Call to Serve - Jaime Rose

Jamie Rose grew up on the ‘Road System’ in Wasilla, AK. He graduated college in 2006, moved to Unalakleet (pop 800) and has lived there since serving the Covenant Church as the youth pastor. He is marries to Erica Ellingson and has been attending Seminary since the Fall of 2008. He shares his experience in youth ministry in Alaska with an invitation.

Alaska is beautiful – it is big – it is cold – its people are different than folks from elsewhere. Our church community can look sparse from the outside – but it can be like a heavenly family here on the inside. Serving alongside others in ministry here are treasured times, during staff gatherings and youth gatherings. The food is given great care, the conversations are meaningful, the coffee is hot, and the smiles bright.

The needs are real. We cannot hide our needs. We need a safe ear to hear what we’ve seen, what we’ve done, what has been done to us. We need someone who believes that prayer works, and that doing things – going outside, playing indoors, laughing together, is also of real value. Faith and works together is what we need.

I worked at Bible Camp upriver from Unalakleet in the summer of 2004. It was my first formal ministry experience. I had never been on staff anywhere before that, I was 20. They put me in a cabin with eight high school guys – one was 18. It was scary, and tiring, and tough-but I did have God on my side. The following week I had a handful of junior high students, who were angels in comparison, and a co-counselor! If you are willing to be stretched, Alaska is a good place for you to minister the love of Jesus Christ.

I left college with a degree in finance, and a willingness to serve the Church and the youth and a desire to be a part of transformation. I went back to Bible Camp in 2006 and during the first week of camp the local church invited me to serve as their youth pastor. I prayed and God gave me confidence that he would provide the ability to perform the things expected of me (and He has!).

I have seen the application that CYAK has put together – it is good. If I had seen it in the summer of 2004 I might have been intimidated- don’t be. If you desire to serve the Lord Jesus Christ, and are willing to do it with your whole life – then just go for it! I could never accurately describe how I have been blessed through this experience, nor how I have been strengthened in my faith. Put it to the test! Taste and see that the Lord is good.