Video transcript below:
Good morning faithful E-news readers. It’s Lance Finley coming to you from Findlay, Ohio. Today I'd like to talk a little bit about our A.C.T.S. Team ministries. Some of you are probably familiar with the A.C.T.S. Teams. That's an acronym that stands for Advancing Christ through Teaching and Service. They go all the way back to the 1970s. I believe Steve Dunn actually was the person who helped create the A.C.T.S. Team ministries.
Over the years we've seen them go around the world; some ministries here in the United States, others on our mission fields in Haiti, in Brazil, and other places. Historically the A.C.T.S. Teams were designed for young people; we are thinking High School age or college age students. In the last several years we've seen the opportunity expand and go with more of a multi-generational feel. While we have a lot of young people and youth group members, that kind of thing, who attend A.C.T.S. teams, we have also seen whole families come; Mom and Dad and their kids, sometimes a grandparent and their grandchild. We think that's a wonderful expression of the kingdom, to serve side-by-side throughout the generations - a multitude of generations serving the Lord together.
We’re in that season now where the 2016 A.C.T.S. Teams are set. Time is drawing short here for the application season. I wanted to put this on your radar. I was reminded yesterday, as I sat in a meeting with a missionary couple that is serving in Latin America. The young woman had actually grown up in the Churches of God. We asked her how was it that you came to serve in this capacity? What was it that God did to call you into this kind of a ministry? Of course, there were many things that contributed to this in her life, but one of the things she highlighted was her involvement in the A.C.T.S. Team ministries as a young person. She had actually gone on three different trips as a team member and that was one of the things in her life that God had used to open her up to this idea of serving cross culturally and getting the vision for the world that God has.
So I want to encourage you today that have perhaps you are a young person yourself and looking for something a little bit different this summer. An A.C.T.S. Team can be a wonderful experience; to learn about a different culture, to serve Christ, to actually put your faith in action. Perhaps you're not such a young person. Maybe you have young people in your life. Maybe you're a parent or grandparent. What an awesome opportunity to join with your child or your grandchild to make a memory and serve the Lord together. Maybe there is someone in your circle of influence that you need to go to and say, “why don't we do this together? Why don't we go and serve somewhere together and see how God uses that?”
This summer we have six teams that are presently scheduled. We have had to cancel our Boston trip, and close our Southwest trip. The Southwest trip to our Navajo ministries is full. It's all filled up. We can't take anymore applications. But we have teams scheduled for Haiti, Sweden, Fallbrook, California-- which is primarily a Latino ministry, Mexico, Brazil and Kenya. February and March are the deadlines to apply for those trips.
I want to encourage you to apply and who knows how God might use these teams in the course of history. Maybe there's someone in your circle of influence that, years from now, as they are serving Christ somewhere else in the world, will point back and say, “You know, it was in the Summer of 2016 when I served on an A.C.T.S. team that God began to open my heart up to this idea of serving him cross culturally.” We will trust him to those kind of results, but I will ask you to pray about it. Encourage some of the folks around you to explore this idea of serving Christ in another culture this summer. We'd love to have you join us. All the information can be found at the website below here (tinyurl.com/cggc-org). We would just love to have you consider joining us for this kind of ministry as we serve Christ together. So, we'll see you next week.
Aukerman Church of God Seeks Pastor
The Aukerman Church of God is currently seeking a Pastor who has a strong evangelistic focus. The church is located in Wayne County, Ohio near West Salem. The Aukerman Church has 100 plus years of reaching out with compassion to their local community. The average Sunday morning worship attendance is 15-20 with a potential for growth. If you are interested in this ministry opportunity or have questions, please send a resume or express your interest by March 1st. Email or mail to Sarah Biddle, [email protected], 8835 Rice Hill Road, Burbank, OH 44214, phone 419-846-3162. If you have questions you may also contact Great Lakes Conference Director, Earl Mills, [email protected], 419-423-7694.