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Scammon Bay is a Yup'ik Eskimo community on the south bank of the Kun River, 1 mile from the Bering Sea. The area encompasses about 1 square mile of land and has approximately 490 residents (from a 2002 census; may actually be closer to 400). Commercial fishing is the primary means of employment, while construction and handicrafts also provide seasonal income.
The church at Scammon Bay was planted in 1975 to unite Christians in fellowship for spiritual development, for winning people to Christ, and for the propogation of the gospel of Jesus Christ through Christian education, home and world mission, and the institutions conducted by the Evangelical Covenant Church of America and its local regional conference.The congregation today consists of a group of about 30 worshipers. Chairman, Monroe Kaganak, is also a faithful servant of God who encourages this small village to grow in its faith to God.
Because of its remote location, size of the community, and economic limitations, the ministry must be subsidized by "tent-making" (outside employment) and missions support from church and individual contributions.
About the Pastor...
Jon Cardwell surrendered his life to Jesus Christ on June 3, 1985 while working as a deep-sea diver in the U.S. Navy. Since then, he has served the Lord in nearly every ministry imaginable, including missionary work to the Philippines and as pastor for two different congregations.
Most recently, Jon was pastor for a remote fishing village at the western end of the Aleutian peninsula. Experiencing first hand the need for the gospel to go out to rural Alaska where there are no churches or pastors, Jon has responded to the Lord's call to serve as pastor at Scammon Bay.
Gifted in teaching and discipleship, Jon hopes to teach the Bible so that he and the congregation can mature together in their relationship with Jesus Christ, and in so doing, develop into that harmonious body of worshipers as we gather, and as individual worshipers of God in our daily walk with Him.
The Cardwell's believe that no one should be without the teaching of God's Word so they have committed themselves to the service of the Lord's flock, and to go to them wherever that may be... even "unto the uttermost part of the earth." Therefore, in answering God's call, the Cardwell's have accepted Scammon Bay Covenant Church's invitation to pastor the congregation in western Alaska.
Click here for photos of recent ministry actions. It may take a few minutes for photos to download, so be patient. |
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