Eagle River Presbyterian Church Anchorage The service of organization for the new Eagle River Presbyterian Church was held March 8, 1985, at the First Baptist Church in Eagle River.
The congregation soon started holding worship services in a mall. An ill-fated attempt to purchase land in Eagle River on which to build a church building resulted in years of real estate negotiations.
Some trials and tribulations result in better decisions. The church eventually purchased their very own mall in 1991 for $480,000 and is flourishing in downtown Eagle River.
The mall provided more than adequate parking space, downtown visibility, an already-installed public address system, plus it was already built and was a good financial deal. Most of the remodelling effort was completed through volunteer labor.
Rather than focusing efforts on new building construction, the congregation consciously chose to be socially active, dedicating time and money to such projects as Clare House, a shelter for women in Anchorage; and a special prison ministry for women who wish to leave prostitution.
A number of women from the Eagle River church, along with Pastor Ken Smith, began developing the Mary Magdalene Homes Alaska ministry in 1996. The story of the ministry is told later in these pages.
The church is also quite pleased with the focus of the work performed by the tenants they have in their mall. The Presbyterian mall houses offices for Al-Anon and Alcoholics Anonymous.
Charter Covenant We. the undersigned, in response to the grace of God, desire to be constituted and organized as a church to be known as Eagle River Presbyterian Church. We promise and covenant to live together in unity and to work together in ministry as disciples of Jesus Christ, bound to him and to one another as a part of the body of Christ in this place according to the principles of faith, mission, and order of the Presbyterian Church (USA).
James D. Arlington Kim L. Arlington Linda Armstrong Joy Bardsley Carol T. Bonney Roy L. Bonney Stephen Bright Nancy Bright Grace Campbell Tom Campbell Gary T. Clouse Martha N. Clouse John Coleman Kathryn Coleman Kim Coleman Jeani Crichlow Bonnie Jo Darnell Clifford Darnell Dean F. Davidson Donna K. Davidson Georgia DeKeyser Nancy Dobson Warren Dobson Jack Br adford Cynthia T. Bradford Joan Slack Mark Slack Charles E. Smith Leigh Smith Sharon Sue Squyer Missi Steinreide Kathleen Streight Nanette Thompson Patricia Walentiny Sherry Walentiny Sandra Wagenius Sevard Wagenius Dolly Ellen Walters Henry G. Walters Rodney J. Weick Stacey Boucher Jean McCarthy Anthony Wayne Armstrong Susan N. Putnam Penni C. Kappmeyer Larry W. Kappmeyer Michael Spangler Sherri Spangler David E. Humbach Zona Jean Humbach Larry Knight Pam Knight Carolyn R. Knowles Ellen Marie Kuzma Joseph Kuzma Janet E. Lester Theresa Lierman William J. Lierman Jean M. Loer Kenneth Loer Arleen L. Marvel Carrie Lynn Marvel David L. Marvel Charles Morgan Linda Morgan David L. Outcalt Eric M. Outcalt Marcia L. Outcalt Susan G. Putman Kathleen D. Richards Susan S. Riess Donald R. Robinson Thelma Robinson Lois H. Scott Joyce F. Sexton Nan Sickler Robert U. Sickler Julianne Simon Robert Simon Donna Garner Maxine M. Garner Stuart M. Garner Stuart M. Garner II Cheryl Gorton David Gorton Delores Hunter Donald E. Hunter Ronald Huntington Susan Huntington Bobby Jones Joel Jones Micaela Jones Robert H. Jones Robyn K. Jones Toby B. Jones Toni K. Jones Barbara G. Jordan Lee Jordan Cyril Kiehl Julia Kiehl Lois Kiehl Mark Kiehl Ralph Kiehl James R. King Rosanne King Carrie K. Klepac John E. Klepac Who Followed Whom…