reaching the children of
a l a s k a
meet the team
"Be diligent to present yourself approved to God as a workman who does not need to be ashamed, accurately handling the word of truth."
2 Timothy 2:15
907-262-9605
Steve McKinley
State Director
My wife, Bev grew up around CEF, and many of her relatives were CEF leaders and staff members. I did not know anything about CEF until our son, Matt, wanted to go to CEF’s Christian Youth In Action (CYIA) training in the summer of 1993. When he returned from CYIA, he could teach Sunday School, 5 Day Clubs, and was excited about doing it. At this time, God had already begun to move in our hearts that we needed to make a change in our life. We were so impressed with CEF and Matt’s training that Bev and I sold our business and went to CEF staff training in Missouri that fall. I had grown up in Palmer, Alaska, and felt that the Lord wanted us to return to Alaska and restart a CEF ministry on the Kenai Peninsula. We have been here since 1994 and have been blessed to see CEF spread around the state, training teenagers and adults to reach children. Children need to hear about Jesus! They need to know Godly life skills and understand that God loves them and that they have a purpose in life.
In Loving Memory of Bev McKinley
On Friday, November 1, 2019, Bev stepped into glory after a three-year battle with cancer. Over those three years, she never stopped ministering the Gospel. She poured her life out for her friends, her children, and grandchildren, all for her Savior. Bev's daily planner is a wonder to behold. The days are full of appointments with one person after another because Bev treasured people, and she was absolutely committed to making sure that people knew they were loved by God.
We rejoice that Bev is now free from pain and is with her Savior for eternity, but we grieve the loss of our precious friend. She impacted so many lives and will be greatly missed.
907-333-3353
Kim Walker
Anchorage/Matsu
Ministry Coordinator
CEF has been a constant factor in my life since the 1970’s. My Mother started a Good News Club in our home so the many un-churched neighborhood children would be able to learn about God. I learned the importance of knowing God, memorizing His Word, and sharing the Gospel with others. Now I enjoy teaching God’s Word to children, teens and adults. I love seeing the expression on people’s faces when they receive forgiveness for their sins. I see the desire stirred in them to know more about God and His Word. I encourage anyone to be confident in their faith in God and to build their relationship with Christ. I have found the more I teach the Bible, the more I learn.
“That ye may walk worthy of the Lord unto all pleasing, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God.” -Colossians 1:10
Mark & Sharilyn Hargrave
Ministry Expansion/Military Children
Coordinators
Sharilyn: I was born in Alaska and raised in the Eagle River/Anchorage communities. My mother taught Good News Clubs in the 70’s and it was the presentation of the Gospel through the Wordless book that led me to receive Christ as my Lord and Savior.
My life with Christ grew as I pursued a career in the travel industry and finally settled with owning a small family business in real estate advertising. In November 2005, God’s words in Matthew 6 spoke to my heart to “Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven…” I dedicated my life to God for His service and I held to the promise that God could make me useful and effective for His Kingdom.
In 2012 I answered the need for CEF workers for Good News Clubs on the military installation of Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson (JBER). It became clear that this is what the Lord wanted me to do full time.
I am so thankful to be a part of Child Evangelism Fellowship. It is an amazing honor to bring the precious Gospel message to children; in a public school; on a military installation. To God be the glory.
Mark served with Hope for the Heart and New Life Ministries prior to coming to Alaska to serve with CEF. He managed a team of Biblical counselors, and served in ministry development. Coming from a counseling background, it was mostly adults that he counseled. However, after going on mission trips to Africa, God had revealed a gift, and a heart to work with children. He began serving in children's ministry through his church and in a local Good News Club in Texas. Mark met his wife Sharilyn in 2018, and through prayer, it was evident that God’s hand was at work in bringing them together. They were married in August of 2019.
Mark moved to Alaska in early 2019 and serves as Ministry Expansion Coordinator in the Anchorage Mat-Su area. "It brings me great joy to see pastors, families and teenagers working together, and building their confidence in evangelizing through CEF training. And to watch them grow as they boldly share the Gospel of Jesus Christ with the people of Alaska"
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work within us, to Him be the glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. Ephesians 3:20,21
907-262-9605
Michele Swensen
Rural Ministry Coordinator
I began serving the Lord in children’s ministries as a teenager in my church. God solidified my heart for ministering to children on a mission trip to Ecuador at age sixteen. I was accepted to Moody Bible Institute in Chicago where I met my husband, Mark. We were married in 1992, remaining in Chicago until I completed my degree in International Ministries in 1994. During my training at MBI one of my favorite ministries to participate in was evangelizing and mentoring children with InterCity Impact Ministries. Upon my graduation, Mark then continued his training in Elizabethton, TN, receiving his degree in Missionary Aviation Technology in 1997. During his training God placed me at a local elementary school as an Extended School Program teacher where I had opportunity to subtly impact the lives of the children with the love of Christ.
Early in our married life, Mark and I sought the Lord as to where and with whom He would place us to minister. When we learned about ministry opportunities in Alaska, the Lord burdened our hearts to be part of it.
We arrived in Alaska in 2001 to serve with Missionary Aviation Repair Center. In 2016, Mark transitioned to serving with Samaritan’s Purse and I joined the staff at CEF of Alaska. During those years with MARC, we were both deeply involved as volunteers with CEF.
God has blessed us with four children, each of whom have been trained through CEF. As adults, two of our daughters are actively invloved in CEF ministry coaching local Good News Club teams and leading teams on village ministry trips. Our family has seen first-hand the effects CEF ministry has throughout Alaska and I feel privileged to be involved in it as full-time ministry.
As Rural Ministry Coordinator, my job encompasses mentoring teens locally and in the villages, teaching, training, and coordinating village ministry. The goal is to see the next generation rise up to be the spiritual leaders of their families, churches, and communities to the glory of God.
Rob and Kristi Dillingham
Family Ministry Coordinator
Office Associate
Rob came to Alaska in1995 and flew commercially for ten years. He met Kristi at church in Kenai and they were married in 1998. Work took them to Anchorage where Kristi finished a bachelor's degree in nursing and found a nursing job. It was during this time that they felt called by the Lord into full-time ministry and they began serving with Arctic Barnabas Ministries in 2005. Rob used his flying skills and Kristi used her organizational and administrative gifts at ABM, but God also developed in them a desire for pastors' families and their ministries in rural villages to thrive.
In March 2018 the Dillinghams transitioned from ABM to CEF. Rob is serving as Family Ministry Coordinator and Kristi as an office associate. They are comfortable traveling to rural communities as a family and enjoy serving as a family with CEF all around the state. Their daughter Leah has been involved with CEF since the summer of 2017 when she attended her first CYIA, then working at a local Good News Club (where Kristi has been a hostess), and working as part of the CEF team at Native Musicalle in Anchorage. Their son Jeremy attended his first CYIA in 2018, and Rebekah in 2019.
Harlan and Josie Lloyd
Family Ministry Coordinator
Biographical information coming soon!