YOUR SUPPORT AT WORK Learning Together to Follow Creator Amidst global struggles, Meritha Misrak Capelle leads young adults in critical conversations BY HANNAH PALMER
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avigating a global pandemic is no small feat. The constant changes provide challenges to even the most adaptable among us. Leading Aarigaa, the young adult ministry in Anchorage, Meritha Misrak Capelle finds unique opportunities amidst the struggles. “When COVID first hit, we stopped meeting in-person and that was hard on the community,” Meritha shared. “Even so, we did well by meeting online regularly. We shared a deep connection over 3 hour meetings.”
November 2020 “This Friday was supposed to be Niqqipiaq night, which is our Native food night. We pull out all the stops, but this year we had to cancel it.” Meritha’s upbringing on the shores of Katyaaq, AK and her cultural heritage as Iñupiaq and Marshallese are central to her life and ministry. “Eating that food connects us to the people that hunted, gathered, fished, processed, cut, and dried the food. A lot of care goes into that. It connects us to the land, to the water and, for us, as Indigenous people it really is important. And to eat it together!”
This momentum carried until the end of the semester when Aarigaa “We come to our paused for the summer. In the fall when they met in-person conversations with a posture again, the energy continued. of ‘we learn together’.” However, due to additional local mandates, Aarigaa Anchorage Part of Meritha’s role in ministry is decided to cease in-person gatherings. learning with students what it means to “We’ve seen cases rise here in Alaska. follow the Creator in a way that is instep Meeting over Zoom has been harder. with an Indigenous worldview. I want to be with the young adults in “Indigenous people have beautiful one room, laughing together, eating ways of identifying Creator and together. I miss that.”
understanding Creator and Creator’s Son and Spirit. And Creator sets free.” “We’ve been having some good discussions with young adults lately - that is a lot of ministry right now. We come to our conversations with a posture of ‘we learn together’.” Learning together marks this time for Aarigaa Anchorage. As the group continues learning about cultural heritage and faith, they explore other ways of engaging as a community. “We started a statewide virtual Aarigaa for people who aren’t connected to a physical ministry site. We’ve also been playing video games together and we will start writing letters soon.” Please continue to pray for our young adult community and our staff as they lead ministry during this time. CYAK staff would not be able to minister to and disciple young people as they are without your prayers and the generosity of your financial support. Quyanaqpak for supporting leaders like Meritha in this Kingdom work!
CONTINUE YOUR IMPACT TODAY Join #GivingTuesday this year to help CYAK continue sharing the love of Creator with young people. Thank you! For more information how to make a gift, please follow the link below.
www.cyak.org/hope
COVENANT YOUTH OF ALASKA A relational outreach, discipleship and leadership ministry for Alaska youth and young adults
Website www.cyak.org Email info@cyak.org Phone 907-222-1432