ACCTS in Action

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Wed, 18 Apr 2012 13:12:00 -0700

Chaplains Interaction Participants
April 14-29, 2012

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:44:00 -0700

We are praying for peace and stability in Guinea-Bissau as they recently underwent a coup attempt, but are also extremely thankful that the Chaplains Interaction participant from that nation was able to get on his flight to the U.S. to participate in this program! Please pray that his family will be kept safe in his absence, and join us in prayers for peace for the entire nation at this tenuous time.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Wed, 11 Apr 2012 08:17:00 -0700

Chaplains Interaction, ACCTS' leadership training program for international chaplains, starts this weekend and we just received the exciting news that a participant who hadn't originally been granted a visa to attend can now attend with visa in hand! Now we're busy getting a plane ticket -- if you have a heart for the chaplaincy world-wide, we'd appreciate any help you can give toward this last-minute expense. Call Bernhard at 1-800-487-8108 or donate by check (made out to ACCTS, with a note stating it is for Chaplains Interaction) or by credit card (go to www.accts.org , choose "Donate Now" then "Give Now" and choose "Chaplains Interaction").

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Mon, 9 Apr 2012 10:10:00 -0700

ACCTS staff member Linda Dunlap went to be with her Lord on Good Friday, April 6, 2012, after living a radiant life filled with faith in Christ, love for her family and others, joy and laughter, and service to God. She lived her life, despite difficulties, not just “somehow” but “triumphantly” – with God shining through in each moment. Linda’s life was filled and overflowing with grace towards other people that was started and sustained by the Holy Spirit.

^“Those who are wise will shine like the bright heavens. And those who lead many to do what is right and good will shine like the stars forever and ever.” -- Daniel 12:3 (NLV)

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Mon, 6 Feb 2012 12:00:00 -0800

Volunteers Needed For Experience of a Lifetime!

Each year ACCTS and the Ukrainian military Christian fellowship host two English language training camps for military dependents and friends (like the one shown here). This year’s camps are scheduled for 7-14 July and 18-25 July. We need volunteer teachers – and you don’t need any experience in teaching or in taking ministry trips! All you need is a desire to help others learn both English and about Jesus and to fund your own participation in the trip. There will be some time for sightseeing, and you’ll have many opportunities to get to know the Ukrainian people you’ll be with during the camp. If you’re interested, please contact us at accts@accts.org or call 1-800-487-8108.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 10:14:00 -0800

Final Two North American Region Prayer Week Prayer Items:

27^th – Jehovah-Jireh, you are the source of all wisdom and provision. Guide and sustain military ministries across the region as they minister to military families, and encourage churches to join in ministry with them.

28^th – Lord of Hosts, help military Christians across the region to live out your great commandment, and to love you with all our heart and soul and mind, and to love our neighbors as ourselves.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 08:55:00 -0800

Thursday's Prayer Item:

Jehovah-Rapha, you are the great healer. Touch veterans suffering from both physical and spiritual trauma, comfort them in their affliction, and give them the resources they need to heal their wounds.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 09:50:00 -0800

Wednesday, January 25th prayer item: "Lord of Grace and Mercy, we ask your blessing on the various agencies and organizations that minister to and care for warriors wounded in body and spirit by their experiences in combat."

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Tue, 24 Jan 2012 08:41:00 -0800

Today's prayer item for the North American Region:

Gracious Lord, you know the desperate needs of military chaplains across the North American region. Fill them with your Holy Spirit as they preach the good news of Jesus Christ, and help them provide godly counsel to those who seek it.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 09:37:00 -0800

This Week in Prayer:

ACCTS' partner ministry, Association of Military Christian Fellowships, is holding a North American region week of prayer, at the request of AMCF vice president Nestor Ogilvie. Please join us in praying for North America's armed forces this week: "Heavenly Father, we ask your special guidance this week in mobilizing our nations to build a wall of prayer around North America's military forces, their leaders, our veterans, and their families. Help Christians in the militaries of Canada, the Caribbean, and the USA be transformed by the renewing of their minds, so that they can know how to bring the Good News of Jesus Christ to those around them."

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 09:02:00 -0800

North American
Week of Prayer

22-28 January 2012 is an ACCTS/AMCF Time of Prayer and Fasting for military personnel, veterans, and their families in the North American region (US, Canada, & non-Spanish speaking Caribbean countries). The vice president of the Association of Military Christian Fellowships ) asks that military and civilian Christians organize special prayer events in their homes, churches, and communities and use social media to encourage others to build a wall of prayer around the military community.

Photo of U.S. military personnel courtesy of USDOD.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Fri, 30 Dec 2011 11:38:00 -0800

Have a blessed New Year! We appreciate your prayers and ongoing support for ACCTS' world-wide military ministry. There are several opportunities to get involved in our work in the new year, including ministry to international military students in the U.S. If God is leading you to get involved, contact our office at www.accts.org. God bless you!

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Wed, 14 Dec 2011 14:12:00 -0800

Have a Blessed Christmas

“The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel (which means 'God with us')." -- Matthew 1:23

Military Christian fellowships around the world have Christmas events planned for their members, families, and friends. Pray that these events will draw many people to the wonder that is Christ, "God with us."

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Thu, 1 Dec 2011 14:12:00 -0800

ACCTS' December newsletter can be found at this link and includes ideas for ministering to military personnel over Christmas, Chaplains Interaction news, and a letter from our director, Phil Exner.

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Tue, 22 Nov 2011 12:50:00 -0800

Thanksgiving Day USA

24 November 2011

"Let us come before him with thanksgiving and extol him with music and song." -- Psalm 95:2

In all things give thanks! ACCTS' Thanksgiving prayer is that all U.S. military personnel, whether they are blessed to be home with families this Thanksgiving or are serving overseas, will know how deeply God loves them and is with them.

"The Pilgrims made seven times more graves than huts. No Americans have been more impoverished than these who, nevertheless, set aside a day of thanksgiving." ~H.U. Westermayer

editor@accts.org (Elizabeth Humphrey) — Mon, 21 Nov 2011 10:00:00 -0800

In the early 1990s, shortly after the USSR had collapsed, ACCTS staff members Dell and Bette met a Ukrainian military Christian who served as their main contact. Each time the McDonalds prepared to leave Ukraine after a mission trip, Dell recalls, the Ukrainian officer asked, “When are you coming back?” Several trips later, with the officer asking the same question, Dell realized that what he was really asking was, “ARE you coming back?”

“Going back” – making relationships with indigenous military Christians, nourishing those relationships, and developing other relationships within nations around the world – is a primary ministry method for ACCTS staff members. Other ministry techniques – conferences, training camps, and medical missions – revolve around the importance of individual people whom God has led us to. Those people, in turn, develop strong, nationally-led military Christian fellowships (such as the MCF in Ukraine, which is thriving and growing despite obstacles – and which is now headed up by the McDonalds’ original contact).

Today, ACCTS staff members are still “going back” – traveling to nations such as Swaziland, Hungary, Czech Republic, Chile, and Brazil – to encourage and build up the faith of local military Christians and national MCF leaders.
We appreciate your prayers and support as ACCTS ministers through 2011 and into 2012 – our 40^th year of international military ministry -- and look forward to seeing how God will work in the years to come!

Ukrainian military Christian fellowship leader photograph via Dick Barnes.