BY DAWN REED
In 2025, our pastor (my beloved) encouraged our whole church to do something big for God in 2026. He is quite a dreamer, so I had no idea how deep, wide, near or far that would be. He prayed for direction. I prayed that God would direct him.
Earlier this year, he felt led to Alaska and asked me to go with him. We connected with Michael and Marsha Woodrum, originally from Campbellsville.
After several short-term mission trips to Alaska, they felt the Lord calling them to serve there full-time. They pulled up stakes and headed north. Bi-vocational and self-funded, Michael and Marsha just want people to know Jesus. Hold that thought.
Over 40 years ago, George Jacobs purchased a large tract of land in Tok, Alaska, where he built Mukluk Land. George and his wife, Beth, moved to Alaska from Wisconsin to teach. After retiring, George wanted to give locals and travelers something to do along the Alaska Highway. He acquired an eclectic collection of old vehicles and Alaskan memorabilia to draw people in.
For decades, visitors have found skee-ball, mini golf, tetherball, whack-a-mole, gold panning, ceramics, rock painting, popcorn, cotton candy and more. Since the 1980s, young and old have walked the grounds and made memories.
Two years ago, Mukluk Land came up for sale. The Woodrums prayed about it, bought it, and are changing it. These days, they are adding Jesus to the property.
Six days a week, they open to tourists and locals. They have Bible verses posted throughout the exhibits. They are eager to have gospel conversations and pray with people they meet.
Tok is known as the “Gateway to Alaska.” It is incredible how many nations the Woodrums are meeting right there on the side of the road. They are connecting with an absolutely unreached group of international people who are in the middle of nowhere.
We just returned from two weeks of helping at Mukluk. While we were there, we met honeymooners from Wisconsin, travelers from Missouri, Massachusetts, Colorado, Washington, and a couple from a local Air Force Base, along with people from France, Germany, Switzerland, Italy and Israel. That was just in the first few days.
In Dangerous Prayers, Craig Groeschel writes: “Jesus invites us to a life of surrender and sacrifice. He is inviting us to die to our own lives so we can live moment by moment, day by day for Him—to leave our cozy living rooms and safe prayers. Rather than pursuing our will, we surrender to His.”
In the Bible, we read stories of surrendered men and women. Fishermen laid down their nets. Abraham left it all, not knowing where it would be. Ruth knew the name of the town but had no idea what awaited. Rahab took a chance on the God of the Israelites.
The Woodrums are the definition of surrender. Last winter, temps dipped to -60 degrees. Yet, they press on.
Michael and Marsha have servant hearts. They worked in disaster relief for years and served in Alaska, Cuba, and Haiti on short-term missions. When the Lord called them to commit to Alaska, they said, “Yes!” Even though it is an isolated and cold place.
Our trip to Tok was a vision/mission trip. My beloved and our church are building a partnership with the Woodrums, taking teams for construction and/or VBS over the next three years.
How can you help Michael and Marsha as they serve in Alaska? Partner with them in prayer. That is the most important thing. Pray about going. Pray about helping financially. (Mukluk Land is on Facebook.)
Two days before we left, the unthinkable happened. A wildfire hit Tok. Thirty-five homes were lost, including the Woodrums’.
Dawn Reed is a columnist and pastor’s wife in Prestonsburg.