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.
Ashleigh Bodolosky (Treasurer)
I am excited and humbled to be able to serve on the FIREWEED MINISTRY INC. board. After moving to Alaska nearly six years ago with my family, I have had a front row seat in watching God direct our path and lead us to connecting and building relationships with people through park ministry. Proverbs 16:9 “The heart of a man plans his ways, but the Lord directs his steps,” has become one of my favorite verses stating God’s guidance and control for our lives. During this time, God has deepened a passion in my heart for missions and to use my skills and abilities to serve in any way I can.
Throughout the years, I have worked alongside my family in various serving opportunities. Some of those opportunities include serving at a Bible camp, helping lead Good News Clubs, volunteering with the children’s ministry at our local church, managing the logistics for summer park ministry, and now serving as the treasurer for FIREWEED MINISTRY INC.
Additionally, I am a student at the University of Alaska Anchorage pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Elementary Education.
I cannot wait to see how God works through this ministry in the years to come!
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.
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.