ACCTSin actionTo assist in the development of Christian leaders in the armed forces of the world and in the establishment and growth of military Christian fellowships.Our MissiOn:

SEPTEmBER 2014

Whether they come from Albania or Zimbabwe, one thing young military cadets and officers agree on: It is dif-ficult being a Christian in the military! Lack of time for personal Bible study and prayer, the temptation to join their co-workers for questionable off-hours activities, and other issues can drag down a young believer’s spiritual life.

ACCTS’ annual Interaction-Rocky Mountain High leadership program helps young men and women grow in their walk with Christ and equips them with tools for following Him and helping others follow Him while serving their nation. This year’s pro-gram consisted of cadets, midship-men, and a sergeant from Israel, Poland, Finland, and South Korea.

Instruction on Bible study techniques, conversational prayer, leadership, starting a military Christian fellow-ship, setting life goals, and other les-sons were integrated with a packed program that included hiking, moun-tain biking, and visits to military bas-es and numerous points of interest in Colorado (such as the continental divide, cliff dwellings, a ghost town, Garden of the Gods, Sand Dunes National Park, and a gold mine). The continued on page 2

Learning Spiritual Lessons Along the Way GhOst tOwns tO sand dunes:

ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 2 • SePTember 2014

Learning Spiritual Lessons Along the Waycontinued from page 1

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seven days of wilderness adventure with Officers’ Christian Fellowship’s Rocky Mountain High program rein-forced those lessons and provided the international participants an op-portunity to team up with U.S. par-ticipants to hike mountains, rappel, and go white water rafting. During the last part of the program, partici-pants were encouraged to develop a plan to apply the spiritual leadership lessons they learned when they re-turned to their countries and careers.

I-RMH coordinator Emanuela Haien shares, “The participants all said that I-RMH was an amazing expe-

rience. They especially liked the team building part of it, and spending time with military Christian families in Col-orado Springs. That had a huge impact on them, seeing how families live out their faith and minister to others.”

Learning how to study the Bible and lead Bible studies was also an important aspect of the program. “Two of the partic-ipants had never learned how to study the Bible like that,” Emanuela states. “They said it was really good for them be-cause now they can learn more from their personal reading.”

Tom Falconer, who helped host and teach the international guests while they were in Colorado Springs, stated, “I saw how the participants were challenged by the idea of the mili-tary as a calling. Maybe they had not seen that before, and I watched them start to grapple with what God wants them to do in their military in terms of ministry to military society. We could see the Holy Spirit starting to stir that in their hearts.”

Tom and his wife, Jan, have always felt called toward the next generation of godly military leaders. He shares, “Our focus has been on American cadets and young officers. This year we expanded that vision to international cadets and their potential, so it’s same vision but with different aspects.”

ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 3 • SePTember 2014

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The Hope of Changed Lives:ACCTS Participates in China’s Transformation

The team of ACCTS staff and volunteers who participated in this summer’s English language program in south-central China saw the power of transformation in their own lives and in the lives of the Chinese participants, from children and parents to school administrators and local govern-ment officials.

One transformational aspect was seen in the addition of young adult volunteers from Changsha who joined the ACCTS team for the first time. Staff member Car-son Tavenner shares, “Volunteerism is a relatively new yet growing phenomena in modern China. All the young men and women were thoughtful about their ac-tions.” Transformation was also seen in men and women gaining a deeper understanding of God. The team was thrilled to discover a packed sanctuary at the Three-Self church they attended, with a sermon preached directly from the Bible. One woman, after translating the Chinese sermon into En-glish for former ACCTS board president Emanuel Williams, told him, “I didn’t un-derstand before, but now I understand more about how our hearts can open to knowing God’s love.”

“Working on relationships in Changsha still requires patience and a willingness to go where we are requested,” Carson concludes. “Surrendering our wills to His will has become easier as we experience more and more the hope of changed lives. Praise God for the youthful energy in Chi-na and for the open minds and hearts of the adults guiding them.”

Thank you to the many, many people who participated in this program, either by trav-eling to China to teach or through their do-nations. Please continue to uphold ACCTS’ outreach of friendship in China.

Carson Tavenner and Chinese student

Russ Hammerud and students

Emanuel Williams and participants

Association forChristian ConferencesTeaching and Service PO Box 27239Denver, CO 80227-0239 Phone: 1-800-487-8108Fax: 303-986-4710Email: accts@accts.org Web: www.accts.org

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Our MissiOn:

Our COre Values: wBiblically-based wSpirit-led wPrayer-centered wPeople-focused

“After these two weeks I see that God plays a huge role in my duty and he has a plan for me and I have to listen to his voice to be a good Christian officer.”

“I have learned more of the impor-tance of fellowship during service, and the importance of taking action as a Christian leader among other soldiers.”

What are these young, international officers from Israel, Finland, Poland, and South Korea talking about? Turn to page one for a report from this year’s Interaction-Rocky Moun-tain High leadership program!

Taking Action!

ACCTS prAyer reminder • SepTember 2014

This month, daily requests are written so that you can pray each item for military Christians and military Christian fellow-ships in your own nation and military Christians around the world as a whole.

1 Pray that God would soften hearts and open doors as MCF leaders from around the world seek permission to attend AMCF 2014 Global Interac-tion. Pray for their freedom to attend, resources to do so, approval of visas, and prepared hearts to join with others at the conference, which begins just three months from now.

2 Ask that military Christians and organizations deliberately take time to be in proximity to God, listening to His voice. “My sheep listen to my voice…” – Jesus, John 10:27

3 Ask that followers of Christ in the world’s armed forces be aware of and follow the Holy Spirit’s movements in their lives, churches, and organiza-tions.

4 Pray that believers will be transformed by set-

ting their minds on Christ and sharing His trans-formation with their coworkers, friends, and family.

5 Ask that service personnel turn to Christ for strength when tempted. “And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear.” I Corinthians 10:13

6 Pray that 1 Peter 4:8 will become a reality in the lives of military Christians in your nation: “Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins.”

7 Pray for hearts of wisdom (Psalm 90:12) for Christian men and women as they serve both God and country.

8 Pray for a spirit of worship in Christ’s people. “…by lifting our hands we symbolically receive every-thing God is doing in our lives.” – Bob Sorge

9 Ask that military believers have hearts to share God’s goodness. “As it is impossible to verbally

ACCTS Prayer ReminderSeptember 2014

“Be not lax in celebrating. Be not lazy in the festive service of God. Be ablaze with enthusiasm. Let us be an active, burning, offering before the altar of God.” --Hildegard of Bingen (Know the Ways)

Interaction - Rocky Moutain High 2014 participant

describe the sweetness of honey to one who has never tasted honey, so the goodness of God can-not be clearly communicated by way of teaching if we ourselves are not able to penetrate into the goodness of the Lord by our own experience.” – Basil the Great, Conversations on the Psalms

10 Pray that believers will cultivate Bible studies and MCFs that are welcoming to non-believers, growth-producing in believers, and a blessing to their nation.

11 Pray that Christian men and women in the armed forces will not have a spirit of fear, but will turn to God as His children and heirs. (Romans 8:15)

12 Ask that military Christians seek opportunities to draw non-believers to Christ. “I have become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some.” (I Corinthians 9:22)

13 May military Christians in your nation “always be prepared to make a defense to anyone…with gentleness and respect” (I Peter 3:15) who asks for their reason for hope in Christ.

14 Pray that events and activities of your nation’s MCF will be a spiritually supportive and inspira-tional community for all who attend.

15 Ask that MCF leaders find new and creative ways to reach the younger generation of active-duty military personnel.

16 Pray for Christians in Iraq, North Korea, Nigeria, Iran, and other countries where there is severe persecution, that they may be strengthened to bear faithful witness and may honor the Lord through their steadfast faithfulness.

17 Pray that military believers live out the truth of Romans 8:1 – that there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.

18 Pray for the organizers of the AMCF Global 2014 Interaction as they coordinate lodging for the conference, make arrangements for interpret-ers, work with speakers and discussion lead-ers, plan for a final Warrior Training session, and handle countless other details. Ask that they accomplish all things with a sense of trust and joy at what God will do in Cape Town at the world conference.

19 ACCTS, ACCTS and the other primary support organizations for AMCF, and many national and regional MCF groups are planning conferences and trips that will take place after Global Interac-tion. Pray for an attentive spirit of reflexive obedi-ence to the Holy Spirit’s leading as they Pray and Plan on whether, where, when, and how to pro-ceed with each event.

20 Pray that military Christians and organizations in your nation and around the world will humble themselves before God, confessing their short-comings, and giving themselves over in joy to His will.

21 Pray that Christians in your nation’s army, navy, and other forces crave “spiritual milk” and grow in their salvation. (I Peter 2:2).

22 Pray for people who are ministering to inter-national military personnel who are studying or stationed in your nation.

23 Ask that MCF leaders and members take “a Sabbath rest” (Hebrews 4:9) so that their souls are rested and rejuvenated.

24 Pray that men and women will use their spiri-tual gifts to serve others. (I Peter 4:10).

25 Ask that military Christians in your nation will “grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.” (2 Peter 3:18)

26 Pray that MCFs worldwide will send partici-pants to the November/December AMCF Global Interaction in South Africa to strengthen their own fellowships.

27 Pray that Christians who are going through suffering will also experience perseverance, char-acter, and hope (Romans 5:3-5).

28 Pray that MCF leaders and members in your nation will actively fight the tendency toward leth-argy in spiritual issues.

29 Pray that military believers will remember the end of their days and their heavenly home. “…as soldiers think with joy about returning home, so also Christians constantly remember the end of their lives and their return to their heavenly father-land.” -- Nicholas of Serbia

30 Pray that military believers and organizations will celebrate God’s goodness! “A Christian should be an Alleluia from head to foot.” – Augustine of Hippo

ACCTS prAyer reminder • SepTember 2014