This summer, two Samford University alumni, Keith Brown ’90 and Andrew Bush, MDiv ’24, led an eight-day mission trip to Alaska with the Shelby Baptist Association as part of a five-year partnership between the Alabama Baptist State Convention and the Alaska Baptist Resource Network.

Their team’s primary focus: serving LaVerne Griffin Camp in Wasilla, a Christian camp that hosts children and youth during Alaska’s brief summer months. Situated in the Alaskan wilderness, the camp had long needed a trail system not only for nature walks but for year-round use, including winter activities like cross-country skiing.

What was originally mapped out in a five-year plan was completed in just five days by the mission team made up of members from several different Shelby County churches. With chainsaws, grit and prayer, the mission team blazed a new trail through forest and tundra, enabling more accessible recreation for campers throughout the year.

“The work was hard, physically exhausting, but deeply meaningful,” said Brown, director of Church and Community Ministries at the Shelby Baptist Association. “We were not just building trails, we were building access to the Gospel and opening the door for year-round ministry.”

Bush, who recently earned a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School and now serves as associate director of Church and Community Ministries, agreed.

“It is always exciting to see people from different churches in our association working together for a common goal in ministry,” said Bush. “It is a reminder of the unity that exists between all those trusting in Christ.”

Laying the Groundwork: A Vision for Partnership

The foundation for this mission trip began in 2022, when Brown traveled to Alaska to meet with pastors, ministry leaders and nonprofit organizations to conduct a thorough needs assessment. The trip was led by Associational Mission Strategist, Ric Camp ’84. Brown was joined then by another cohort of Shelby County Baptists, including Beeson Divinity School graduate Hutton Cate, MDiv ’24.

“It was a special opportunity to join a trip of experienced church leaders with no other goal than listening,” said Cate. “Too often these initiatives go in with plans of their own, and the voices of local leaders get lost. Our trip was different, enabling us to come alongside pastors in the area and assist where they saw need. To my surprise, these needs had as much to do with fellowship as they had to do with financial support. It was a great encouragement to me, and an instructive experience as a young minister, to see things approached so thoughtfully, patiently and cooperatively.”

That foundation of relationship-building continues to shape the Shelby Baptist Association’s approach to missions in Alaska, working alongside, not above, local leaders.

A Samford Legacy of Ministry and Mentorship

For Brown, the return to Alaska marked a full-circle moment. He served as a summer missionary there in the late 1980s, where he first fell in love with the state and its people.

“When I was a Samford student, the summer I spent in Alaska was incredibly formative for my character and developing faith,” said Brown. “The ministry experience not only prepared me for my career, but also provided the opportunity to join dozens of my classmates in global ministry. It is an experience I will never forget.”

Now, decades later, he’s leading mission efforts to that same region alongside Andrew Bush, the son of his longtime friend and college roommate, Scott Bush ’91, MDiv ’95.

Brown and Scott Bush grew up together in Shelby County and attended Samford side by side. Today, Scott serves as pastor of Southcrest Baptist Church and leads Samford’s Ministry Training Institute’s Shelby/Helena site, which continues to lead in enrollment success. The Shelby Baptist Association, where both Brown and Andrew Bush serve, has played a key role in supporting the site’s continued success.

“I have heard so many great Samford stories from both Keith and my dad. I consider these men to be mentors, and now, I have gotten to be a part of ministry with each of them, both in and outside of Shelby County. It has been very rewarding for me, and I hope for them,” Andrew said.

In their roles, Brown and Bush serve Shelby County through a number of innovative resources with Church and Community Ministries at the Shelby Baptist Association; including a food pantry, mobile food pantry, mobile dental clinic, service camp, utility assistance, a community thrift store, pulpit supply, Christmas assistance and so much more.

Looking Ahead: Deeper Partnerships, Future Opportunity

While the trail project was the cornerstone of this year’s mission trip, the Shelby Baptist Association team also visited Birchwood Behavioral Health, a residential facility that provides trauma-informed therapeutic care for teens. Many of the youth housed there are unable to remain in their home environments due to court rulings, and the facility offers 24/7 structured care and emotional support.

Plans are already in motion for next year’s mission team to return and serve Birchwood’s residents and staff through hands-on projects and spiritual support.

“There is certainly a need here, and I hope we are able to provide some sort of assistance moving forward,” said Bush. “I would be proud to see Alabama Baptist churches come alongside us in supporting Birchwood, whether it be financially, through a construction project or simply through continual prayer.”

With dramatic weather, remote isolation and harsh winters, Alaska can be a difficult place to do ministry. But Brown, Bush and the Shelby Baptist Association are committed to standing beside the churches, camps and ministries that are making an eternal impact.

“We didn’t come to fix everything,” said Brown. “We came to say, ‘You’re not alone. We see you. We care.’ And we’ll be back.”