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Alaska Teens 'Invade' Chicago on Mission Trip
CHICAGO, IL (August 18, 2005) - Nine teenagers from Alaska have been carrying
out a "Northern Invasion" of Chicago, as they helped with a Vacation
Bible School (VBS) at North Park Covenant Church this week and toured
other parts of the city.
It has been a cultural learning experience for everyone involved says
Blacke Wangberg, one of the Alaskan teens. "A lot of the kids think (we)
live in igloos," says Wangberg, 14, with a laugh.
For the Covenant students from Mat-Su Covenant Church in Wasilla, near
Anchorage, it was their first opportunity to work in a multicultural
setting. Most of their cultural stereotypes came from TV, says Scott
Sagle, the youth pastor at Mat-Su Covenant Church. Being in the city
helped the students move beyond stereotypes.
The idea for the trip was planted at CHIC 2003. "It was a very powerful
time for our group," Sagle says. "We had some first-time conversions,
and a lot of the kids deepened their relationship with God."
When the triennial event was over, "The kids asked if they could come to
the lower 48 for a mission trip," he says.
The trip has continued the growing experience that began at CHIC, Sagle
says. "We have some girls who are very shy and they came out of their
shells and became leaders and really cared about their kids."
During the past week, the Alaskan students have led the VBS that
involved about 50 children, including several from other neighboring
Covenant churches, including Cuyler, Grace and Immanuel Covenant
churches. Each day's sessions extended from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
The students arrived August 2 and toured the city for several days. In
addition to visiting the regular tourist sites, the students also toured
Jesus People USA Covenant Church and North Park University. "It's never
too early for them to be thinking about college," Sagle says.
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