• Calvin’s Alaska Mission Effort 2026 •
June 22 – July 7
[4 MIN READ]
(This post exists on my website iCandybyWangC.com in order to provide context for who I am, not just a runner and campus minister but also a church servant to a worthy community.)
This will be my year #10 as a “short-term missionary” (STM) to Alaska through my home church, Chinese Christian Church and Center of Philadelphia. Always including the July 4th weekend, our mission trip in 2026 is 6/22, Tuesday, to 7/7, Tuesday. This year’s 8-person team starts with team leader Helen (year #16), a constant. My other long-time team member is May (year #8). Three other team members comprise ¾ of one family: mother Kaman and teen sons Aidan and Jaime. All 3 were also team members in 2013 when Jaime was just an infant. Finally, the last 2 team members are from Texas. Gaby served with us last year. Her mother Fong Jie is joining us for the first time.
Wife is unable to participate onsite because of her (newer) job that depends upon staff to be available during this critical time on the organization’s annual calendar. This would be year #7 for her. Despite the distance, the 4-hour time zone difference allowed her to contribute virtually last year (during her evenings on the east coast relative to our afternoons in Alaska).
Here’s some of what comes to mind in preparation for this year’s trip. I need to bring presence and persistence. As my year #10, there’s the lingering question of effectiveness. God’s work can seem invisible as He slowly shapes the people He allows the team to serve.
Keith Green’s song “He’ll Take Care of The Rest” uses Moses as one person He needed to show up for the task: The Lord said, “Hey Moe, Don’t you worry about you going down south. I’ll be saying every word that comes out of your mouth. You just keep doing your best and pray that it’s blessed. Hey Moe, I’ll take care of the rest” (YouTube).
Two former conference participants recently popped out of the woodwork as evidence that showing up has meaning. One is the second of 6 children from one family who was a participant a number of years ago. He shared with me a different song that came to his mind that reminded him of one of the teen missionaries from his 2 years of attendance. (We’ve been able to minister to him a few more times over the years since he graduated.) His message also expressed eager anticipation over seeing us again soon. His youngest 3 siblings have been also been recent conference participants.
The other former participant graduated from the local (Glennallen) high school last year. Knowing we would be returning this year, she sent a note of apology that she wouldn’t be able to see us: she’ll be at Job Corps for pre-professional training (JobCorp.gov). Now in a relationship, she shared how she was trying to honor God through it.
We do not know what teenagers God will bring to the conference. Every year brings different waves of youth (both new and familiar), youth grown up and now with kids, and youth and families impacted by local hardships as well as blessings. We do know that teaching about who Jesus is and sharing his love through words, service, fellowship, and hospitality accomplishes its purpose.
Thank you to those who have supported the Alaska Missions Team over the years. We are thankful for your prayer and financial support to make this possible. The cost of the mission trip per person is $2000. We are committing $500 as a family. If you wish to contribute funds, you can give online at cccnc.org/give and use the drop down “Youth ST Mission.” Or mail a check to me [address available upon request] or to the church at Chinese Christian Church and Center, c/o Missions Team, 1101 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19107 with “YMT” (no names) in the memo line. Any funds over what we need will go first to the other AK team members and then to other summer mission projects.
In closing, here is a pre-emptive celebration. Presenting, the new rental home we have for our use that we were able to customize in 2025: Casa de Pinyon.
In His service, Calvin Wang
FINE PRINT ¶CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
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