Commentary 2:  First and foremost I would like to make this statement.  I will stand on the Lord Jesus Christ and on Him alone.  I will not take sides with the Manokotak Moravian Church Young People or the Alaska Moravian Church Provincial Board.  I will not take any sides with any human, any human institution, or human organization.  I will stand on Jesus Christ my Savior and Lord alone.

My statement begins with my dedication to our Lord Jesus Christ in 1993 here in Manokotak and served as Trustee for six years.  I also served as Sunday School officer and Youth group sponsor.

My service was cut short due to my unbiblical understanding when one of the Lay Pastors said uncomely and discouraging words to me.  Ever since then I wished not to serve in church again.  By grace of God, I have forgiven that person and I continue to ask for forgiveness.

In 2006, Manokotak Young People announced that their will be a “Spiritual Feast” in Manokotak.  I was not active then and I told my wife that I will be avoiding any church gathering by spending a weekend in Dillingham.

God works in mysterious ways and He allowed me to stay when I invited guests from Kwigillingok and 16 of them stayed in my humble home.  I had no choice but to go church with them.  To make my excuse I wanted to record on VHS so I could stand in the back of the church.  My spirit was moved that Friday evening and the Holy Spirit convicted me to return to God again.  I have not been the same ever since.

Of course, I was hurt in my heart and troubled in my mind when I saw “them” raising their hands and being loud.  The Bible described me, I was a carnal Christian (1 Corinthians 3:1-3).  I had accepted Jesus into my life 13 years ago, but I was living worldly and had a self-directed life.  I said to myself, “We are Moravians, we don’t do this!  My father and my elders told us not that we don’t raise our hands to praise God.  We are told to remain silent!  God showed me later that I was not allowing Him to lead my life!  I was still in control of my life!   I was still a spiritual milk Christian.

God showed me three visions that I have shared with others and they speak to me personally and also His people.  I must share them.  The visions are His and not mine.  I have kept them in me for seven years.  The Bible says God gives us “talents” and we must use them to increase the Kingdom of God.  If I hid it and not use it, I will be cast out into outer darkness. (Matt. 25:14-30)

I do not know who was on the Young People in Manokotak for the first Spiritual Feast, so I cannot speak about that. I was elected to the Young People group during Manokotak Moravian Church election in 2006.  The Manokotak Young People asked for another Spiritual Feast during the Church’s regular monthly meeting and it was passed by the Board of Elders.  There was some discussion in the format of the services, but no direct or specific guidance was given to us except that we stay in guidelines with “Moravian doctrine” and the Book of Order.

The positive results of the first Spiritual Feast were evident immediately.  I was hungry for the Word of God, I was spiritually in famine.  I quit serving in Church in 1999 and had backslidden.  Now my spirit was very hungry for the Word of God and my wife and I started Bible Study in November 2006.  My hunger and thirst for the filling of the Holy Spirit became evident by His fruits and traits.  I was no longer myself, I had allowed Jesus to lead my life.

The attendance in church grew.  Youth group activities increased to include a youth group Bible Study.  Church treasury bloomed!

In 2007, the second Spiritual Feast was even more powerful with the works of the Holy Spirit.  Jesus Christ was center in most testimonies, songs, and worship.  The Book of Psalms became alive!  Praising and worshipping God from our hearts.

Satan will have no part in this revival and renewal of praise and worship and no sooner has 2007 Spiritual Feast ended, distraught and defeated he began making complaints and noise in our church, the Alaska Moravian Church, and the rest is nonsense.

In May 2008, Manokotak Young People again approached the Board of Elders during their regular Church Council meeting and our request was unanimously passed with little or no discussion.  October 2008 Spiritual Feast highlights are best described by Bishop William Nicholson and many, many others who were changed by the work of the Holy Spirit.  Isaiah 55 had new meaning to me as it was shown by Him through His eyes.  God’s ways are not our ways and His thoughts are not our thoughts.  His Word will not return to Him empty!  John 3 and 4 became a ray of sunshine for me and many others.  John 14, 15, 16 shot rays of God’s light in our lives.  1 Corinthians 12, 13, & 14 became true.  Especially the Book of Psalms radiated their glowing beam of praises and worship to the One True God!

Knowledge and wisdom came from God through the Holy Spirit and he showed me that the Alaska Moravian Church was founded because of what He did in Berthelsdorf, Herrnhut, Germany on August 13, 1727.  We, as Christians, should never forget our spiritual heritage beginning in Acts 2 and we as Moravians should never forget our church’s spiritual heritage that happened on August 13, 1727.  After that date several things happened that we see and use today in the Moravian Church.  The Daily Text was borne from that divine visit, missionary work was borne from those touched by God, prayer was key and after that Pentecostal day they prayed continuously everyday for over 100 years.  Songs, hymnals, and spiritual songs were sung and written in two years by them in more numbers than any other group in history.  Bible reading became an daily necessity that Count Zinzendorf created the early Daily Text and Watchword that we use it today and many others.  In Germany over one million are printed in German language alone.  THERE ARE ONLY about 30,000 Moravians in Germany!  The power and work of the Holy Spirit is revived again and those who speak against it are in danger of resisting Him and actually working against the will of God.

We, the Manokotak Young People group, have strived to follow the Moravian Book of Order and Moravian doctrine as stated in the Ground of the Unity, Moravian Covenant for Christian Living, and the Alaska Moravian Church Book of Order.

I am ready for any questions and investigations by the Alaska Provincial Board, Bishops, and any other Alaska Moravian leaders in reference to my belief in God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.  I am ready to answer any questions in reference to the Spiritual Feasts we conducted here in Manokotak.  Please do this in person and not over the telephone from those persons who have not attended the gatherings or have expressed their “feelings” about the gatherings.  There are MORE positive results from the Spiritual Feast and there are many other witnesses who can testify the awesome work of the Holy Spirit.

In God’s Love and Humbly serving,

Melvin P. Andrew

Manokotak Young People

Vice President

Commentary 3:  A Yupik pastor shared this concern that ____________ has shared in his testimony that when he speaks of repenting, he says that “if you hate one person and die, you will go to hell”.  He also expressed his concern that there is wrong doctrine being shared.  Another example cited is when the spirit-filled Moravians say, “I gave you the Holy Spirit and blow the Holy Spirit upon you”.  He shared that as a ________ Moravian Church pastor he is getting calls to his home saying, “What’s going on?”  He also shared that the big reason for this meeting, an individual from Bethel Moravian Church attended the Spiritual Feast in Manokotak in October 2008, returned and spoke with a pillar Christian in the Bethel Moravian Church and said, “You don’t have the Holy Spirit”.  He stated that in still another conversation another Moravian reentered their home village and said that the “Holy Spirit is dead in your Church”.

Commentary 4:  Too many Moravians are village orientated and stuck in the old traditional ways with most likely no young people attending to bring in fresh ideas they are fearful of change.  _____ bring change and so does Spiritual Feasts! Remember who taught them back in the 30’s 40’s and 50’s.  _______________makes mention of it in his letter.  These guys are very simple minded and are just plain old fashion and will put up a mental block to any new ideas or letters. They don’t care if it brings to GOD new people by the truck loads it just isn’t done that way. They cannot see that God would greatly be pleased if he saw the truckloads. Now I call that GOOD ORDER! So the way I see it they are trying to push _________ out.  So ____________ either have to get sterner or forget about having any peace within the Moravian Church. Me I think the Spiritual Feast is the best things that ever happen to the Alaska Moravian Church.

Joy!

Commentary 5:  Since the Holy Spirit never contradicts God's Word what scriptures can ___________give in support of what ___ he is intending to do?  What are the infractions?  What are the specifics of practices being conducted?  And what are the marks of the movement that characterize what is going on that is not according to the Word of God?  Can one give a Bible verse to state what this movement is and what they are doing wrong according to God's Word? 

Also Book of Order article 813 is not the vehicle to correct what may be a false movement within the church.   Article 813 is for restoring a brother or sister who are living in such a manner as to bring dishonor to Christ and His Church.  Restoration is God's business and should be the ___________ business also not making divisive accusations.

I am also troubled by the fact that this church problem is being published in the Delta discovery newspaper.  These problems should be worked out within the walls of the church and not sent out to the general public.  There are communications set up for all the church leaders.  __________should strive to keep the Church unblemished to the general public and show that we can with God's help work out our own problems in our church.

Since I have never attended one of the Spiritual Feasts and have only heard second hand reports of what is going on in these meetings.  Is it correct for me to say that these meetings are what you are calling a "New Movement"?  Please help me by giving me a definition of what this movement is and what is going on that is unscriptural.

The reports I have been hearing is that souls are being saved and people are rededicating themselves to serve Christ.  These sound like good reports to me, not something that needs correction or something that should be disapproved by ________.  Is this something you can call "discord and hardship" as stated in your ______.  I think not, these reports should excite you to see God is moving in our people who have been oppressed by alcoholism and suicide and are now being delivered by God.

I look forward to hear from you about this.

Love in Christ.

Commentary 6:  My name is ____________, originally from Manokotak, Alaska; daughter of the late ___________.  I am 52 years old and am privileged to have seen the seeds of the Alaska Moravian Church established in our village of Manokotak and the other villages.  Both my parents were very active in the Church and I myself have been active since I was a very young child.  Our Sunday School and Children’s Bible School teachers, Anuska Kusegta, Emma David, Nettie Evon, Pauline Andrew and others had us involved in the church programs from the start singing and quoting scriptures, Christmas plays; and as teenagers we had a very active church program started by John P. and Pauline Andrew. The annual Daily Vacation Bible School was another high point in our growing up years.  To this day, I thank Mrs. Mayer (Violet Warman) and Miss Siebke for their tireless work bringing the gospel to the young ones.  I received my salvation during one of the DVBS programs when I was around the age of 8 or 9 at our fish camp.  As is true for many of our people growing up in a Moravian Village, I grew up with the Church being the very center and integral part of our lives.  All of these influenced my church life and my Christianity.  I praise God for this very positive influence of my life.
 
Most of us, in our professional world, have to have an open mind and see both sides of the “story” or issue and not take sides or jump into conclusions.  There comes a time after researching and seeing both sides we have to make a stand that will not cause us to bring judgment on ourselves.  The Bible also warns us about self-righteous moral judgment of others.  Matthew 7:1-2; Romans 2:1.
 
I respect our leaders.  Those that were here before us, and those that are here with us today.  I continue have an open mind and friendship with our leaders today.  Sometimes, I don’t quite feel at ease with issues that are causing discontentment within the church. Today,  I feel saddened with the opposition by ____________ and ____________ about the work of the Holy Spirit changing lives through the Manokotak Young People and friends who are spreading the Gospel.  I have been there to witness the Spiritual Feasts beginning with the Kwigillingok Young People (who unfortunately were repudiated/scolded by the Kwigillingok Church Elders).  The young people leaders from Manokotak saw the work of the Holy Spirit and wanted to continue that revival in Manokotak.  I’ve been to the Spiritual Feasts or Revival Services after that. These revival type services are so well received by people of all ages especially the young people, who are seeking that outreach when life seems so full of heartache and hopelessness.
 
I would like to see that before any of you oppose the so called “movement”; go prayerfully and humbly, with an open mind and attend the upcoming Spiritual Feast in Manokotak.  Unfortunately, some community members have been receiving phone calls from some of you who oppose the work of the Holy Spirit using the Manokotak Young People leaders. This is as close as it gets to blaspheming the work of the Holy Spirit, which as an unpardonable sin.  Matthew 12:31; Mark 3:29; Luke 12:10. 

This person or persons making these phone calls to condemn this work is/are gossiping or slandering against the wonderful work that has begun in Kwig first, then Manokotak, are the ones causing turmoil and unrest within the Moravian Church.  Paul’s warning to the Corinthians was this very thing. 1 Corinthians 4:20-21; 2 Corinthians 12:20.

What I have seen is Bible based teaching and sharing, proclaiming Jesus Christ as sovereign Lord.  Yes, there is a lot more freedom to express oneself which may be out of the ordinary for most of us that are used to the quiet, serious, and solitude atmosphere.  Our youth, or everyone for that matter; want to be reached out, feel included, accepted and welcomed.  I have not felt anything cultish or out of sorts by the Manokotak Young People leaders.  In fact, they are the ones who probably know more the Alaska Moravian Church Book of Order than those delegates who attend the annual synod.
 
I was able to attend couple Home Bible Studies in Manokotak and it was awesome to see the hunger of Bible based Bible Study by the attendees, who had the opportunity to ask and/or share and to see them obviously growing in the Word. On the other note,  a traditional Bible Study in church is usually not well attended,  leader’s words may be a personal agenda, is a one way presentation, with no question and answer time.

It would be so devastating and hurtful to see ____ make judgment and make division go as far as removing whom you see as supporting, what ___________ calls as, the “new movement”.  In this age when church is subject to by-laws, we need to be careful with discrimination or acts that will hurt and even disseminate the church. See Alaska Moravian Church By-laws.

Yes, whenever there is something happening that is out of the ordinary, or seem strange and not traditional other than what people are used to, it will always bring questions.  This is perfectly expected and is healthy to be uncomfortable.  I pray that we welcome the work of the Holy Spirit, welcome the lives that are being changed because of the obedience to witness and preach the gospel from this group of Young People.  They are the ones heeding the call and spreading gospel, which is one of the Moravian themes:  “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost: Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world. Amen.”  Matthew 28:19-20.
 
I have seen the Manokotak Young People Leaders mistreated by some people, labeled as different; but by the grace of God, they continue to go out and preach the Gospel.  We need to work together by the LOVE of God, His Grace, and Mercy, and He will Bless us. 
 
“May the Grace of Christ our Savior and our Father’s boundless LOVE,  With the Holy Spirit’s favor, rest upon us from above.  Amen.”
 
Sister in Christ,
_____________

 
The Unitas Fratum, or Moravian Church, began in the year 1457, 548 years ago, during the time of John Hus.  The reformation was followed by much trouble, even persecution and disruption.  John Comenius never failed to plead for the restoration of his beloved church.  A hidden seed survived in Bohemia and Moravia, and emerged a hundred years later in the Renewed Church.  Today, the Unitas Fratum, which has asserted throughout its history that Christian fellowship recognizes no barrier of nation or race, is still an international Unity throughout the world. (The Unity – for more, read The Alaska Moravian Church Book of Order)

Commentary 7: 

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