United International Moravian Ministry (UIMM) group held its 11th annual General Church Conference (synod) of its 26 Churches and Fellowships in Alaska and Honduras on January 29, 2022, 1 pm, at 624 W. International Airport Rd., Anchorage, Alaska. It was a lengthy meeting hearing financial reports, President’s reports, International reports, New Herrnhut Seminary update, amending UIMM’s Organizational Handbook, and holding elections for seven (Directors of UIMM).
Elected for three-year terms include Bishop Isai Granwell of La Ceiba, Honduras, Bishop William Nicholson of Eagle River, Pastor Tim Sergie of Wasilla, and Ferdinand Sharp, formerly of Manokotak, Alaska. Elected for two-year terms are Pastor Milton Cross and Lay Member Nellie Kiunya, both of Anchorage, Alaska. For a one-year term, elected was Pastor Leon Kiana of Anchorage, Alaska.
Two new members with exceptional religious training, far north Arctic backgrounds, and incredible life experiences, joining the former long-time UIMM Director’s include Milton Cross (photo right) and Leon Kiana (left at photo). Brother Milton Cross is formerly from an Assembly of God Church in the Nome, Alaska area. Brother Milton Cross is a former full bird Colonel of the US Army, who served in combat in Vietnam as a Huey Gunship commander. After retirement from the military, he served as a Commercial Air pilot for many years tabulating thousands of hours of airtime in northern Alaska. He was consecrated by Bishop Nicholson as a UIMM Pastor in 2018. Presently Brother Milton is serving as Bishop Nicholson’s Administrative Assistant at the Anchorage Moravian Church (AncMC). In the AncMC he also serves as Trustee and Treasurer. A significant contribution was Brother Milton’s push for tithing, which resulted in the AncMC running in the black with a growing and efficient budget.
Pastor Leon Kiana is a former secular consultant for cities and villages of rural Alaska. He was successful troubleshooting governments, updating procedures, and helping them to secure State and Federal funding to operate successfully. Brother Leon’s ministry dates back to April 1999, when he first attended the Anchorage Moravian Church at Alaska Native Medical Center (ANMC) conference room. His first reading of scripture was in late August 2002 that progressed to doing work in the church both at ANMC with AncMC and also with the AncMC, when it worshipped at Turnagain United Methodist Church. His involvement continued to eventually becoming an AncMC Administrative Assistant to William Nicholson in the fall of 2007. He shared that he continued working in the Moravian Church that resulted in 11 – 11 ½ years of Biblical teaching by Senior Pastor William Nicholson. This later led him to attending the Friends Church Bible Training School in Kotzebue, Alaska for three years and graduating in 2016. After graduating, he was assigned as Pastor in several Alaska Yearly Meeting of Friends Churches in Northwest Alaska and in Anchorage. In late 2021 Brother Leon began overseeing the UIMM Friday Night Ministry, UIMM’s primary source of funding for International work. He was consecrated as a UIMM Pastor December 31, 2021.
The UIMM leadership team welcomes these two very accomplished men who desire to serve the Lord among the nations!
