2023 Alaska Conference

McGrath, Alaska

Stauros Conference (June 7th – 9th)

In the summer of 2023, Stauros Ministries embarked on a journey to Alaska. This opportunity arose through an invitation from Brad Sturm, the director of One Wilderness Ministries, who graciously welcomed us to the village of McGrath.

During the second weekend in June, individuals from various parts of the state (and some from the lower 48) gathered in McGrath to participate in the Caring for the Addicted Through Discipleship conference.

We delivered presentations, facilitated discussions, and conducted interactive Q&A sessions. Our aim was to empower community leaders with the necessary tools and knowledge to effectively combat the rampant drug and alcohol abuse plaguing their communities.

Our time in Alaska proved to be incredibly fruitful, and we are immensely grateful to all those who contributed to turning this vision into a reality. This trip marked the initial phase of our partnership with One Wilderness, a ministry that shares our aspirations and goals. The subsequent stages are already in progress, demonstrating our unwavering commitment to this collaboration and our shared cause.

While we view the conference as a triumph, it also served as a poignant reminder that there remains much work ahead of us.

Alaskans & Alaskan Natives

Addiction Statistics

Statistics on addiction and suicide in Alaska are grim, and shocking:

• Alaska is #1 in the nation for suicides, and more than half of the time drugs and/or alcohol are involved
• Native Alaskans are: 3x more likely to abuse alcohol than the general population
• Young native males are 14x more likely to commit suicide than of the general U.S. population
• Cases of fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) are some of the highest in the world, with up to 81% of prenatal alcohol exposure, or maternal alcohol abuse, being reported.