When Gideon Donavon Kack give his first lusty cry, it was not in a hospital room filled with busy doctors or nurses. Gideon, 8 pounds, 14 ounces, was born in guestroom No. 3 in the Alaska Conference office building. Jayna Kack, Gideon’s mom, was assisted by her mom, Judy. Gideon followed the tradition of two of his older brothers by being born in a home setting.

Donavon Kack and his family recently moved from Libby, Mont., to become the pastor of the Hillside–O’Malley Church in Anchorage. Gideon, already a week overdue, did not wait for the family to move into their new home; so while his brothers, Levi, Hiram and Cyrus, slept in guestroom No. 7, Mom and Dad Kack were busy down the hall in room No. 3. At 8:30 p.m. on Oct. 24, the conference office guestroom became the birthplace of the newest Kack.

This is a return of the Kack family to Alaska. Donavon’s father served in Palmer when Donavon was young. Besides Libby, Kack has pastored in Othello, Wash., and in Dillingham and Craig, Alaska. Kack has a passion to ignite the evangelistic spirit in his church. “I love to see people excited about the Lord and wanting to share that love," stated Kack. “I love evangelism and the challenge of ministry here in Anchorage.”

In just one month’s time, Kack and his Bible worker, Jordan Peck, have started 22 Bible studies “without looking for them.” Kack’s goal is to have every church member involved in giving Bible studies.