About Us
Alaska Village Missions (AVM) is a non-denominational, evangelical ministry that has been reaching Alaska for Christ for more than fifty years.
AVM is a ministry dedicated to reaching the native people of Alaska with the Gospel, equipping believers for Christian service at Alaska Bible Institute, and broadcasting hope across Alaska through Christian Radio.
If you feel God is calling you to serve Him in Alaska keep reading to find out more about what He is doing through AVM and our missionaries.
Beliefs
AVM is a non-denominational, evangelical, faith-based, mission organization.
We stand firmly on the foundation of Scripture (the Bible) and hold it as our ultimate authority. While our staff and faculty may come from different church backgrounds and affiliations this is sure – we are all followers of Jesus Christ and saved by His glorious grace. For further inquiries regarding the doctrinal position of AVM, please feel free to CONTACT US.
History of Alaska Village Missions
Alaska Village Missions began in the early 1960s as the vision of our founder Ray Arno and his wife Petrea. When they arrived in Alaska, they quickly realized that in order to reach this state with the Gospel it meant leaving the road system and hitting the skies. The majority of land in Alaska is completely inaccessible by road and most villages are only accessible by small aircraft.
With this in mind, Ray sold his car and purchased a small plane and the legacy of AVM began.
Since that time the vision of AVM has remained clear and steadfast. Everyone from our Board of Directors to our field staff are committed to ministering in Alaska and to its people.
“Alaska Village Missions: The First 50 Years” chronicles Pastor Ray Arno’s journey from a small church in Wisconsin to the Alaskan frontier, where he aimed to spread the Gospel. Despite initial struggles, Arno’s faith led to the unexpected founding of the Alaska Bible Institute in Homer, Alaska. The book details the trials, faith-stretching moments, and eventual success that demonstrated God’s power and provision. Founded in 1964, Alaska Village Mission, and the Bible Institute, established a year later, continue to thrive. This story aims to inspire readers to respond to God’s call in their own lives. You can find the book here.
Doctrinal Statement
• The plenary inspiration and infallibility of the Word of God
• The eternal existence of one infinite God in three persons; Father, Son & Holy Spirit
• The deity, virgin birth, sinless life, vicarious atonement, and imminent return of Jesus Christ
• The universal depravity of man and necessity of salvation through the atoning blood of the Redeemer at Calvary
• The regenerating and indwelling ministry of the Holy Spirit producing the fruit of a transformed life imparting spiritual gifts
• The physical resurrection of all men. The Saints to everlasting joy and the lost to everlasting conscious torment
• The commission to the church to live in purity and to spread the Gospel throughout the world while awaiting the return of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ
• This statement of faith does not exhaust the extent of our beliefs. The Bible itself, as the inspired and infallible Word of God that speaks with final authority concerning truth, morality, and the proper conduct of mankind, is the sole and final source of all that we believe. For purposes of faith, doctrine, practice, policy, admissions, and discipline, our Board of Directors is ALASKA VILLAGE MISSIONS’ final interpretive authority on the Bible’s meaning and application.
Newsletters
If you want to hear regular testimonies of what God is doing in the villages and through Alaska Bible Institute, sign up to receive our newsletters here, and be sure to check the box for Alaska Village Missions Updates.
Faculty & Staff
Eric + Katrina Rozeboom
Eric and Katrina Rozeboom have been serving with Alaska Village Missions since 2005. Eric is the executive director of Alaska Village Missions and president of Alaska Bible Institute. Alaska Village Missions carries the gospel to the native villages of Alaska, broadcasts Christian radio to remote areas, and makes disciples at the Alaska Bible Institute (a tuition-free Bible college that trains and equips Christians for life and ministry). The Rozebooms live on the campus of Alaska Bible Institute with their five children, Jude, Asher, Evangeline, Genevieve, and Zoey.
Andy & Karina Smith
Andy is the Director of Village Ministry for AVM, and teaches Bible and Missions at ABI. Karina is the ABI Campus Nurse. Together with their two sons, David and Johnathan, they live on the ABI campus and serve in villages as often as they can.
Jeff & Amber Lowe
Jeff is the Assistant Director of Village Ministry for AVM, and the primary airplane pilot for the ministry. Jeff and Amber, with their son Parker, live in Missouri where Jeff runs AvFab, an aviation interior manufacturing and supply business. They spend most of their summers in Alaska, traveling and ministering in remote villages along the Alaskan Peninsula.
Taylor & Marissa Fendley
Taylor and Marissa Fendley began serving with Alaska Village Missions in 2022. Taylor and Marissa are currently serving with their three children, Kaden, Bristol, and Luke in Northway, Alaska, a Native village in Central Eastern Alaska. They are discipling local believers, helping to develop local leaders in the church and reaching out to other villagers through VBS and social engagements.
Tanner & Tina Teele
Tanner and Tina, along with their 3 children, Dryden, Brilli, and Blade, are preparing to serve as missionary pastors at a remote native village that can only be reached by boat or plane.
Timmy & Audra Jackson
Timmy, Audra, and their son Josiah are currently serving in Homer, Alaska with Alaska Village Missions, making disciples at Alaska Bible Institute and in the native villages. Timmy is currently in a missions internship working under the village ministry director while discipling students in our school and continuously gaining experience in teaching. Audra is newly navigating motherhood and discipling others, while also being involved in student life at ABI.
