To introduce ourselves, we are Graydon and Mary Anne Cowgill from a small community in central Louisiana who came to Alaska to visit our daughter and her family in July 2003. At that time God gave Graydon a vision of opening a rescue mission for men in a dilapidated building which formerly housed a bar, a liquor store, a pawn shop, and a brothel!!!
Through the guidance of the Holy Spirit the Cowgills moved to Alaska in September of 2004 and acquired the property for less than $2,000. Thirteen months later in October of 2005 the Friendship Mission opened its doors.
At the present time we are still in the back building which was quickly set up to house a small number of men until the main building could be repaired and brought up to code. It continues to be a long journey with many obstacles including: several cave-ins in the basement walls due to the poor condition of the building; roof leakage; sewer issues; well problems; code upgrades; and permitting issues. God has performed miracle after miracle in making provision for the many projects that have had to be done since the beginning. Opening the new facilities is becoming closer, and everyone involved is looking foward to what God has for the ministry in the near future.
As directors, Graydon and Mary Anne, feel fortunate to be participants in what God is doing here. They have seen nearly 350 men pass through the mission's doors since it opened. Some men have turned their lives over to Christ and are now productive members in the community as well as in the Kingdom of God.
(see Testimonials)
