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A Letter From Roland L. Peretti
By Ken Horn | February 27, 2008
Monday I received the following letter from Roland L. Peretti, who served as District Superintendent of the Alaska District from 1992-2000. I wanted to share this gracious and informative missive with our readers, especially those who remember my articles on Alaska.
February 19, 2008
Dear Rev. Horn
I enjoyed reading the article, “Alaska The gospel runs through America’s Last Frontier,” December 16, 2007.
It brought back many memories of the twenty-three years I was privileged to pastor the Assembly church in North Pole. I was glad you were able to float the rivers and experience the villages of the North. You tell their story well. Over the years missionaries have lived in most of the villages you write about. The Assembly churches in Fairbanks and North Pole have helped to send missionaries, build and repair buildings and fly in for gospel services over the years.
One of the greatest visionaries I can remember was Rev. Don Nelson. While serving as the missionary at Stevens Village and trying to fly to other river villages with his small plane, he was overwhelmed with the challenge of reaching the vast lands of the North with the gospel. He decided a radio station would be his answer. Building a huge log cabin in North Pole he led a team to build a 100,000 watt radio station, King Jesus North Pole (KJNP), to not only reach the North but extend into Siberia on cold winter nights as well. Don, as he was known throughout the villages of the north, became a friend to the Natives. His programs, like “Trapline Chatter” and other village related programming, endeared him to many.
When God called Don home hundreds of friends gathered in Fairbanks to honor his memory, and pay tribute to his ministry in the north.
I am glad a new generation is taking up the challenge of reaching the villages of Alaska. Masters Commission hopes to be a new witness for Christ throughout the North. They join an army of workers who have given their strength, possessions and life itself for the sake of the Gospel in Alaska.
As District Superintendent of Alaska 1992-2000 I was often humbled by the army of men and ladies who had given their lives ministering in village churches to congregations of a few dozen to a hundred or more. They loved what they were doing fulfilling the call of God upon their lives. They would not accept a lesser assignment.
Thanks again for the fine article
Roland L. Peretti
I wrote back, thanking Brother Peretti for his own service for the Lord in the great state of Alaska. Here is a picture I shot of the radio station he mentioned.
Topics: Photos by Ken, U.S. Missions, missions |
