From the Superintendent's DESK

In October 2024, we published an article in our quarterly magazine titled “God’s Plan for the Baby in the Snow.” It featured the testimony of Paul Patkotak, an Inupiat Eskimo who was born in November of 1891 in a remote village on the North Slope of Alaska. Briefly, it told how he was born during a time of famine when families were abandoning their homes in search of food. Within hours of his birth, he was left in a snowbank to die, but God intervened and miraculously spared his life. He grew up to become a mighty witness for God to his own people, and his testimony continues to inspire today.

Recently, two couples (John and Rodica Musgrave of Portland, and Wayne and Lisa Butler of Port Angeles, Washington) went to Alaska to learn more about Brother Paul’s history. They were also interested in meeting some of the people impacted by his life. Brother John sent the following report of their trip.

Tuesday, April 29
We arrived in Utqiagvik (Barrow), Alaska, and were met at the airport by Karen Burnell, who introduced us immediately to some of her friends who had arrived on the same flight. She became our guide for the first two days, showing us around Barrow and introducing us to everyone as “the children of the church that Brother Paul Patkotak came from.”

We learned that Utqiagvik has a population of 4,500. It is the sixth coldest city in the world, located 320 miles north of the arctic circle and 1,100 miles south of the North Pole. It is truly remarkable how the Inupiat people have survived in this harsh environment for over two millennia. 

Everyone we were introduced to was warm and extremely friendly. The respect that they have toward Brother Paul and his Christian testimony remains strong. On Tuesday evening we visited one of his grandsons, Don Nungasak. He was getting ready to leave with his whaling crew but took time to invite us into his house where he shared some stories about his aapa (“grandfather”). He also sang “Come and go with me to my Father’s house.” We enjoyed our time with him and were able to meet some of his crew and family, including grandchildren. 

Before he and his crew set out, they asked us to gather around their boat, which was mounted on a sled, and pray. It is their tradition to have the captain offer a prayer for the safety and success of the crew before they leave. This time, I had the honor of giving the prayer. Then, as they took off with their sleds being towed by snowmobiles, we followed in our rental car. We didn’t get far before getting stuck in the snow, and we had to be rescued by a truck with a tow rope. When we concluded our day at 10:30 in the evening, it was still light outside.

‍Wednesday, April 30
For breakfast, we enjoyed omelets made with reindeer (caribou) sausage at Sam and Lee’s Restaurant. Then Karen shared who we were with the other diners, and we had the opportunity to talk to several people and hand out magazines and tracts featuring Brother Paul’s testimony.

The rest of the day was very eventful. First, Karen drove us out toward Point Barrow, and we watched some of the crews heading out over the ice pack with their sleds to set up camps. Then, we visited the Inupiat Heritage Museum and a Fur Trading Company. Everywhere we went, Karen told people who we were and we had the opportunity to share Brother Paul’s testimony and hand out his tract. As we did, people often teared up in memory of their “Aapa.” Many were so appreciative that his story is being published throughout the world. 

Next, we drove by the natural gas plant because someone told Karen that caribou had been spotted there. We did see some caribou at fairly close range. We also saw some snowmobile riders off in the distance who appeared to have harvested a caribou. The Inupiat people still largely supplement their diet by subsistence living. They hunt the bowhead whales, seals, polar bears, walruses, migratory birds, and fish just as their ancestors did. 

Later we saw whale meat and blubber in the yard of the team captain of a crew that caught a whale the day before. Traditionally, portions are given to those who go and help with the butchering, and over 1,500 community members were served a portion of that whale. 

The cold in the arctic is biting as it has high humidity, coastal wind, and temperatures so low that the moisture crystalizes in the air. Each time we stepped outside and took our gloves off for a minute to take a photo, we felt the burning freezing cold on our faces, ears, and hands.

In the evening, we went to a church service at the site where Brother Paul helped build a Pentecostal church. A newer building is in its place today. They were holding a youth night and there we met Olive, who is a great-granddaughter of Brother Paul. She became our very capable guide for the rest of our stay.

Olive took us to the home of Crawford Patkotak, a grandson of Brother Paul. He is Chairman of the Board for Arctic Slope Regional Corporation (ASRC), a company that manages the resources for the North Slope Borough of Alaska. One of his sons, Josiah, is the mayor of Utqiagvik.

We had a great time visiting with Crawford, his wife, Laura, and their sons, Josiah and Samuel, along with additional family members. Crawford shared several inspiring stories about his grandfather, many times tearing up while recalling his faithfulness. He spoke of the heritage of serving God, which was coveted by his father, Simeon, and now by himself. He showed us the Bible given to Brother Paul by the Apostolic Faith in 1947. It was passed to his father and now belongs to him. He openly desires the same blessing and faith that he was raised with by his father and grandfather.

After speaking of spiritual things, Crawford told us about a portion of his physical heritage that was recently rediscovered. He said that years ago, a millionaire bought a significant amount of land in the area and drove out the original inhabitants. In the past ten years or so, he has been able to buy back much of that land for ASRC. Recently, he became aware that the ancestral home and property of Brother Paul’s parents was part of the redeemed land.

We were able to add to Crawford’s knowledge of his heritage, both spiritual and physical, by sharing that his grandfather had left half of his ASRC shares to our church. Upon hearing this, he said, “That is why God has blessed us all these years!” He told us how his grandfather was very giving and had left his family a nice inheritance in contrast to his simple lifestyle. Before leaving, I had the privilege of praying for the Patkotak crew that was planning to leave the next day to set up their whaling camp.

Next, Olive took us to visit her Aunt Nora, a granddaughter of Brother Paul, and her family. When I gave her a magazine, she began to cry—all the grandkids have very fond memories of their aapa. Here, we were treated to pickled muktuk (whale skin and blubber). Then her son came in with bags of fresh, cooked muktuk—meat from a whale that had been caught that day. When we left, it was 11:00 at night but still light outside, so we went to the “whale bones arch” to take photos.

‍Thursday, May 1
We returned to Sam and Lee’s for breakfast and there met Flora and Harry Brower. He and Brother Wayne had something in common. While serving on the whaling commission, Harry helped the Makah tribe in Neah Bay, Washington, where Brother Wayne’s family is from. We gave the couple magazines, tracts, and pens, and they were intrigued to hear the story of Brother Paul, whom they knew of.

In the afternoon, we visited the ASRC, an impressive corporate office building with lots of historical art, artifacts, and pictures. During our time there, we met with a team that has been working on translating the Bible into their native language. We also listened to a shortwave radio, as the entire community does, for updates from the whaling teams that had gone out. As we learned that one of the teams had harpooned a whale on the first attempt, one of the ladies asked if they had given the prayer yet. Apparently, the captain offers a prayer when a whale has been successfully landed.

Not long into our visit, a group began to gather, and we were given the opportunity to share our connection with Paul Patkotak. They wanted to hear the whole story and expressed that the entire community would want to hear his story. They invited us to return in the third week of June for the whaling season celebration. Before leaving, Brother Wayne closed the gathering with prayer.

Later, we went to the airport for our flight to Anchorage and then back to the mainland. While in the security line, we met another of Brother Paul’s granddaughters, Miranda, and were able to give her a magazine and some tracts.

‍Friday, May 2
Upon our arrival in Anchorage, we were met by Genelle Patkotak-Okpeaha. We had reserved a history book, three magazines, some pens, and several tracts for her. We had a nice time visiting with her and her husband, Richard, along with their daughter and her fiancé. Genelle shared how her Aapa Patkotak had prayed a special prayer for her. Growing up, she had a deep hoarse voice and could not hold a tune, but Brother Paul prayed for her and her sister. The Lord answered that prayer, and as a result, she was able to give us CDs of her music! Before parting, we anointed and prayed for Richard, as the family was in Anchorage due to some health concerns of his.

Brother John concluded the report by saying, "It was such a blessing to spend time with the family and friends of Paul Patkotak. The opportunity to share the faith of their ‘aapa’ opened doors, touched hearts, and created a desire in them to know more.” We thank God that He had a plan for this “Baby in the Snow” and pray that Brother Paul’s testimony will continue to touch lives for Christ, especially his own people of northern Alaska.