Chilkat Valley News - Serving Haines and Klukwan, Alaska since 1966

With the announcement of a drag show and then the last-minute cancelling of a public discussion by the Fair board for seemingly invisible safety concerns, something has emerged. A team of people stands, concerned about the future of the hearts of the vulnerable, particularly children. We consistently produce, from our own resources, positive spiritual opportunities for all who might have it. There are currently weekly youth group nights for all, political involvement, summer camp events, weeks-long marriage enhancement events, bi-weekly meetings to encourage humility and clean living, summertime outdoor events for youth, even trips out of the state to help others in need. It has been said lately that we are a right-wing, reactionary fringe group trying to shut down legitimate self-expression. Whatever people might think about Christians and the stupid mistakes we can make, we are a self-regulating force for good. The Judeo-Christian worldview is the foundation from which the freedoms in our Constitutional Republic came: Magna Carta - rights come from God, not the government, and a host of other things - read our history. Historically, orthodox Christianity says that there is an overseeing creator God who is interested in our politics, public conduct, and life choices. So please keep in mind that even if the Fair never holds a public meeting to satisfy public expression, this team will continue to pray, confront evil, and serve through life-giving love, and we should rightly expect all Christians to speak truthfully, kindly, and with grace.

Scott Hansen