When Russ and Alice Sharrock first came from Toccoa, Ga., to
Nenana, Alaska, in 1998 to assist with a Christian radio station, they were
struck by the need they encountered.
Specifically, they recall feeling deeply burdened by the need
for a new church – a church that would be vitally involved in the sometimes
troubled local life of this Alaskan interior river village.
Naysayers predicted it would take five long years to establish
a church in such a hardened mission field.
When Russ and Alice Sharrock first came from Toccoa, Ga., to
Nenana, Alaska, in 1998 to assist with a Christian radio station, they were
struck by the need they encountered.
Specifically, they recall feeling deeply burdened by the need
for a new church – a church that would be vitally involved in the sometimes
troubled local life of this Alaskan interior river village.
Naysayers predicted it would take five long years to establish
a church in such a hardened mission field.
But despite such warnings and armed with the support of others,
the Sharrocks returned in 2000 as church planters.
Nenana Community Church was born.
“We had a church within four weeks of stepping off the
plane,” Alice Sharrock says. “At our first get-acquainted
meeting in the Civic Center – complete with a catered meal – we had
over 120 people from this village of 412 total population.”
Unable to continue using the Civic Center for worship, the
Sharrocks then began holding services with a core group of 20 at their tiny
one-room cabin.
“We now have 30-45 people each Sunday crammed into the
great room of our larger log cabin,” Alice Sharrock reports. “Visitors
are coming all the time. And we have a vital youth group of 15-20 teens from
Nenana, as well as from the new Student Living Center.”
Immediately before coming to Nenana, the Sharrocks studied
at Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary in the Nehemiah Project for domestic
church planting.
Their church planting professor at Midwestern, Carrol Fowler,
insists the type of work the Sharrocks are doing is crucial to fulfilling the
Great Commission.
“If were going to reach the world, we have to be
concerned about both the cities and rural areas,” he maintains. “There
was no evangelical message from Southern Baptists in the area where Russ and
Alice serve, and theyve gone to minister, share their lives and witness
in an area where its almost impossible to send fulltime people.”
One of Nenana Communitys greatest successes has been
the fall Crossfire basketball camp. (See accompanying article)
The Sharrocks also give credit to others, including Virginia
pastor William Gunter and his congregation at Webber Memorial Baptist Church
in Chesterfield, Va.
Gunter was the Sharrocks pastor at First Baptist Church,
Hillsville, Va., when Russ Sharrock was called to ministry, and has continued
to serve as a mentor. He also has led Webber Memorial to continued involvement
in the Sharrocks ministry.
Trinity North Baptist Church in Kansas City, Mo., has also
maintained a vital connection with the Sharrocks and their ministry. Sending
the Sharrocks out in 2000, the church has continued to be among their key supporters,
pastor, Scott Flippin reports.
“We feel its very important when a person has exhibited
that kind of call on their life that we support it,” he says.
The Sharrocks are quick to note it is not just involving other
Baptists but also becoming involved in local life that makes Nenana Community
Church different.
For example, Russ Sharrock has participated on the local library
board and has served on the public schools strategic planning committee
– the only pastor to do so.
“Our slogan is Serving Christ and our community,”
Alice Sharrock notes. “Its easy for churches and believers up here
to remain isolated from the people who need them the most – the village
people who struggle with alcohol, drugs, etc. Our commitment is to be an integral
part of the community, the daily lives of children, families and individuals.”
The Sharrocks say they hope that Nenana Community Churchs
intentional outreach efforts will continue to reap eternal dividends among the
cautious and often fiercely independent local peoples.
They are unfamiliar with the Southern Baptist Convention and
wary after being hurt by outside governing bodies that do not understand Alaskan
culture and needs. As a result, Nenana residents seem more interested in seeing
the gospel message lived among them than establishing a strong denominational
identity, they note.
Still, the Sharrocks are involving their small church in Alaska
Baptist life – and living their witness for all to see.
“The often-evangelized peoples of rural Alaska –
Athabascans, Tlingit, Yupik and Inupiaq, or Eskimo, and rural whites –
are skeptical of a hit-and-run gospel,” Alice Sharrock says. “One
of their leaders said, If you want to reach us, live and die with us.
“That is our intention.” (BP)