Marshall United Methodist Church | Pastor Erin's Mission Trip

Erin’s Mission Trip to Nome, Alaska

June 2026 | Volunteers in Mission

Stepping Out in Faith

In June 2026, Rev. Erin Fitzgerald will travel to Nome, Alaska as part of a Volunteers in Mission team. This journey is an opportunity to serve alongside Community United Methodist Church, build relationships across cultures, and experience the breadth of ministry within the United Methodist Church. This church provides vital ministry to Inuit people in a very remote region, as Nome sits on the northwest coast of the Bering Sea.

Pastor Erin often encourages others to step beyond their comfort zones and put faith into action. This trip is her opportunity to do the same.

Watch this video , Be Scene On Air "Nome Mission Trip" to learn more.

Pastor Erin will serve with a team from four Calhoun County congregations:

Battle Creek Chapel Hill UMC
Convis Union UMC
Christ UMC
Marshall UMC

Together, they will partner with Community UMC in Nome to:

Repair a wheelchair ramp
Renovate a space that provides free laundry services
Lead Vacation Bible School
Assemble layette kits for newborns in the Norton Sound Region

The United Methodist presence in Nome dates back more than a century and continues to serve Inuit communities in this remote region along the Bering Sea.

How you can partner

The mission trip cost of $4,000 (airfare, food, lodging, supplies) has been fully funded through the generosity of Marshall UMC and Battle Creek Chapel Hill UMC.

Pastor Erin is seeking to raise $1,500 to support her extended time of spiritual renewal. United Methodist clergy are offered a time of spiritual renewal every 7 years. Pastor Erin has not taken this time due to the timing of her son's birth, the COVID-19 pandemic, and her reappointment to Marshall UMC in 2021. There is never a perfect time to be away, but the summer of 2026 feels like an appropriate time to respond to God's call to step away from routine and rest. Here's how you can help.