Join us for a week here in Anchorage, Alaska Summer 2012 to serve Christ We serve in the neglected neighborhoods. Your team will work in multi-ethnic communities – including Hmong, Filipino, Sudanese, Hispanic, Alaska Native, Samoan, and African American. Our belief is that the Great Commission is not just for the World to go to church, but for the Church to go to the World.

Where are people at? How can we serve them in the Name of Christ? How can we find ways to share a verbal witness? A core value we hold is that we all have to work together to get the job. Therefore, we partner with local churches and local agencies in this ministry and provide followup for those your team reaches.

Our vision is to use summer volunteers to help us start small community groups that hopefully will grow into new churches. According to the latest research, Alaska is the least churched state in the USA. Our vision and plan therefore is taking "Church" to where people are.

In the mornings, your team will do kindness/servanthood ministry—working at Food Bank, senior centers, prayer walking, painting/repair of homes of needy, delivering food bags to disadvantaged families, etc.. Midday your team will be helping to feed hungry kids. In the afternoons, your team will work in local parks doing backyard bible school, games and sports with unchurched children and youth. In the evenings you will help host neighborhood evangelistic cookouts and block parties.

Over the past four years we have hosted almost 3,000 volunteers. We will care for you in a manner that honors your time and financial investment. During our Summer GraceWorks Campaign, we do nine consecutive weeks of teams here in Anchorage. More details and pics
http://missionmatch.com/upcoming-trips

Check out photos from last summer GraceWorks ministry at: http://www.flickr.com/photos/missionmatch/

This is a great project for groups — adult and/or student teams. And also for families!
In 2012, we will host nine consecutive weeks of teams. YOU CHOOSE!!

A typical week schedule as follows:
Sunday Evening. Arrive Anchorage.
Monday- Friday. Ministry Project
Saturday Day. Sightseeing
Saturday night. Depart Anchorage.
Sunday, arrive home.
(Note Sat night departure, but team actually will arrive home next day on Sunday) .

FUN? Oh yeah! On your sightseeing day, we'll take you on a spectacular, jaw-dropping drive south from Anchorage along Turnagain Arm – an inlet named by the famous explorer Captain Cook. Look for eagles and whales in the sea on your right and sheep on the mountains to your left. Soon we'll arrive in magical Portage Valley. You’re surrounded by majestic blue glaciers! We'll take a short, easy hike to a glacier and experience the wilderness. Maybe we’ll see a bear or a moose! How often do you get a chance to throw a snowball in mid summer? Or include a glacier cruise for only $23 more. Check out the video!
http://alaska.org/videos-photos/videopop3.jsp?GLA_Portage_Gl_Cruise_wm_Tag_700FL8.flv
Later, we’ll enjoy a wilderness picnic surrounded by stunning scenery. On the way back we’ll stop at the Wildlife Conservation Center and see grizzly & black bears, caribou, moose, buffalo and other Alaskan critters. Oh yeah, they have a great store for shopping too!
Oh, I almost forgot. For those who love to fish, we can always find a way to arrange a great salmon fishing. And on your free evenings, there is great shopping a mile away and great "above the tree line" high country hiking only 20 minutes away. And most of our teams go cruising looking for Moose at least one evening.

We handle all your ground logistics so that you can concentrate on your ministry. We provide housing, bedding, meals, transportation, the ministry program, and a day of guided sightseeing. We meet you at the airport when you arrive and kiss you goodbye when you leave (well, maybe not kiss). We also provide team host(s) from our Summer Staff to help your team through the week and be a go-to person for your team. Included in the meals is our special "Alaska On a Platter" dinner with fresh grilled Alaska Salmon and baked and fried fresh Halibut. And reindeer sausage and Alaska blueberry pancakes for breakfast. Yummmeee!!!

HOW MUCH? These arrangements run $495/pp for the week. We request a $50 deposit per/person but the balance is not needed until two weeks before you come. Airfare, of course, is extra, and is your responsibility. We just ask that you arrive Sunday evening, and depart the next Saturday evening. If you want to come earlier or stay later, we can recommend some good hotels.

Our state flower is the "Forget-Me-Not." Once you visit us here, you'll never forget it!"