MEKORYUK

HISTORY OF MEKORYUK:
Nunivak Island has been home to the Nuniwarmiut, or Nunivak Cup'ig people, for over 2,000 years. Their first contact with outsiders came in 1821, when Russian explorers arrived and recorded 400 people living in 16 villages. By 1880, there were 702 people across 9 villages, but a devastating epidemic in 1900 left only a few families in what’s now Mekoryuk.

In the 1930s, the Evangelical Covenant Church was built in Mekoryuk, followed by a school in 1939. Families from around the island began moving there. Reindeer herding started in the 1920s, and musk ox were later introduced to help save the species. Mekoryuk eventually became the island’s only permanent village.
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Life kept changing through the mid-1900s—an airport opened in 1957, men joined the Territorial Guard, and families often spent winters in Bethel for school, returning in spring to hunt and fish. Mekoryuk got its own high school in 1978, a big milestone for the community.

Today, there are 190 residents living in Mekoryuk, with 26 being Jr. High and High School age.
PARTNERING WITH MEKORYUK:
This past November, a team from CYAK traveled to Mekoryuk to spend time with students, build relationships, and encourage them in their walk with Jesus. Partnering with Pastor Lauren and the Mekoryuk Covenant Church, the team joined in youth gatherings, shared meals, played games, led worship, and had real conversations about faith and life.

22 out of the 26 youth in the Jr. High/High School participated—an incredible turnout that reflects strong support from parents and a real desire among the young people to engage with God’s Word. It was a powerful reminder that even in remote places, there’s a deep hunger for connection, purpose, and truth.

Mekoryuk’s remote location often makes it difficult for students to travel off the island. High travel costs can limit how many kids are able to attend youth retreats or Bible Camp. That’s why bringing ministry to them—and finding creative ways to include them in regional events—is so important.

Thanks to generous giving, this trip—and many like it—are possible. Funds help cover travel, program supplies, and youth events, and also provide opportunities like Bible Camp scholarships, youth retreats, and leadership training.
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We’re excited about what God is doing in Mekoryuk, and we’re grateful to walk with this community as He continues to move in the lives of its young people.
"We will always look back on this weekend and think of God’s faithfulness to prompt
a team of CYAK leaders to come to Mekoryuk and invest in our youth. We will continue to praise
God for the generosity of CYAK donors like each of you who made it possible for that plane to
fly to our remote location- no small feat given the cost of flying in rural Alaska." - Pastor Lauren
INVESTING IN YOUTH MINISTRY IN MEKORYUK:
CYAK (Covenant Youth of Alaska) is partnering with the Mekoryuk Covenant Church to invest in something truly meaningful—young lives. Together, we are working to reach the youth of Mekoryuk with the love and hope of Jesus Christ, encouraging them to walk with Him and live out their faith in their daily lives.

Life in rural Alaska brings both beauty and challenges, and ministry here takes deep commitment and strong community support. That’s why this fund exists—to help strengthen youth ministry in Mekoryuk and support opportunities for young people to grow in their relationship with Christ.

Your giving helps provide:
  • Travel for youth to attend retreats, leadership events, and Bible camps
  • Scholarships for Bible Camp with life-changing weeks of fun, faith, and friendships
  • Training for youth leaders and Sunday school teachers
  • Program resources and supplies to make youth gatherings meaningful and engaging
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Every gift, large or small, helps build a strong foundation of faith for the next generation in Mekoryuk. Will you join us in encouraging and equipping these young people to follow Jesus in a powerful, lasting way?
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Give today and be part of what God is doing in Mekoryuk.

THANK YOU!