I have developed a heart for these kids. I’ve seen the joys and pains they face in their daily lives.  This Mission Staff position excites me because it allows me to spend my energy helping kids get to know the Christ who can bring true joy and healing.  I love the kids of Alaska and I want them to know the life changing love that God offers.” Aaron Routon, Alaska Native Ministry 

 

Please help us make a difference in these kid’s lives by sharing God’s love and hope with them. We strongly believe that God has prepared Aaron for this very role of full time ministry to Mt Edgecumbe students. Will you join us by financially supporting Aaron’s work with these kids?