A SOLEMN CALL FOR THE REVERSAL
OF THE SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE OF ALASKA
THE SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE OF ALASKA
In most cases, when we hear of missions or missionaries, we automatically think of Africa, Asia, or some other remote places outside the USA. It is unimaginable that there is a city here in the USA, where about 70% are atheists, and only about 25% of the population claim Christianity as their religion. Out of this: 8.9% are Catholic; 4.9% are LDS; 4.0% are Baptist; 2.2% are Pentecostal; 1.8% are Lutheran; 1.7% are Methodist; 0.7% are Presbyterian; and 0.6% are Episcopalian.[1]
A 2008 Pew Research survey found Alaskans less religious than other Americans.[2] Anchorage, Alaska, with about 70% of the population unaffiliated to any religion, supersedes the least religious cities in the 48 contiguous states of the USA. According to a 2017 survey from the Public Religion Research Institute, the national average of non-religious (unaffiliated) persons is 25.3% of the US population. San Francisco, California, which is regarded as the atheist capital, only has 43% of its population claiming to be unaffiliated to any religion.
The report lists the top 5 least religious cities in the lower 48 states (excluding Alaska and Hawaii) along with the percentage of unaffiliated residents in each one as follows: San Francisco, California: 43%; Seattle, Washington: 40%; Portland, Oregon: 36%; Denver, Colorado: 34%; Boston, Massachusetts: 34%; Las Vegas, Nevada: 33%; Indianapolis, Indiana: 32%; and Los Angeles, California: 30%.[3]
Although the population of the city of Anchorage and the state of Alaska is very small relative to other cities and states in the USA, the fact that about 7 out of 10 people you will meet in the city of Anchorage, Alaska, are on their way to hell is very disheartening. In his book God is Alive and Well: The Future of Religion in America, Frank Newport notes that “about two out of three residents of Alaska, moved to Alaska specifically to get away from normality, conformity and the structures of (the) lower 48. Loners, eccentrics (misanthropes of all types chose Alaska specifically because it offered the promise of an out-of-the-way, isolated existence).”[4] These are people who are inclined to being independent of any authority, particularly God’s authority. They also teach their children to follow their example. Therefore, the urban culture is generally non-religious, materialistic and self-centered.
Although some native Alaskans have become true Christians, most of them have only been exposed to the formality of Christian religion. Another stack reality is the transgenerational bitterness stemming from the history of unaddressed atrocities committed against their ancestors as their way of living was destroyed, which has left a toll on their psyche. These factors have resulted in the rejection of Christianity as a foreign religion and or the mixture of cultural religion with Christianity (religious syncretism). Consequently, many native Alaskans are still plagued by demonic oppression resulting in the highest rates of suicide, incest, addiction, and domestic violence in the USA. For example, Alaska’s rape rate is 2.5 times the national average[5] and child sexual assault six times the national average.[6]
In a 2007 New York Times article, William Yardley noted that the suicide rate among native Alaskans was three times that of non-native Alaskan residents and five times the national average. He also observed that native Alaskans aged 10-19 years made up just 20% of the state population in that age group but accounted for 61% of its suicides.[7] Alaska also has the highest unemployment rate in the nation[8] at 7.3% against the U.S. average of 4.1%.[9]
Also, in a 2016 article that was published by The Guardian, Julia O’Malley asserts that “Alaska has some of the highest per capita rates of homelessness and alcoholism in America – and as the temperature drops, the number of homeless deaths rises.”[10] The tale of woes continues unabated but could be stopped and even reversed. The spiritual darkness over the state of Alaska is unprecedented, but Christians all over the world, particularly in Alaska, have the light that will if jointly focused, become the beam that Alaska needs.
THERE IS HOPE FOR ALASKA
Alaska is like the city in 2 Kings 2:19-22, where the men came to Elisha to complain that the city is pleasant, but the water is bad and the ground barren. Alaskans are good people, the state is a tourist destination for about two million people yearly and is endowed with abundant natural resources. However, the “spiritual water” is bad, and the religious ground is fallow. As God healed that city so shall He heal Alaska.
CALL FOR PRAYER
The call to prayer for the healing of our land is mandated in the Bible. “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land” (2 Chronicles 7:14). No single church can win a city. It takes the corporate repentance, humility, intercession and entreaty of the body of Christ within a city or state to effectively pray for the healing of the land. Just like in the battle of Jericho, where all the tribes marched around the city for seven days and shouted with one voice, the body of Christ must come together at the place of prayer for the walls of unbelief over our state to fall. When the harvest comes, all churches and denominations will reap bountifully.
REVERSING THE SPIRITUAL LANDSCAPE OF ALASKA
Revive Alaska Outreach is a multi-church partnership, of believers in Jesus Christ who are rallying together in one accord and singleness of purpose to pray, engage in concerted spiritual warfare, corporate strategic evangelism, and community services. The vision is the reversal of the spiritual landscape of Alaska from 70% non-religious to 70% Christian. Join the movement today as we align with God for revival in Alaska.
ANNUAL 40-DAY GAP PRAYER AND FASTING FOR ALASKA
Each year since 2015, we have embarked on a 40-day fast from January 1st-February 9th. Every year, the fast is capped off with a Revive Alaska Prayer Conference.
ANNUAL REVIVE ALASKA PRAYER CONFERENCE
The theme for this year’s sixth annual Revive Alaska Prayer Conference is Prayer for the Government and Christian Unity. The conference is on February 8th and 9th 2020, starting at 5 pm on both days and will be held on the campus of UAA (Rasmuson Hall Rm 101).
CONNECT WITH US TODAY
For more information about the outreach and how to join the movement, visit: www.revivealaska.org. Like us on FB “Revive Alaska Outreach.” You could also call 907-717-9080 or send an email to revivealaska@gmail.com.
REFERENCES
[1] http://bit.ly/31tugsn. Accessed July 24, 2018.
[2] Gregory Smith, Survey Finds Alaskans Less Religious Than Other Americans. (2008). https://pewrsr.ch/2GPudxJ. Accessed June 8, 2018.
[3] http://bit.ly/2UqCU9t. Accessed July 24, 2018.
[4] Frank Newport, God is Alive and Well: The Future of Religion in America, (New York: Gallup Press, 2012), 162.
[5] Carey Restino, “Why is Alaska the rape capital of the US? Because we allow it.” Anchorage Daily News, http://bit.ly/31qL6bC. Accessed June 11, 2018.
[6] http://bit.ly/2vP7O1g. Accessed June 11, 2018.
[7] William Yardley, One of the world’s highest suicide rates: Native Alaskan villages. (2017). https://nyti.ms/31tv7t5. Accessed July 24, 2018.
[8] Annie Zak, Alaska has the highest unemployment rate in the U.S. (June 16, 2017). http://bit.ly/2v6u3iA. Accessed July 24, 2018.
[9] The Associated Press, Alaska unemployment rate remains at 7.3 percent in March. (2018). http://bit.ly/39i16zp. Accessed July 24, 2018.
[10] Julia O'Malley, Homeless in Alaska: life and death on the freezing streets. (2016). http://bit.ly/2OnVj2T. Accessed July 24, 2018.
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