Camp Agaiutim Nune: A Labor of Love in the Wilderness

On the banks of the Yukon River where it empties into the Bering Sea and only a relatively few miles from far Eastern Russia is the Western Alaskan village of Emmonak — home to about 800 people. About 17 river miles away from that isolated village, up the glacial waters of the Yukon, and on a winding tributary called the Akularak rests an Assemblies of God Bible camp accessible only by small boat — Camp Agaiutim Nune.

Camp Agaiutim Nune, founded by Jim and Linda Schulz, means “The Place of God” in the Yupik Eskimo language. The camp was named by one of Alaska’s late Native Alaskan pastors, Sonny Joseph. And over the last three decades, Camp Agaiutim Nune, also known as Camp AN, has become a place where thousands of Alaskan children have personally encountered God.

MIRACLE CAMP

The Schulzes are pastors of Crossroads Assembly of God in Anchorage and have been fully appointed U.S. Missions’ missionaries with Intercultural Ministries in Alaska since 1969. The land the camp is located on — about 400 air miles west of Anchorage — was gifted to them for the purpose of establishing a Bible camp.

“I was not looking to do youth and children’s camps when God dropped this in my heart to start the camp,” says Jim Schulz. “Children’s ministry was foreign to me, but God has proven He wants to use this camp — He’s been faithful, lives have been changed, and He’s provided a lot of help.”

Schulz says that the sacrificial giving of time, labor, and finances from churches, AG college kids, construction teams, Chi Alpha, Royal Rangers, camp coaches, and many others who have come and assisted over the years at their own expense, has been invaluable. He also notes that it was the 2012 Girls Ministries Coins for Kids giving that helped them to construct their first permanent building — the large tabernacle/dining hall and kitchen.

The campground is the home of countless miracles, from the greatest miracle of all — salvation — to physical and emotional healings. The camp draws kids and teens that are not necessarily from Assemblies of God churches in the area.

“We draw kids from Emmonak and other villages as far away as an hour-and-one-half boat ride,” says Jim Schulz. “Some of them are from AG churches, but many are not.”

Schulz says that kids love the camp because they feel safe and loved, they get to enjoy a lot of different activities and games, they get three great meals a day plus treats and snacks, and they have a lot of fun just being a kid.

“But everyone knows we’re not just a summer camp — we are a Bible camp, period,” Schulz states. “Kids hear and learn about Jesus and what the Holy Spirit is all about through two morning sessions and an evening service each day . . . many of them come to camp with brokenness, hurt, with everything you can imagine in their lives and God is meeting them here!”

“Jim and Linda Schulz are faithful and committed ministers to the native people of Alaska,” states Jeremy Davis, superintendent for the Alaska Ministry Network. “Through the ministry of Camp AN, the life-changing power of Jesus Christ has been brough to native young people in their own backyard and own cultural setting."

Schulz says that God has given them real favor among communities and has performed some tremendous miracles at the camp. “Relationship with the people and their villages is very important to them and to us,” he says.

“Suicide is such a huge thing in Alaska,” Schulz says. “God has just dealt with so many of the young people and helped those who are struggling with thoughts of suicide — God has just ministered to so many of them in a powerful way.”

LOGISTICS

Yet, let’s be honest — the very existence of Camp Agaiutim Nune is a “God thing.” In other words, if this camp wasn’t a God-given idea, the ongoing financial and logistical challenges could never be overcome.

Although some may look at the 45-minute-one-way boat trip from Emmonak to the camp as a pretty fun adventure, what it also means is every last item — meals, snacks, beverages, generators, pumps, a water treatment plant, fuel, tents, activity supplies, repair equipment, cleaning supplies, sporting goods, medical supplies, workers, and the list goes on — has to be brought to the camp by countless boat trips to and from Emmonak prior to the camp opening in mid-June and then returned at the conclusion of the camps.

“After we have either barged or airfreighted supplies and equipment to the west coast of Alaska, we then transport thousands and thousands of pounds of equipment and supplies from Emmonak to the camp,” Schulz says. “And this year, there was still snow on the ground and it was snowing quite hard when we first arrived at the camp (June 1) to get things set up.”

And that overlooks the struggles (not to mention shipping costs) to haul in the materials for building any of the camp’s structures — including hauling 80 tons of construction materials (including the beams) to build the tabernacle/kitchen and dining hall with their two small boats as barges could not navigate the Akularak River! At the time Schulz said it seemed an impossible task, "but God gave us wisdom, creativity, and sheer manpower to move and handle extremely heavy pieces of building materials without the use of heavy equipment."

And this year, the second wood-structure dorm (with plans for three more in the future) was constructed by volunteer teams on site and was ready for campers in less than two weeks!

Schulz explains that building projects, in addition to having to be paid for in advance, have to be shipped in the year before. He says that a complete list of materials has to be ordered (no running to the hardware store if something is forgotten), then shipped or flown into Emmonak, then boated to the camp — a process that can take months to complete and is heavily dependent on the weather. However, by planning far in advance, when the construction teams arrive the next spring, the materials are ready and waiting for them. Schulz says that the order for the materials for the third dorm has already been placed.

For roughly the first two-and-a-half decades, tents made up the tabernacle, dining commons, and dorm “rooms” for campers and workers. However, unlike most church camps in the Lower 48, the nights are still illuminated by the just-below-the-horizon sun and it isn’t uncommon for the temperature to drop into the 30s at night — no need for air conditioning or even fans here!

Though, if anyone deserves to be given a nod of respect, it’s the camp coaches (who some may refer to as “counselors”). Schulz says the coaches come from around the country and are with their group of assigned kids 24-7, developing relationships, discipling, praying, and actively participating with them.

Of course, when the kids want to go swimming every day in the camp pool (also known as the Akularak River), that's when it’s time to give double respect to workers, especially ones from the southern Lower 48 — the water is referred to as “glacial” for a reason. And the lifeguards? That has to be a really clear calling!

CHANGED LIVES

Camp AN runs for two weeks in June every year — a Monday through Saturday kids camp followed by a Monday through Sunday teen camp.

Schulz says every year he witnesses the lives of campers miraculously transformed as well as seeing God work in coaches’ and other volunteers’ lives.

“As a result of Jim and Linda’s ministry, not only has Camp AN been life-changing to the people who attended the camp,” Davis agrees, “there are countless others who came as volunteers who have since returned to the state and are now in full-time ministry."

“It’s also a beautiful thing to watch the relationships grow between kids from other villages and making great friends,” Schulz says.

But what really warms his heart is the last night of teen camp when all the churches of the lower Yukon are invited to join in the closing banquet and Sunday evening service. This year, about 225 people came to the closing events — many of them had attended camp as children and now some of their children were attending.

“They come because camp meant something to them and the presence of the Lord is very recognizable,” Schulz says. “That’s what Jesus said, when He’s lifted up, He will draw all people to Him (John 12:32), even out in the middle of nowhere, there’s a drawing of the presence of God that can’t be denied.”

REFLECTION

Schulz shares an adage that volunteers, missionaries, and church leaders are familiar with — salvation is free, but the gospel is not.

“It costs to carry the gospel,” he says. “These workers, whether they come from Alaska or the Lower 48, they’ve given up their time, they’ve given up comforts (many have never been to a remote location like Camp AN — it’s a culture shock), and they’ve come at great expense — they are the real heroes of the camp.”

However, JR Rodríguez, senior director of U.S. Missions’ Intercultural Ministries, understands the impact of the couple’s leadership, stating: "Through their unwavering commitment and compassion, Jim and Linda Schulz have turned Camp AN into a beacon of light, guiding Alaskan children on a path to spiritual discovery and community through the love and teachings of Christ."

Although the camps run only a couple weeks each summer, the sacrifices and love poured into it throughout the year have proven well worth the effort.

“Kids are excited to spend a week in God’s presence,” Schulz says. “But the secret to the camp’s success is that it’s bathed in prayer all year long. We have never conducted a fundraiser on our own to raise funds for the camp, but every year God has provided equipment, supplies, and continues to provide more accommodations — He has provided everything that is needed, including His presence, and that’s what makes Camp AN a very special place.”