enables college graduates to use
their degrees to become marketplace missionaries in the villages of Alaska.
THE STORY
THE CURRENT STORY
UNDER-REACHED
Alaska is home to 100 villages without a consistent gospel witness.
BROKENNESS
Alaskan communities have some of the highest rates of suicide, substance abuse, domestic violence and sexual abuse of anywhere in the world.
ISOLATION
Rural villages are often hundreds of miles away from the nearest road, accessible only by bush plane.
ROAD-BLOCKS
Cultural barriers and cost of living have made ministry challenging.
CHANGING THE STORY
enables college graduates to use their degrees to become marketplace missionaries in the villages of Alaska. They will be:
TRAINED
Missionaries will receive 10 months of cross-cultural missions training experience. The training center is in Fairbanks.
SENT IN TEAMS
Teams are a critical component of success and longevity in Alaska. After training, missionaries will be sent in teams to strategic villages to live, work, and pioneer the church.
RESOURCED
Missionaries will have continued support and coaching as they work as marketplace missionaries in cooperation with AGUSM and the Assemblies of God in Alaska.
THE PLAN
WHO
We are looking for teachers, nurses and those with bachelor’s degrees that are willing to work towards meeting job opportunities in rural Alaska.
BENEFITS
Pay off student debt, gain real-life work experience, and engage in cross-cultural missions.
BUDGET
Missionaries will raise a budget for the first ten months of training. Marketplace salaries will fund missionaries for subsequent years.
Will you give what you have
to change the story in Alaska?
The What i Have Training Program Application opens on November 15, 2024.
Have more questions? CONTACT US
FAQ's
How long is the commitment?
We are asking participants to commit to 1 year of training and preparation and three years of marketplace ministry in an Alaskan village.
How much does it cost? What budget do I have to raise?
$7,500 cash upon entry for experiential cross cultural training and internship fees. Participants will need a minimum of $1,100.00 per month.
When does it start?
August, 2025
Do I need to have a specific degree?
A Bachelor of Arts is the minimum requirement but no specific area of study is required. Those who are certified teachers or in the process of becoming certified have the easiest path.
Will my loans be forgiven?
It depends. Not all student loans are eligible for forgiveness by teaching in an underserved community but many are. We’ll help applicants evaluate their eligibility.
How long until I get to be a missionary in the villages?
The training program begins in August and concludes in May of the following year. Trainees who complete all requirements of the training program will be commissioned in May and eligible for teacher placement in a village the following school year (typical August start).
What does the first year of training entail?
Cross cultural ministry, Alaska survival skills, leadership and team building, relational discipleship and native Alaskan culture, theological studies and pastoral concerns.
What is the location of the training program?
The training will be held in Anchorage in August 2024 – June 2025.
How do I raise a budget? (Is there support raising training?)
We provide Support Raising Training online to equip you with the tools needed to raise your full budget effectively.
Where will I live?
Training program participants will need to live in Anchorage, Alaska during the 10 months of training. AKSP does not provide housing. However we will help participants make appropriate living arrangements in the community.
Can I have a side-job during the internship?
Yes, part of the training requirements for participants will be to substitute teach in the local school systems. This will provide experience and supplemental income.
OUR TEAM
Paul Burkhart
Director
Paul and Crystal have been in ministry together for almost 20 years. They served as world missionaries in Southeast Asia for 9 years before being called to missions in Alaska. They have now served as the Alaska Chi Alpha directors since 2014. They continue to use what the Lord taught them in Asia to reach college students and minister cross-culturally in the rural places of Alaska.
Steve and Erin Pavek
Anchorage Site Director
Steve and Erin were on staff with Chi Alpha at North Dakota State when the Lord called them to pioneer Chi Alpha on the campus of the University of Alaska Anchorage. Their passion is to see the Lord use college ministry to impact every corner of the state.
They have now served as the Anchorage Chi Alpha Directors since 2014.
Crystal Burkhart
Training Director
Crystal serves as the training director for What I Have and is passionate about equipping missionaries both theologically and cross-culturally.
BreAnna Misialek
Administrative Assistant
BreAnna grew up in rural North Dakota and attended North Dakota State University. She visited Alaska for the first time in the summer of 2013 on a missions trip and quickly fell in love. After spending several summers working in rural Alaska she moved to Anchorage to join the Anchorage Chi Alpha team in the fall of 2018. BreAnna brings great energy, passion, and administrative skills to the What i Have team.
IN-ROADS EXPERIENCE
DATES:
May 21st-27th, 2025
COST:
$1,350 includes a flight to a rural village and all expenses within Alaska. Flight to Anchorage not included.
MISSION:
The What I Have In-Roads Experience is designed to give people a glimpse into the possibilities of marketplace missions in rural Alaska.
Apply Now
Have more questions? Email info@whatihave.org
CONTACT US
GIVE
GIVE
Thank you for partnering with us!
All donations are tax-deductible. We run donations through our non-profit “AKSP”