Church planting wasn’t part of Pete Doner’s plan. In fact, he was deeply content right where he was. 

A lifelong member of Wasilla Bible Church—an Acts 29 congregation in Alaska—Pete had grown up under its discipleship, met his wife there, raised his children there, and served for years in youth ministry.

“I’m a stayer,” Pete said. “I loved my church, my team, and my rhythm of life.”

But God began to stir something in Pete’s heart—a persistent conviction he couldn’t ignore. “It became a real rock in my shoe from the Lord,” Pete recalled. “It wasn’t a matter of if, but when.” Through prayer, counsel, and a church-planting residency with Wasilla Bible Church, Pete and a core team launched Restoration Community Church in Big Lake, Alaska, in 2024.

The early days weren’t easy. “Church planting isn’t glamorous,” Pete admitted. “You go from doing what you’re good at to doing everything. You’re the pastor, the nonprofit president, the finance guy—it’s a trip.” While people said they enjoyed the services, Pete worried it was just moving ministry from his sending church down the road. That alone didn’t justify the blood, sweat, and tears.

So Pete prayed for gospel fruit that wouldn’t have happened without the new church plant.

Then came Riley—an Iditarod dog musher—and Isabel, a former youth group student of Pete’s. The couple began attending regularly, though they were living apart from God. One Sunday night, Pete’s phone rang. “We want to get married next weekend,” they said.

Pete invited them over, and during that conversation, they shared that they were repenting, wanting to follow Jesus. Riley even asked to be baptized.

Riley’s salvation was a turning point for Pete. “He was our first known conversion at RCC,” Pete said. “It crossed a line for me. The blood, sweat, and treasure—it was worth it.”

Church planting isn’t for the faint of heart. Yet every day, men around the world step out in faith to plant Acts 29 churches because Jesus is worth it. This is why we plant churches—to see the gospel take root and transform lives in every corner of the globe.