James Bodolosky (President)
My family and I love serving in Alaska and have had various opportunities to experience different aspects of ministry here. We have served in aviation ministry, camp ministry and children’s ministry. Even as we experienced those ministry opportunities, we knew was calling us to serve one-on-one with hurting people. That’s what FIREWEED MINISTRY is all about, meeting people where they are and sharing with them the Hope of Jesus Christ.
I have had many different opportunities since graduating from N.C. State University in May 1993 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering to gain experience leading. I’ve worked as a Project Engineer with Michelin Americas Research and Development Corporation, as an Instructor Pilot in the United States Air Force and as a Ministry Developer with Child Evangelism Fellowship Alaska.
We believe God has called us to serve as a family and we are blessed to see our kids desire to serve God and walk with him.
Sarah Bodolosky (Treasurer)
I love being able to be a part of the work that my family and I do at Fireweed Ministry. After moving to Alaska in 2013, my family and I have seen God lead us to many different opportunities to serve the communities around us. Through each of those experiences, one common thread was always that we loved serving TOGETHER. Fireweed Ministry allows each of us the opportunity to serve God in different capacities while all continue working towards one goal, glorifying God in everything we do (1 Cor. 10:31)
My walk with Christ began when I was young and my parents were diligent in consistently teaching me and my siblings about what it truly means to live a life for Christ. While I accepted Christ as a little girl, I have seen continual growth in my life as I have learned more and more about what it means to daily walk with God. The most important lesson I have learned is the dire need to daily study the Bible and learn more about our creator and His plan for our lives (2 Tim. 2:15)
I am currently finishing my Bachelor of Science in nursing at the University of Alaska Anchorage (UAA). In the future, I plan to work as a nurse in a unit where I can encourage young mothers and care for newborns. Since I was very young I have had a passion for unborn life and treasuring its value. As I finish my degree and begin the next chapter that God has planned for me I pray that I am able to serve this population to the best of my ability and constantly give God the glory for it all.
David Evette (Secretary)
I am excited to be a part of FIREWEED MINISTRY, INC. and support the Bodolosky family as they reach Alaska with the Gospel of Jesus. It is my hope that my experiences as a Teacher, Coach, and Leader in my church will contribute to the mission of the Board.
I accepted Jesus as a teenager desiring to be a part of something that was greater than myself. I began serving through local and short-term mission trips that carried over from high school into college.
Since graduating from Carson Newman in 2000, I have had many opportunities to gain experience working with children and youth as a Middle and High School Teacher and Coach. Additionally, I have had the opportunity to serve in my church as a Children’s Bible study leader, Recreation Coordinator and Deacon.
What began as a mission trip to Alaska 3 years ago without my wife and children has grown into a family passion to see lives and families changed by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
Lee Carver (Photo Coming Soon)
I am honored to be a part of FIREWEED MINISTRY and to serve alongside the Bodolosky family. Their heart for spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ to the children and teens of Alaska is as inspirational as it is infectious.
I first accepted Jesus in my early teens, but it wasn’t until later in my adult life that I truly understood what it meant to live for Christ. In the winter of 2016, I began to feel God leading me toward a short-term mission trip, specifically to Alaska. At that point, I had not met the Bodoloskys, been to Alaska, or worked with children. With the encouragement of friends and family, I followed God’s lead. What started as fearful obedience quickly turned into a passion. I immediately fell in love with the family, their ministry, and the people of Alaska. Over the past six years, I’ve had several opportunities to serve in Alaska with my wife, Amanda, and my two daughters, Brianna and Emma.
I am currently a sales manager for a paper and packaging company where I have spent the last 27 years. Additionally, I have served as a deacon, been involved with VBS, and led a homeless ministry at our church. I feel blessed to be a part of Fireweed Ministry and can’t wait to see how God continues to grow this ministry for the sake of His Kingdom.
Ryan Dempsey
I was interested in being a part of Fireweed Ministries because God has been placing a calling on our family to support the children and teens in Alaska since 2011 when we first met the Bodolosky family. When they shared their hearts and why they were going to Alaska, we felt God telling us we had to get involved. My wife and I went to Alaska the following year in 2012 on our first mission trip and fell in love with the children and teens of Alaska. We want nothing more than for them to hear the Gospel and know our Lord and Savior. Since that time in 2012, I have returned to Alaska 2 more times for mission work alongside the Bodolosky family.
In so many ways Alaska feels like home even though we live just a few states away in SC. I currently hold a Senior Vice President position with a top 10 fortune 500 company where I face a mission field on a daily basis. I have been at the bank for 21 yrs this year and God continues to show me how He is working even when I am not always joyful in the daily calling to work in Corporate America.
I have been a deacon, taught Sunday School, led both adult and teen small groups, played a part in different areas of VBS, and currently teach a 6th grade Sunday School class with my wife Beth. Beth and I have been married for 16 years this June, we have 3 children Caleb (12), Gavin (9), Jack (3). Over the last 3 years we have had the pleasure in raising our youngest son, Jack, whom Global Developmental Delay. Jack has taught me many things in his silence. Jack doesn’t speak very many words, about 12 to be exact (I can’t tell you how exciting it was to finally hear him say “dada”). This makes it very difficult for him to communicate with us on a daily basis. In my experience the children and teens of Alaska don’t usually have something like GDD but they definitely have a difficult time communicating, often it’s just how they were raised or they are scared because of something that happened to them at a young age. These children and teens need Fireweed Ministries so they can know safety and the love of Christ. I so much want to be a part of that.
I am excited to serve on the board of Fireweed Ministries because our family is fully committed to spreading the love and gospel of Christ in Alaska in partnership with the Bodolosky family. We have known the Bodoloskys since 2010 and have been blessed to have several members of our family serve on short-term mission trips with them in Alaska. I have always enjoyed working with children and teens, spending five summers on staff with a Christian boys’ camp and volunteering in our local church programs including AWANA, VBS, Upward Sports Coach, Youth Group Leader, and Sunday School teacher.