Alaska is the largest state in the U.S.A in land area at 663,268 square miles, which is over twice the size of Texas, the next largest state. Alaska is known for its breathtaking, natural beauty, but that’s not all it’s known for. If you decide to partner with the greater Fairbanks community you will quickly notice that the partnerships are just as breathtaking as the landscape.

Since 2009, Next Step has strategically aligned itself with organizations in Fairbanks that are committed to sharing God’s love by combating homelessness and being a part of the spiritual healing going on in Fairbanks today. It’s also where the 3 founders of Next Step Ministries were first commissioned by two amazing spiritual leaders and locals, Will and Yvonne Mayo. Will, a former Athabaskan Chief and his wife, Yvonne, a Co-Director of the Vine Ministry in Fairbanks encouraged the founders to go out and continue God’s good work through missions. It was after much prayer and God’s working through Will and Yvonne that they decided to create Next Step Ministries.

Since the founding of Next Step, our community connections in Fairbanks have expanded and we’re excited for you to have the opportunity to serve alongside our partners. When you join us in Alaska, you get the chance to attend a Sunday morning service at your host church. The students will have an amazing opportunity to connect with some locals in a church wide potluck meal after the service. That afternoon you’ll set out on a hike into God’s glorious creation, a great way to center your hearts at the start of your trip. For the next three days, you get to be a part of God’s mission in Fairbanks by serving with our partnerships located all across the city. Your Alaska adventures may even lead you to serving with some of our partners in North Pole! (Yep, you read that right, North Pole, AK! Not THE North Pole, although you can visit Santa’s house!)

Known as the golden heart of Alaska, we work within the heart of the city of Fairbanks through urban ministries like The Door and the Fairbanks Rescue Mission who help combat the homelessness in the area. We also partner with the 7th Day Adventist Church, Adventist Community Services (ACS) who run a disaster response warehouse that supports the local community as well as provides supplies to rural regions of Alaska when disaster strikes. In North Pole, we work with Unity Outreach to split and stack firewood for winter fuel as well as help with their facility renovation as they help the community in many physical and spiritual ways. All of our partnerships combine a unique balance of practical physical support, such as construction and repair, along with highly valued relational involvement with members of these communities. Whether you are helping with construction at the disaster response warehouse or working on maintenance or construction at Pioneer Park and getting to share the love of Christ through interactions with both locals and tourists alike, students will have the opportunity to make a meaningful difference.

During your free day, students will travel up to Denali National Park to explore one of the most beautiful preserves in the country. There are a variety of hiking options with magnificent views around the park as well as local adventure tours like ATV rides. You can take an exciting white water rafting trip down the Nenana River or hop in a helicopter for a ride to the massive Yanert Icefield and land on an actual glacier! Nowhere else can your students experience this type of adventure!