Fwd: 2026 Fall Edition of The Arctic Encourager, Vol. 5 No. 4

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From: Arctic Barnabas Ministries <info@arcticbarnabas.org>
Date: Sat, Nov 7, 2026 at 12:00 PM
Subject: 2026 Fall Edition of The Arctic Encourager, Vol. 5 No. 4
To: "Gehman Mennonite Church" <philandkelly@gmail.com>

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good; His love endures forever. Psalm 107:1 NIV Grateful. Thankful. Encouraged. These words, and others like them, will stand out as you read this edition of The Arctic Encourager. The season has shifted here in Alaska, and we are already enjoying the short autumn that we get here, and we wanted to take a moment to give thanks to the Lord for all He has done. From blessing a village with a Thanksgiving meal last year and protecting lives and ministries from wildfire to teammates and relationships that span over 25 years, we are thankful for what the Lord has done. As a team we strive to remember that everything we have comes from the Lord and to take the time and give Him thanks. As you read this edition, we pray you join us in giving thanks and that you too are grateful, thankful, and encouraged. Thanksgiving in Seldovia By Jason Maust One of the things we especially enjoy about serving with ABM is the opportunity to serve together as a family. Last Thanksgiving, that meant flying to the remote village of Seldovia with a Thanksgiving feast for the entire community. A church in Anchorage had reached out to a church plant in Seldovia, asking how they could help provide a Thanksgiving meal for the village as a way of showing the love of Christ. Arctic Barnabas was able to help by transporting the food and table settings, while our family joined the local church in preparing, serving, and cleaning- up. The day before the flight, we prepared six turkeys to take with us. We had a wonderful Thanksgiving in Seldovia! Approximately three-quarters of the village either joined us in person for the meal or received a boxed Thanksgiving dinner, if they were unable to attend. It was a special opportunity to see people from different backgrounds and with different perspectives come together around a shared meal. For a few hours, differences were set aside as neighbors gathered together and simply enjoyed fellowship and reflected on the things they were thankful for. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of what God is doing through the local church in Seldovia, and for the partnership of churches that are willing to reach beyond their own communities to bless others. What began as one church asking how they could help became a village-wide expression of love and generosity. We pray that the meal was not only a blessing to those who received it, but also that it opened doors for the church to continue building relationships and sharing the love of Christ with the people of Seldovia. Pulpit Fill with the Posenjaks By Margo Posenjak We met Jeff and Shelly Sulfridge by “God appointment” in the Fall of 2015, at Fast Eddy’s in Tok, Alaska. We’ve had the privilege of working with them, and Northern Lights Missions, on nine Arctic Barnabas Ministry trips since then. It’s been an honor to minister in the Tanacross Village Church, and help out where we can with work projects over the years. We have just completed five weeks in Tok and Tanacross, which was different than we had expected! The Mukluk Fire swept through Tok, destroying over 50 homes in less than two hours on August 17th. Jeff and Shelly were visiting their new grandbaby in Alabama when the fire broke out and we were busy with a work team helping to cut firewood. Friends and neighbors, as well as Tanacross church members, were devastated by the loss of homes and possessions. Besides Gary filling the pulpit and helping with projects in Tanacross, we were able to pitch in with some disaster relief work in Tok.  The weeks following the fire, work teams from the Sulfridge's supporting churches came to clean up properties and construct and enclose structures. Gary was able to help out with the construction projects and Margo helped Shelly with preparing meals for the work teams. The sewing project Margo had planned for the Tanacross ladies did not happen this year because there were more important things on everyone’s minds.  By the time we left Tok on Sept 16th, properties had begun to be cleaned up, displaced families had shelter, volunteers were in the process of building arctic shelters for temporary housing, and the accompanying outhouses were built and delivered. We were grateful to God that no lives were lost in the Mukluk Fire. Team Spotlight: the Spadys By Evangela Brumfield  Vince and Marylil Spady have served with ABM for over 25 years. Born and raised in California, God orchestrated their move to Alaska in 1972, even before they came to know Christ as their Lord and Savior. After traveling by floatplane to the remote village of Sleetmute on the Kuskokwim River, they spent four years teaching and nurturing thirty-five Native children together in a two-teacher schoolhouse. During that time, missionaries from neighboring villages began sharing the Gospel with them, and in 1976, they came to a saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. When asked what they find most rewarding about serving in Alaska, they responded, “We love to see the village pastors and their families being encouraged in the same way ministers encouraged us in the Lord fifty years ago!” From helping with construction projects and hosting village tea parties, to baptizing friends in the Bering Sea near Akutan, Vince and Marylil’s hearts for serving are evident in every interaction. Having experienced firsthand the challenges and isolation of bush living during their years in Sleetmute, they now use those experiences to encourage and support ABM’s ministry families and pastors. Their connection to Sleetmute has also come full circle, as they continue to return to the village to substitute teach the grandchildren of their former students, while encouraging the missionary families and pastors serving there. ABM Testimony - The McGees By Mark McGee Andrea and I have been blessed by Arctic Barnabas Ministries since its beginning, in 2000. Through personal relationships, encouraging phone calls, shared laughter and tears, and Ministry Family Retreats, they have become an indispensable source of encouragement in our lives. The friendships developed over these years have helped sustain us, our family, and our staff at Tanalian Bible Camp through the unique challenges of ministry in rural Alaska. Whether offering practical advice, helping solve technical problems, or simply providing a listening ear from someone who understands, Arctic Barnabas has consistently walked alongside us. Their genuine love for people and unwavering commitment to advancing the Gospel have strengthened countless ministry families and pastors for the long haul. We are deeply grateful for their friendship, encouragement, and faithful service to God's Kingdom. Pray for the Lord's direction and provision on our end-of -year fundraising campaign. Praise the Lord our Homer Missionary Retreat is 93% funded and dried in ahead of winter! Pray the Lord sends us an additional family to serve on our Ministry Team. Praise the Lord for an amazing Ministry Family Retreat  with sweet fellowship and God-ordained interactions and blessings! Pray for safety for the work teams who will be working inside the Homer Missionary Retreat this winter. Praise the Lord for wonderful families and churches who partner with us to make our ministry possible! Pray for safety for our staff as they travel throughout the state this winter. Click here to support Arctic Barnabas Ministries! Our Contact Information Arctic Barnabas Ministries 135 North Willow Street Kenai, AK 99611 9072833377 https://arcticbarnabas.org/ You are being sent this email because you are a subscriber. If you wish to update your Email Preferences or Unsubscribe, click Unsubscribe | Manage email preferences

Fwd: Partner Update - October 2026

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From: CrossNet Ministries <madeline@elancocross.org>
Date: Thu, Nov 12, 2026 at 9:57 AM
Subject: Partner Update - October 2026
To: <philandkelly@gmail.com>

Check out Our Latest Updates and Upcoming Events.

October Stats: Winter Coat Program This year’s Winter Coat Program was held on October 10th in the parking lot behind The Clothing Commons. In addition to having kids pick out a coat they liked, we also had several fun fall activities for them to enjoy. Kids were able to paint a pumpkin, get their faces painted, and enjoy some yummy fall treats! Families also had the opportunity to tour our brand-new Clothing Commons, which is now available as a resource for our community year-round. We loved being able to offer more than just a winter coat, but also a fun memory for families. A special thanks to W Donuts for providing donuts for our event and to everyone who donated coats and helped make this program possible! Because of the generosity of our community, over 250 kids in the ELANCO community received a warm coat for the winter. We love seeing our community come together to care for and support local families! Check out the photo gallery at the link below to see more moments from this fun event! Winter Coat Program October Match Recap We are thrilled to share that we not only met our goal for 2026 October Match, but we surpassed it! Our goal was to raise $300,000, and thanks to your generosity, we raised $404,565!!! We are so grateful for the Lord’s provision and feel incredibly blessed to be part of such a generous community that cares deeply for its neighbors. A HUGE THANK YOU to those who made this match possible and to everyone who gave throughout the month of October. Your generosity and support allow us to continue meeting needs and sharing Christ's love with members of our community. We couldn't do it without you!  Youth Center Fall Fest   This month, we had our annual youth center fall fest! We had a wonderful evening with our Youth Center and Mentoring Program students, filled with games, pumpkin painting, hot dogs and s'mores around the campfire, and a hayride! This was a fun night that created meaningful opportunities for students and mentors to spend time together, build relationships, and make memories. Christmas Gift Program - We need Sponsors! This year, we have set an ambitious goal: to find a sponsor for every child who registers for our Christmas Program! That means finding sponsors for more than 600 children. We want every child to experience the joy of receiving gifts chosen just for them, and we need your help to make that happen! We aim for approximately $100 in gifts per child. If you would like to give more, we encourage you to consider sponsoring an additional child rather than spending significantly more on one child. If you or your group would like to experience the joy of providing Christmas gifts to a local child, this is a meaningful way to give back and bless a family in our community. CrossNet will guide you through each step to make the process simple and enjoyable. We invite you to consider sponsoring a child today and helping us make sure every child is sponsored this Christmas! Sponsor a Child Letter from the Executive Director   Dear CrossNet Community, October was a month filled with reminders of God's faithfulness and provision. As we pause to reflect, our hearts are overflowing with gratitude for the many ways He has moved through CrossNet, our community, and the lives of those we are privileged to serve. We are also celebrating another beautiful answer to prayer. Recently, one of our Youth Center attendees was baptized, taking a public step of faith in her journey with Christ. We rejoice in the work God is doing in her life and are especially thankful for the relationship she developed with her CrossNet mentor, who walked alongside her with encouragement, support, and prayer. Moments like these remind us that while meeting tangible needs is important, introducing people to Jesus remains at the heart of what we do. In October, CrossNet had the privilege of hosting the ELANCO Community Collaboration gathering. We welcomed representatives from local businesses, churches, nonprofit organizations, schools, and community members who came together around a shared desire to strengthen Eastern Lancaster County. Together, we discussed current challenges and opportunities facing our community. One issue surfaced repeatedly across many sectors: staffing shortages and workforce challenges. Many organizations are struggling to recruit and retain employees, creating strain on services and operations. In response, CrossNet hopes to convene interested community partners in the coming months to continue this conversation and explore creative ways we might support one another and strengthen our local workforce together. We are also thankful for the insights recently shared through the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank's needs assessment for Lancaster County. The assessment highlighted changing trends in food insecurity throughout our region, including Eastern Lancaster County. While food remains a critical need, many families are increasingly struggling with the rising cost of everyday essentials. Items such as laundry detergent, diapers, personal hygiene products, and other household necessities are placing additional strain on already-tight budgets. We've also seen more working families seeking assistance as inflation and housing costs continue to impact household finances. As the needs of our community evolve, CrossNet remains committed to adapting our services to help meet those needs. Looking ahead, I am pleased to share that CrossNet will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. during Christmas on Main in New Holland. We are excited to host a special "Joyful Giving" Shop, where youth will have the opportunity to select gifts for their loved ones, wrap them, create personalized cards, and enjoy fellowship together. More than anything, we hope this experience will remind our young people that God's gift of Jesus is the true reason we celebrate Christmas. I am especially excited for them to discover the blessing and joy that comes through selflessly giving to others. We are currently accepting donations of gift items for the shop. If you are a crafter, artisan, maker, or simply someone who would like to contribute small gifts that children can choose for family members and friends, we would be honored to include your donations in this special event. Finally, I ask for your prayers as CrossNet prepares for an exciting new chapter in our ministry. Beginning in January, we will launch after-school programming for students in grades 6 through 12 on our campus. We are eager to create a welcoming environment where young people can build meaningful relationships, receive encouragement, grow in their understanding of who they are in Christ, and experience the love of a caring community. We believe God has incredible opportunities ahead, and we are excited to see how He will use this ministry to positively impact youth throughout our region. As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reminded that every story of changed lives, every volunteer hour, every donation, every prayer, and every act of kindness represents God's faithfulness at work through His people. Thank you for being part of the CrossNet family and for partnering with us as we seek to share the hope of Christ throughout Eastern Lancaster County. Gratefully, Allison Cuthie Executive Director CrossNet Ministries Looking Ahead NOVEMBER 23 Free Monthly Community Meal  Come enjoy a free community meal prepared and served in partnership with Garden Spot Village. All are welcome to gather for fellowship and enjoy a meal between 5:30 - 6:30 PM in our CrossNet Youth Center.   NOVEMBER 28 Christmas on Main Our Youth Center will be open from 9am - 4pm on November 28th for a "Joyful Giving" shop where youth can come to select gifts for loved ones free of charge.   DECEMBER 12 Christmas Program Our Christmas program will be held on December 12th. When community members sign up to sponsor a child, they will receive that child’s Christmas wishlist. Sponsors shop for the child and bring the gifts, unwrapped, to the CrossNet Youth Center, where parents can pick up the gifts for their children. If you are interested in sponsoring a student in the ELANCO community, please sign up at the link below. Sponsor a Child   SAVE THE DATE! 2027 CrossNet Banquet Mark your calendars for our annual CrossNet Banquet on Tuesday, March 23rd, 2027. Stay tuned for more information!   Upcoming Donation Needs: Baking Supplies for our Food Pantry Flour, Sugar, Baking Powder, Baking Soda, Baking Mixes, Icing, Vegetable Oil, Spices, Vanilla  Children's Books for Grades K-2 Donations can be dropped of at our office from 9am - 4pm, Mon. - Thurs. For questions, please contact christina@elancocross.org Provide a Dish for Youth Center Thanksgiving! Sign Up Here For questions, please contact mike@elancocross.org Upcoming Volunteer Needs:  Christmas Program Sponsors - Click here to sign up Christmas Program Volunteers: Workshop Week Event Day (Must be 18 or older and have clearences)   Join CrossCares!   By signing up for CrossCares, you’ll receive occasional emails with an Amazon wish list of items we may be in need of for our participants, programs, or facility. Things like paper products, children's items, office supplies and more. It would be a blessing to us and our community to be able meet some of these everyday needs through your generosity. Click Here to Join CrossCares Follow us on social media to keep up with all the things going on at CrossNet! View as Webpage

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