Mission Statement

Delta Presbyterian Church

In partnership with our brothers and sisters in Christ, Delta Presbyterian Church is a gathering of people who love and serve the Lord in a Spirit-filled, friendly, caring way. We are the body of Christ connected to our Creator and nourished by the Word and the Lord's Supper. We do this through:

  • Bringing people to Jesus Christ
  • Welcoming and inviting all to worship God
  • Planning inspiring Worship
  • Encouraging one another to share our God-given gifts and talents
  • Leading a more involved and active Sunday School for all ages and developing an insightful youth program
  • Comforting those in distress, nurturing those in need and forgiving one another

Faith Lutheran Church

In partnership with our brothers and sisters in Christ, Faith Lutheran is a grounded, hopeful, welcoming body of believers united by the grace of God in one faith and one baptism, empowered by the Holy Spirit to love and serve God and our community.

 

Our History and Fellowship

Delta Presbyterian Church was organized in 1952 and is a member of the Yukon Presbytery. Starting in the mid-1980s Korean-speaking members held their own worship service in their native language until they disbanded in 2004. In 1983, a fellowship of Lutherans was formed and soon became organized as Faith Lutheran Church (ELCA). After some time, the Lutheran congregation began meeting in the Delta Presbyterian Church sanctuary with the same pastor leading worship in both Presbyterian and Lutheran services. As our congregations grew closer, we formed a partnership agreement in July 1998. This partnership agreement along with the mission statement from each congregation is a positive step forward in the life of the church.

Both the Presbyterian and Lutheran congregations consist of warm and caring individuals and families. Our two congregations combine in worship each Sunday, alternating between Lutheran and Presbyterian orders of worship. We fellowship together with potlucks and work together on various fundraisers (such as our annual Spaghetti Dinner during the community’s Festival of Lights each February).

A ramp provides access to the sanctuary and a lift (installed in 2004) allows people who cannot navigate the stairs to join the fellowship in the basement and use the bathroom facilities.

Our music ministry includes the children’s choir and drama group, Christian.KoM (Christian Kids on a Mission). The children of the community interested in music and drama gather and perform under the direction of Pastor Bear.

In 2005, a small set of hand bells was purchased through donations and a grant. The first ringing of the bells happened during Sunday worship on Easter, March 27, 2005.

Our Community

Our congregations serve the community of Delta Junction (with an expanding population) which encompasses a 50 mile radius area. Delta Junction is a "small town", but diversified in its makeup. Lifestyle varies from agricultural to State and Federal workers to self-employed business people to retirees. In summer, we have a heavy tourist trade. In the past ten years, Delta Junction has seen an influx of immigrants from Russia.

Fort Greely, 5 miles south of Delta Junction on the Richardson Highway, has become the home of GMD (ground based missile defense). The Pogo Gold Mine is located nearby to the north. These activities have caused the community of Delta Junction to grow again.

Delta Junction is located 100 miles southeast of Fairbanks at the junction of the Alaska Highway and the Richardson Highway. We have a spectacular view of the Alaska Range. The city developed along the east bank of the Delta River, south of the river’s convergence with the Tanana River. Anchorage, Alaska's largest city, is 365 miles to the southwest.

In 1903 an overland trail was cut from Valdez to Fairbanks which became the Richardson Highway. Mining activity just north of Delta brought many prospectors through the area. The community was called Buffalo Center in 1927 because of the American bison that were transplanted to the area in the 1920s.

In 1942, construction of the Alaska Highway began, and a military base (later called Fort Greely) was completed. By 1953, homesteaders had established dairy and beef cattle farms.

A dramatic increase in population occurred during the construction of the Trans-Alaska Pipeline between 1974 and 1977. The Delta Agricultural Project created farms just south of Delta along the Alaska Highway between 1978 and 1982. To keep the bison herd out of the farmers’ fields, a 70,000-acre Delta Bison Range was cleared and planted in 1980.

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