Stronger Witness - Insight & Growth
by Mark Houpt
The poet T.S. Eliot once wrote, “We shall not cease from exploration, and the end of all our exploring will be to arrive where we started and know the place for the first time.” My journey this summer to Alaska, which included a visit to two vastly different yet equally mesmerizing landscapes, proved that traveling not only introduces us to new places and cultures but also has the power to deepen our understanding of our own beliefs and convictions. It has the ability to make us a STRONGER WITNESS for Christ. This trip was more than a mere physical journey; it was a profound spiritual journey that tested, challenged, pained, and bolstered my faith.
On June 22, 2023, Maria and I boarded the big silver bird in Chicago and flew into the night sky to arrive in the land where the sun never sets and to celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary in Alaska. We didn’t see the night sky again until our return trip on the morning of July 25th. The trip was originally intended to be just a vacation and nothing more, although it was also my 50th state (although Maria would challenge that). Upon arriving in Alaska, we were met with the picturesque backdrop of shining seas, and sprawling farmlands nestled between beautiful snow-capped mountains (yes, even in late June!) and towering ice castle glaciers. Our home for the month would be Palmer, AK. This town, known for its agricultural roots, was a serene reminder of the bounty of God’s creation. Every new vista seemed like a painting, a testament to God’s artistry. However, as is often the case in our walk of faith, the serenity of the landscape was juxtaposed with a challenge.
A few months before our trip, which was supposed to be a vacation and nothing more, Gary (Johnson) approached us and suggested that maybe it could also be a ministry trip to Palmer Christian Church, a new partner of e2. We accepted without hesitation or even thinking about the commitment, and I was scheduled to preach during all four of our weeks “on station.” As the time approached I, honestly, began to regret having accepted a “work component” to this trip as my professional job had become exceedingly demanding and the time of renewal and away from the rush of AI, cyber-attacks, and auditors was much needed.
But as is often the case, God reminds us why we say yes to Him and His plans – to be a STRONGER WITNESS for Him. In Palmer, we met some of the most wonderful and sincere people I have honestly ever met. Andrew and Michelle, Brice and Sara, and Lucas and Lydia, and many more all welcomed Maria and me with open arms into their lives, homes, and families – including their extended families! Their sincere desire to do life together as a church and invite us into their personal lives and homes turned a situation where we had planned on showing up on Sunday, doing our thing, and being gone the other six days of the week into a heartfelt desire to rush back from our day of touring early enough to attend the midweek services, church camp preaching sessions, and many other events. Their STRONGER WITNESS has resulted in what I hope and believe to be lifelong, no eternal, friendships.
As their preacher for a month, people like Madeline began asking honest questions of the faith that required me to go back and study. Others shared deep hurts that required from me compassion and concern for others as I have never before had. Engaging in life with our brothers and sisters in Palmer was humbling, enlightening, and spiritually and personally enriching. This church, for the first time in my more than fifty years of church life, showed in living color what the first church was like when it was described in Acts 2:42 and following. I now have a tangible vision of the church that we should be and my personal experiences in Palmer can be a STRONGER WITNESS for the validity of the Gospel message of the book of Acts. Spending time with Palmer Christian Church has solidified my calling into ministry and emboldened me to seek further opportunities to preach and gain academic instruction toward that calling.
While Palmer provided intellectual, personal, and spiritual engagements, Utqiagvik (formerly known as Barrow) – the northernmost city in the United States – was another stop that started as a touring event and turned into a spiritual journey. Utqiagvik offered an entirely different set of challenges and views on life. In the Arctic tundra, where the sun truly either never sets or never rises, depending on the season, the very fabric of time seemed to warp. The isolation, vast icy landscapes, grittiness of life and culture, and the endless daylight during the 24 hours we were there, were a far cry from the bustling busyness of the “lower 48.”
The indigenous Iñupiat community of Utqiagvik reintroduced me to syncretism like I had seen in Haiti. Syncretism is the blend of two or more religious belief systems. In the case of the Iñupiat, we have the blend of Christianity brought by missionaries as compared to a spirituality deeply rooted in nature and ancestral traditions. This is a far cry from the traditional worship of God that we were accustomed to. Although their stories of survival, resilience, and deep respect for the land were inspiring, one story is heartbreaking. I learned that Christian missionaries came to the land of the north and denigrated the Iñupiat people while trying to “civilize” them into Christians. Although there are churches in Utqiagvik, in fact, one is the center of town and the oldest building, the believers are small in number, and ministry is exceedingly hard. This is especially true among the older generation, those who experienced the ridicule and forced stripping of their “pagan” traditions and culture firsthand. Hearing our guide tell this story has only emboldened me to ensure that my sense of urgency in ministry does not trample, denigrate, or otherwise demean the very people whom I am trying to share the saving gospel with. We as Christians can be a STRONGER WITNESS when we respect and care for others and their traditions while sharing the life-saving knowledge of Jesus.
By the end of our journey, Alaska had become more than just a destination; it was a crucible in which our faith was tested and refined. The challenges posed by the contrasting landscapes and cultures of Palmer and Utqiagvik both strengthened and refined our conviction in Christ. As I ventured outside my comfort zone, I was reminded of the apostles and early missionaries who journeyed to distant lands, facing myriad challenges, yet stood fast in their commitment to bearing witness to Christ's message. And with each challenge and with each hardship experienced by these early apostles, believers welcomed these ministers into their lives and homes. As a result of their hospitality and tenderness towards Christ, it made the apostles a STRONGER WITNESS of the Gospel message – like the people of Palmer have for Maria and me.
While the breathtaking landscapes of Alaska are etched in my memory, it is the spiritual insights and growth, and the everlasting friendships (and my bear pictures) that I cherish the most from this trip. It was a powerful reminder that our faith, much like the landscapes of Alaska, is both vast and intimate, challenging yet nurturing. And just as explorers chart new territories, we too are called to constantly explore, understand, and deepen our relationship with God, using challenges as stepping stones to be a STRONGER WITNESS.
