Grace Bible Church exists to empower a movement of students to live and love like Jesus.

This happens through inspiration, transformation, and action. Action - serving someone somewhere.

Summer 2023 GBC Students will be in action ... in Alaska!

June 11th - June 17th, 2023

What we are doing

We will be working directly with non-churched children, youth and adults in public parks – feeding meals to the hungry, playing games, doing crafts, teaching them about Jesus. A typical day at the park will look much like VBS, without the structure of a church setting. We feed the children lunch, have a Bible story time, memory verse, crafts, sports, games, music and/or an object lesson, with the Bible story being the most important part of our day.  At the end of each day we will explore the beauty of Anchorage, with Saturday being a day devoted to sightseeing! Alaska is the least church attending state in the US. Yes, it is a tourist destination, but there is a giant need for GBC to empower a movement of students to live and love like Jesus there!

who we are partnering with

GraceWorks Alaska has been serving in Alaska for the last 17 years. People think of Alaska as a Tourist Destination – and it is certainly one of the most beautiful places in the world. But it is also spiritually DARK. It is primarily a non-religious culture. GraceWorks uses the resource of volunteer teams from the lower 48 to strategically and intentionally help people find and follow Jesus, working with local churches and church planters to insure follow up and discipleship. For more information on GraceWorks Alaska, please visit their website at graceworksak.com

team selection process

We will have a team of 24 people this year. The team will consist of a combination of adults and students. The mission of Grace Bible Church is to empower a movement of people to live and love like Jesus. Grace Bible Church believes this mission happens through inspiration, transformation, and action. It is our desire that the team consist of people who embody the mission and values of Grace Bible Church. The team will be notified of selection by January 23rd, 2023.

costs

$2,000.00 is the anticipated cost for the whole trip and a $50 non-refundable deposit is due at the time of sign up to secure a spot. The rest of the trip should be funded through support from families and friends. Support letters will be discussed at the first training meeting.

training meetings

In order to be prepared as a team, we will have mandatory meetings on Sundays 1/29, 2/12, 2/26, 3/12, 3/26, 4/23 and 5/7 at 9:00am in the High School Room.

If interested in being a member of the Alaska Short Term Mission Team for 2023, download, fill out, and return the 2023 Application Packet (click here). The application packet (which includes the following items listed below) must be submitted to the Student Ministry Administrative Assistant by January 18th, 2023.

  • Alaska Students Short Term Missions Team Application

This application must be submitted except for the Reference Form. The Reference Form is to be submitted by the person providing the reference directly to the Student Ministry Administrative Assistant.

  • Confidential Reference Form

The Confidential Reference Form is to be submitted by the person providing the reference directly to the Student Ministry Administrative Assistant.

  • $50 Non-Refundable Deposit.

If you are not selected to be a member of the Alaska Students Short Term Mission Team for the 2023 school year, your deposit will be applied to the GBC Missions Fund.

If you are not selected to be a member of the Alaska Students Short Term Mission Team for the 2023 school year, your deposit will be applied to the GBC Missions Fund.

If selected to be an Alaska Student Short Term Missions Team 2023 member, a packet will be provided to you with the following forms, which will be due by February 12th, 2023.

  • Airline Ticket Commitment

In order to get the best possible price on plane tickets, we need to purchase them well in advance of the trip, for example this trip is scheduled in June so the tickets will be purchased probably as early as March. This means that non-refundable tickets are being purchased by the church before the participants have begun raising funds for the trip, which could create a financial burden if they later need to withdraw. By signing this form, the team member commits to paying the price of the plane ticket or cancellation fee if that is permitted by the airline, if he or she withdraws or is asked to withdraw from the trip before raising the necessary funds to cover those costs.

  • 2023 GBC Med Form - Acknowledgement of Risks/Liability Release Form

Every time people participate in a church-sponsored trip, we ask them to sign a liability release form. For insurance reasons, we need a document that indicates that team members understand the risks involved in this type of ministry and voluntarily accept those risks. If the team member is a minor, the form requires a parent or legal guardian’s signature.

  • GraceWorks Forms

Our ministry partner also has medical and liability release forms and commitment forms. These forms must be completely filled out and submitted.

  • Background Check

If you will be 18 years or older BEFORE we leave for the trip, you will need to have a current background check on file with Grace Bible Church, and have completed child abuse prevention training in accordance with AB506 prior to leaving for the trip. The Student Ministry Administrative Assistant will contact you regarding this if this pertains to you.

  • Authorization to Leave the Country and Emergency Medical Care for Minors

Parents/Legal Guardians MUST give permission for their child to leave the country. Please note that this form MUST be notarized and that cost is not included in the cost of the trip. This form is only due if we have a layover in Canada, please DO NOT submit until AFTER you have been accepted as a team member and the flights have been booked. If we do not have a layover, we will not need this form.