Additional information
by David Henry (Author), Kay (Temple) Henry (Author)
Moving to Alaska before statehood, David and Kay Henry learned to survive in extreme conditions. After building a raft from driftwood, the Henrys loaded their belongings and floated down the Yukon River from Kokrines to Koyukuk. Once they arrived, the young Henry family of four-with one on the way-moved into the house David purchased for 85 dollars and a handshake. It was exactly what you'd expect for the price. Plodding along with perseverance and prayer, the couple invented an alphabet for an oral Native language to translate books of the Bible. Difficulties and opportunities followed them each step of the way as God led them to serve in several Athabascan villages.
Later, the empty nesters ministered in Siberia for 16 years with the Sakha people. Traveling extensively to remote villages, they assisted in evangelism, discipleship and church planting. Town drunks became church leaders. "Should we repent now or later?" Sakha people asked urgently, even in the middle of weddings. Thirty years of developing literature in Alaska gave David and Kay the experience to compile a hymnal. This project encouraged songwriters to compose 200 songs for the Sakha people. Today, more than 500 Sakha believers worship the Lord, compared to 10 in 1994.
After returning to Alaska, they continued serving at the Fairbanks Native Bible Church, which started in their home. The couple retired in 2017 after 59 years of active missionary service. Both David and Kay heartily agreed, "We would gladly do it again-if God gave us another lifetime." David & Kay Henry graduated from Bryan College in Tennessee, then David studied at Dallas Theological Seminary. In Alaska, they translated the Gospel of Mark and developed literacy materials with the Koyukon Athabaskan people. Serving in Siberia with the Sakha people, they facilitated a large hymnal and Christian media. After 59 years of missionary service with Wycliffe and InterAct Ministries, they retired in Fairbanks, Alaska. Three of their four children, several grandchildren, and great-grandchildren live nearby. Kay moved to her heavenly home in October 2021.
