Reflections of a Running Reverend

I am a first generation immigrant from the Philippines. My wife and I, together with our older son, came to America in 2008 when I was appointed to serve the United Methodist Church of Chugiak here in Alaska. Our younger son was born here. As an immigrant family, adjusting to life and ministry in a foreign land had its challenges. Transitioning to ministry here was the easy part, almost seamless, thanks to the United Methodist connectional system which makes us do things in distinct, almost similar or at least recognizable ways wherever we are in the world. It was adjusting to American culture and lifestyle that was a little more difficult. When we first got here, we had to apply for social security numbers, driver's licenses and other documents that established our identity and our residency. It felt like starting from scratch, that we never existed prior to coming here. Coming from a cash-based economy, we had to apply for credit cards and learn how to use them. We had to e...

Bishop Hagiya commissioning new Alaska Clergy in 2013 It takes a special breed of person to live in Alaska and call it home. It also takes a special breed of person to serve as a pastor here. It is a beautiful land with unique ministry settings, each with its own set of joys and challenges. In my role as Superintendent, I have received and continue to receive applications to serve here in Alaska. Some of them are legit and worth considering. But some of them, I feel, are for the wrong reasons. Some say they love to fish & hunt and so Alaska would be a great fit for them. Some say they love the outdoors. Some say they love to hike and ski. Some say they want to be away, to live in extreme, isolated settings. While these are good skills and interests to have for one who is serving in Alaska, these, in my opinion, shouldn't be the primary reasons to come here. One has to feel called to serve in any of our settings . Here are two stories of two such people I am honored to c...

One of my biggest learnings so far in this new role is this: "Anchorage is not Alaska." Its part of it, but its not the whole of it. The more I travel to our different ministry settings around the state, the more my eyes are opened to the reality that there is more to life and ministry in Alaska than my experience of it as pastor of a bedroom community of Anchorage has given me. There are different ministry contexts with unique opportunities and challenges. When I visited Southeast Alaska a couple of months ago, my mind was opened to the realities of air travel in that part of the state. I became acquainted with terms such as "fly over" and "milk run". A "fly over" happens when it is too stormy, or too windy, or too foggy for an airplane to land and so it flies over and goes on to the next destination in the "milk run" which is a chain of airport stops a airline flight needs to make to pick-up and unload passengers and cargo before ...

East Anchorage UMC, where the Conference office is housed, is a polling place and so as I write this post today, I am watching people from all walks of life coming in and out of the building to vote. It's been a steady stream of people since I came in! And this is a good thing! I am not a U.S. Citizen (at least not yet) but if I were, I would be part of this exodus. As I sit here, I am also witnessing how folks from East Anchorage UMC are engaging the voters, offering them coffee and treats. There is so much negativity and mudslinging clouding every election season that this simple act of hospitality comes as a breath of fresh air. No, they are not campaigning for any candidate or advocating for a certain cause. They are merely saying "Thank you for voting." What a great witness! And what a great way to engage their neighbors! They are certainly making great connections. If you have already voted, I thank you for doing so! If you haven't, I encourage you ...