Hesters In Alaska

Posted Jan 31
2012 by danny in Post | No Comments

Dear friends and family,
God is good all the time. We’ve been so blessed to be in Alaska since the end of August. I am serving with Alaska Missions & Retreats, Inc. and as a Mission Service Corps Missionary, Missions Pastor of University Baptist Church (UBC) in Anchorage.

I hope the new year has been good for you so far. We are doing well. Over the last 4 1/2 months we’ve made great progress on UBC’s parsonage, thanks to local and mission volunteers. The upper level is close to finished with a few minor projects still to be done when I get to them. A little bit more needs to be completed on the lower level, but we’re pretty much settled in and staying warm.

A super mission team from First Baptist Church of Bryan, TX came in November to do construction on UBC. The team came to help the church make progress toward occupancy of their new building. One or two more skilled teams, during February or March, could really help us reach our goal of occupancy by the end of March. Occupancy status will open the door for the church to host mission teams during the summer.

Nathan and I have been serving on UBC’s Sunday morning praise team, while Karen helps run the sound. The interim preaching pastor and I are leading the church leaders through a refocusing process looking at church milestones, seeking God’s direction for the future, and deciding next steps and long term goals. I lead one of six small groups meeting during the week. Ours meets on Wednesdays. Nathan was blessed this month with a trip to South Carolina to spend time with his friends from our former church. He had a great time and got to participate in their winter youth retreat.

Alaska Missions and Retreats, Inc. is now a certified 501c3 non-profit organization. Another person has moved his family to Anchorage and joined our staff. Preparation for the Iron Dog Snowmobile Race (Feb. 17-27), the Iditarod Dog Sled Race (March ) and Mission Anchorage are in progress. Go to the Alaska Missions’ website: akmissions.com to see the many volunteer mission opportunities. Pray for me as I oversee and facilitate “Mission Anchorage,” using mission teams to provide healthy lunches to low income children, provide Bible Clubs for children and host block parties, in trailer parks and apartment complexes, along side local churches and church planters. Teams are sill needed, but the weeks are filling up quickly.

Thank you for your prayers and financial support. Continue praying and giving as the Lord leads. If you are led to support our ministry, you can now give through Alaska Missions, by writing your check to Alaska Missions & Retreats, Inc. and designating it for: Acct. #1115. Giving through the North American Mission Board is still the other option to support us as MSC missionaries. Write these checks to NAMB and designate for Acct # 9579. Donation Reports, for tax credit, will be provided to donors by whichever of these organizations you Choose to support our mission work. At some point all support will go through Alaska Missions & Retreats, Inc.

Know you support is needed and greatly appreciated.

In His service,

Danny and Karen Hester
4313 Wright Street
Anchorage, AK 99508
907.351.7224
dannylhester@gmail.com

Posted Jul 28
2011 by karen in Post | No Comments

Yes, we’re finally about to make the big move to Alaska! There have been some changes in Anchorage which have thus changed what Danny will be doing there. In March of 2011, the University Baptist Church called Danny to serve as Missions Pastor and has requested him as a Mission Service Corps missionary. The time taken to sell our house delayed our planned move in May, 2011. The Chugach Baptist Association decided to cancel their plan to use Danny as Associate Director of Missions because of unexpected changes within that organization. Danny will also serve with Alaska Missions, mobilizing mission volunteers serving in Alaska.

Karen will be looking for a full-time job in Anchorage, and will still be homeschooling Nathan, who is now 16.

The sale of the house is scheduled for August 12. We’ll go to the Chicago area to see family and friends, and hope to be in Anchorage by the end of August.

Posted Jun 15
2010 by danny in Post | No Comments

During the 2009 Southern Baptist Convention’s Annual Meeting in Louisville, KY, as missionary, Brenda Crim, shared what God was doing in Alaska and expressed the need for Christian volunteers to assist Alaskan churches in reaching people for Christ. Danny’s heart burned and his passion to be involved in mission mobilization was rekindled. His first thought was, “Karen would never move to Alaska. She hates cold weather.” Though his heart’s desire was to go, Danny ignored Brenda’s invitation, but he committed to share Alaska mission opportunities with his church and others in South Carolina and pray for Brenda and the need in Alaska.

In November, Brenda came to share about Alaska Missions with the Hester’s church while she was in SC. During a discussion with Danny and Karen, Brenda described the personal qualifications, training, experience, and passion the Chugach Baptist Association needed to help them in their God-sized vision. During that discussion, Danny committed to pray for God to make His will known to those He chose to use. After Brenda left the room, Karen said to Danny, “She was describing you.”

One evening, a few weeks later, Karen said, “We really need to pray about Alaska. I think God may want us to go there.” Danny was amazed that she would even consider moving north again, and thought, “It must be God.” They did pray, and in January Brenda called to tell the Hesters about her discussion with her Associational Director of Missions (ADOM), David George. She told Danny they had discussed the need for an Associate DOM/Mission Strategist to assist the ADOM and help their churches develop missions strategies and mobilize volunteers to reach lost people in Alaska. She requested that they send their resumes.

David George sent information to Danny about the association and his vision and strategy to reach people in Alaska for Christ. He clarified that the Association did not have the budget or resources to pay an associate, and the person would need to raise financial support. After a period of communicating with Rev. George and praying for God’s clear direction, they decided to make a personal visit to Anchorage.

In March, Karen and Danny flew to Anchorage to visit the association and seek confirmation of what they sensed God was saying. They had a good visit with association and church leaders, experienced the Iditarod Ceremonial Start, and a two-day blizzard. They saw beautiful mountains, glaciers, and people who need Jesus. They returned home with the excitement of a possible change and the overwhelming anticipation of all that that change would involve and require. Over the weeks following their return to SC, God confirmed His call to serve, so they began the process.

Danny and Karen applied in April and were appointed in June to serve as Mission Service Corps (MSC) Missionaries through the North American Mission Board. Danny is currently serving the SC Woman’s Missionary Union (WMU) as a WMU Associate with responsibilities for Coed Organizations and Mission Action in the state. Karen is teaching math in a local community college. She plans to use her gifts and experience to serve the Chugach Association and local churches. Brenda Crim has promised to keep her busy.

Danny and Karen want to share about this God-sized ministry partnership opportunity and are available to share their call and mission opportunity with whoever will listen. They know God as Provider and trust Him to use those He chooses to meet their financial and ministry needs. Their goal is to be on the field by the Spring of 2011.

Danny and Karen’s older sons are on their own in other states. Marc (26), his wife, Sheena, and their baby son, Locke, live in Aurora, IL. Alex (23) is currently living in Texas.

Their youngest son, Nathan (15) is also excited about serving God in Alaska. He hopes to use his gifts and musical skills with instruments to help with outreach and worship.