You can’t drive to Kiana; there’s no road. The only ways in and out of this small Alaskan community in the Arctic Circle are by small charter plane, boat, four-wheeler or snowmobile. But for this one time, in the summer of 2006, more than a million people will visit. Vacation Bible School has put Kiana on the map.
In Kiana, Alaska, parents driving ATVs drop their kids off at the Baptist mission for Vacation Bible School. All-terrain vehicles are the major mode of transportation in Kiana during the summer months, segueing to snow machines, or “snow-goes,” in the winter months.In this year’s VBS – “Arctic Edge: Where Adventure Meets Courage” by LifeWay Christian Resources – daily excursions start from Big Bear Lodge and have children hiking across the tundra, exploring the seascape by kayak and skimming the backcountry in a float plane. Based on Joshua 1:9, Arctic Edge helps children find the courage for following Jesus in everyday challenges as they learn that God is always with them.
Even Eskimo children who live above the Arctic Circle in Kiana had a great time with this year’s Vacation Bible School theme. “Bible school is sort of about us,” said J.K., 11. “That is so cool!”
John and Kim Piepmeier, who lead the small mission church in Kiana as Mission Service Corps volunteers with the North American Mission Board, were featured on the VBS missions video. They have ministered in the village of 375 people for seven years.
A team of eight adventurous souls from east Texas trekked up north to join the Piepmeiers in sharing God’s love with the children, youth and adults at VBS. They came at their own expense and brought or shipped everything they’d need – food, supplies, even their beds.
VBS flurries
Unlike Vacation Bible School in Texas or anywhere else, the first day in Kiana in the waning days of June began in the snow, as did the second and third days. The children wore coats and boots – not to emphasize the Arctic Edge theme, but to stay warm.
Though it’s the first week of June, it’s a snowy day at the Baptist mission in Kiana, Alaska. Nevertheless, Vacation Bible School proceeded on schedule.While the Texas volunteers came with years of VBS work under their belts, VBS in the snow was a new experience. But this was Alaska, so it never occurred to anyone that VBS would be cancelled. The children showed up on time, coming on four-wheelers, bikes and booted feet, happy to have something fun to do.
Tents set up outside the church held classes and crafts. After two days of snow, however, it was not the cold that sent the children indoors, but the mud. So some of the older children had Bible study around the table inside the Piepmeiers’ house. Some craft activities were changed to less messy projects, since the children had to work on the church’s carpet.
After plans had changed for about the tenth time, volunteer Jan Ouzts laughed when she was caught talking to herself, “Go with the flow. Go with the flow.”
Sun never sets
While many churches have their VBS in the morning, Kiana hosted its from 2-5 p.m. for the children and from 8-11 p.m. for the youth and adults. That’s probably later than most churches, but when the sun never sets, midnight or noon is about the same.
Lee Moore, volunteer youth leader for the VBS, took advantage of the never-ending day, walking down to the village to visit each evening after he taught VBS and playing ball with teenagers in town until about 3 a.m.
Local children gather in the community of Kiana, Alaska, which was featured in LifeWay’s 2006 VBS curriculum, “Arctic Edge.”On the day the Piepmeiers were to be featured on the missions video, the children had been told something special was coming up. So when they saw Pastor John and Kim on the screen, they laughed and clapped. When they saw Kiana, their own village, they were doubly excited.
When Irving, 11, heard that millions of people around the country and the world would see the video segment about Kiana this summer, he said, “Are you kidding me? That’s cool!”
“Anywhere you go in the world, children are basically the same,” said Ouzts, who last year did VBS in the Ukraine and at her home church in Texas. “Some are well-behaved, some aren’t. Some pay attention, others don’t. But they all love doing activities, having people love them and hearing that Jesus loves them.”
Volunteer Sarah Fair said her little ones were literal thinkers. “I told one little girl in my class that Jesus loves her and has a wonderful plan for her life. Her eyes got real big and she said, ‘Oh! What is it?’ She caught me off-guard with that one! I told her that she would discover that as she grew up.”
The class of 4-year-olds through second grade averaged about 24 children each day, by far the largest group. “Sometimes the stories are hard for the little ones to follow, but they loved to sing and they loved making their crafts,” Fair said. “They knew we loved them.”
Newfound faith
Most of the children who came to VBS already had made professions of faith, but two 8-year-olds accepted Christ during the week. Michael and Christina both heard the “ABC’s” (Admit, Believe, Confess) on Wednesday and then talked with team leader John Green, who led both to receive Christ as their Savior.
During the family night celebration, the parents, grandparents, siblings and friends of the 65 people who attended VBS packed the small sanctuary to hear the children present their memory verses, sing and sign their songs.
The crowd got to see the missions video highlighting the Piepmeiers and Kiana. “Oohs” and “ahhs” could be heard when they were told how many people across the country would be watching that same video throughout the summer.
The evening’s highlight was a moving rendition of “How Great Thou Art,” sung in the Inupiaq language by the adult VBS group, then everyone – Eskimos and Caucasians – joined together to sing a verse in English. Many eyes were moist by the last “How great Thou art,” proving that even at the edge of the Arctic, the fellowship of Christ is strong.