God StorieS

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:

March 2012

What are “God stories”? They are accounts of how God is working among the world’s military personnel – and they always illustrate that His movements are more powerful, long-lasting, and all-encompassing than we could ever plan or arrange ourselves. While some of what God does is accomplished through large events such as conferences, at the heart of all His work are individuals whose lives are changed and who then change the world around them. We hope these “God stories” will encourage you and help you see the scope of Christ’s work around our world.

Suffering for christ: “Who do you know who has suffered for Christ?” a staff member asked himself nearly 15 years ago. He felt God calling him to minister to the suffering church, and started with Sudanese war refugees. His work in Sudan -- the “land of swords and AK-47s” -- expanded to the Sudanese People’s Liberation army, then to the persecuted church in Eritrea. Work started with supplying food, medical help, and teaching, then gospel opportunities exploded: teaching SPLA soldiers the Gospel, encouraging pastors, and supplying Bibles to soldiers. The opportunities were so great that some on his ministry team remarked, “I can’t believe we get to do this!” Opportunities then opened in Pakistan, where our staff member discussed the Gospel with Pakistani army officers throughout the night and helped literate teenagers read the Bible to non-literate village residents. Our staff member’s work with the persecuted and suffering church continues to grow and expand despite the dangers that come with the opportunities. International soldier photos courtesy USDOD.

ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 2 • MArCh 2012

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You don’t need an actual “estate” - a castle on a mountain, for instance - to understand the importance of estate planning. Writing your will and planning your estate now - whether you are 25 or 85 - lets you control how your assets will be distributed after your death. Good estate planning also reduces your estate and gift taxes and avoids letting the state distribute your property under a one-size-fits-all legal formula.

If military ministry is close to your heart, we would be honored if you included ACCTS in your estate planning. Your gift, no matter the size, will benefit military Christians in other nations, and your legacy will have an eternal impact: helping form military Christian fellowships (MCFs); providing MCF leaders and members with military ethics, Christian leadership, and chaplain’s ministry teaching; aiding individual military Christians whose faith endangers them; helping MCFs with outreach events such as English language camps; and passing on ACCTS’ international ministry to the next generation.

If you have questions about estate planning, we invite you to give Bernhard Kaltenbach, ACCTS’ deputy director, a call at 1-800-487-8108. And as always, thank you to all of you who believe in international military ministry.

Each year ACCTS, Olive Branch, and the Ukrainian military Christian fellowship host two English language training camps for military dependents and friends. In January ACCTS staff member Russ Hammerud met with MCF members to plan for this year’s programs, which are scheduled for 7-14 July

and 18-25 July. We need volunteer teachers for these camps -- 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.

Summer miniStry OppOrtunity

Ukrainian folk choir sings about God

Ukrainians Anton and Kate leading singing

“As our military leaves Iraq, our prayers don’t have to. Will we pray not only for the protection of thousands in our embassy and consulates, but also for their success in nurturing the well-being of all Iraqis? And, can we expand our prayers for protection to the thousands of Iraqis who remain at risk for aiding our soldiers…? The costs involved in the last eight years should strongly motivate us to pray for Iraq’s success, to make the loss of so many and so much worth it...God’s love for all the world demands that we pray for our allies and enemies as well as ourselves.” -- an excerpt from an article written by Major (USA) Kevin Cutright, who served in Iraq twice and taught philosophy at the U.S. Military Academy. To view the full article at ACCTS’ Journal of Faith and War, visit www.faithandwar.org.

Praying for allies and enemies

ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 3 • MArCh 2012

God StorieS Continued from page 1

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“he was different!”Since 2001, the Ukrainian military Christian fellowship has invited ACCTS to conduct English language training camps for military families and friends. Several years ago, a Ukrainian military officer’s teenage son arrived at camp with such a negative attitude that every teacher said, “I hope he’s not in my class!” By the end of the seven days of camp, that same teenager had experienced a profound change in his life and beliefs. The next summer the teen’s father attended the program with children from several other military families. He told our teachers, “When my son came home from camp last summer, I couldn’t believe it was the same person. He was totally different! I knew if this camp could do that for my son, it could do it for other kids. I want that same opportunity for these kids.”

a Foundation in God’s Word: ACCTS staff and co-workers befriend international military students in the USA as they study English and attend military educational institutions. These students come from over 100 different countries, and building friendships with them is a wonderful opportunity to minister to them and help them get involved in their national military Christian fellowship when they return home. A Kenyan couple to whom our staff ministered while the husband studied in the U.S. recently wrote, “Thanks for giving me a foundation of God’s word. We treasure and appreciate you always for your love for God and the desire to serve Him. Even taking a risk for souls to be saved. We believe you have impacted our lives in a big way and we believe God to do great exploits…” The husband in this family is building on what he learned in the U.S. as he now travels into the troubled region of southern Sudan to share Christ.

reconciliation in africa: In 2004 a Ugandan military police officer attended the AMCF World Conference in South Korea. There, Dickson Ogwang met ACCTS staff who shared his belief in the need for reconciliation ministries, and they helped him complete his Christian Conciliator Certification from Peacemaker Ministries. Since then, Dickson has started a ministry in Uganda for military and civilian leaders that teaches biblical peacemaking and conflict resolution. The organization’s staff then traveled across Uganda and into the Democratic Republic of Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Liberia, South Africa, Kenya, Sudan

and Ethiopia. Hundreds of people have now been trained and equipped for community-based conflict resolution. In addition, more than 500 students and young adults are being discipled and mentored to build a culture of peace for the next generation of leaders. Dickson’s vision for the militaries of the world is to see biblical peacemaking as a core competency of military discipleship.

Long-Term Mentoring in Mongolia:ACCTS’ staff mentor indigenous military Christians around the world, and these mentoring relationships can last years and spread to others as well. A military officer from Mongolia, Eric, become a believer through the Jesus film that the military Christian fellowship (MCF) of Mongolia showed over ten years ago. As a result, Eric asked two staff members and some Mongolian army officers to help him study the Bible in his home. Through the years Eric’s relationship with our staff continued, and he became very involved in the Mongolian MCF. Recently Eric was in the United States when he learned about ACCTS’ Chaplains Interaction program. Although Mongolia may never have a chaplaincy as the United States does, he was eager to learn new ministry methods and asked to participate. Eric later completed his assignment in the U.S. and is now back in Mongolia, where he is using his leadership, evangelist’s heart, and the training he received at Chaplains Interaction to expand the Mongolian MCF’s ministry.

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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In many parts of the world, being a Christian calls for the courage to swim against the tide by:-- holding out against corruption and bribery;-- living in a way that is in stark contrast to the lifestyle of close colleagues;-- refusing to be used as a tool to destabilize official authority; and-- treating civilians in the way the Bible says - with dignity, justice, and respect.

A military Christian’s colleagues don’t understand, don’t care,

and sometimes deeply resent them for not playing by their rules. This can make following Jesus a very lonely road to travel. Yet following Jesus also offers hope - in this world and the one to come. Please continue to pray for ACCTS as we strive to make a difference in the lives of both Christian and non-Christian armed forces members in over 130 nations.-- from Military Ministry International, our UK-based partner organization (http://www.m-m-i.org.uk)

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

Walking the lonely Road: Why it’s tough Being a ChRistian in the MilitaRy

Photo courtesy USDOD

ACCTS prAyer reminder mArCh 2012

Note: Staff member names are in bold print.

1 In mid-February a Ukrainian committee met to discuss a multi-confessional chaplaincy proposal for Ukraine. This has been in process and discussion for some time now – pray that the chaplaincy will eventually be implemented so that all faiths can worship fully within Ukraine’s armed forces.

2 Pray with Lithuanian military Christians who are hosting a marriage seminar this month. Ask that all participants learn from the seminar and experience positive results in their lives.

3 Pray with military Christians who are part of Macedonia’s fellowship group as they meet this month to plan ministry events for the remainder of the year.

4 Ask for God’s guidance of ACCTS leaders, including Phil Exner and Bernhard Kaltenbach. Pray also for our board of directors, led by Ed Lorenzini.

5 ACCTS staff member Frank Cole and others are conduct-ing a chaplains training program in Central Africa Republic this week. Pray that attendees will be excited by what they learn and ready to use their knowledge to further God’s work. Pray for God’s protection and provision over the entire program and all who are involved.

6 Ask that God continue to use ACCTS’ online Faith and War Journal (www.faithandwar.org) to encourage military personnel and civilians to consider the role of ethics in their lives and work responsibilities.

7 Today, pray again for Central African Republic chaplains

training program attendees (see March 5 prayer item). Pray that a solid foundation will be laid for further ministry to the nation’s armed forces personnel, both by chaplains and by military Christians.

8 Pray for U.S. military personnel who have returned from Iraq and Afghanistan and are struggling to re-assimilate into their lives here. Pray that military ministries in the U.S. such as CMF and OCF will have the resources and wisdom to minister effectively to them.

9 Praise God for the growth of Christianity in India, and ask that military Christians in particular be led by God to share their faith with their coworkers so that they can have com-munion with Christ.

10 Ask for God’s hand over Egypt during this time of change, and pray that Christians there will continue to thrive and be spiritually vital.

11 Today is a Global Day of Prayer for Myanmar (Burma). In 2011 a more civilian government replaced the military junta that had long held power, and there have been encourag-ing reforms since then. Pray that Myanmar’s leaders and people will turn to God, that human rights abuses will end, and that justice and mercy will come to this land.

12 Pray with Carson and Wendy Tavenner who travel to China today on a short term mission trip.

13 Pray that the Holy Spirit will lead a resurgence of spiritual zeal among Hungary’s military Christian fellowship members, and praise God for their faith in Him.

ACCTS Prayer ReminderMarch 2012

“Smiting on an anvil, saw-ing a beam, whitewashing a wall, driving horses, sweep-ing, scouring, everything gives God glory if being in his grace you do it as your duty.” -- Gerard Manley Hopkins, The Principle or Foundation

Photo courtesy USDOD

14 Pray that military Christian ministry will take hold in Slo-venia, whose religious traditions are declining in relevance as agnosticism grows.

15 Ask for safety and spiritual strength for Christians in Nigeria, who have experienced persecution in the last few months. Ask that they be protected from laws which restrict religious freedom.

16 Pray for God’s financial provision for the MCF of Mol-dova as they distribute Bibles in the Romanian language to Romanian-speaking Moldovan military officers and police-men.

17 St. Patrick’s Day Pray that military Christians in Ireland will re-commit to fellowship with each other and re-form an MCF.

18 Pray for the very small number of military and civilian Christians in Comoros Island, a nation off the coast of Africa. There are restrictions on Christians in this nation, and severe reprisals are not uncommon to those who attempt to share their faith.

19 Ask for God’s wisdom on all ACCTS staff mem-bers who meet from 19-23 March for bi-annual staff meetings.

20 Pray with ACCTS staff and volunteers who are looking for new ways to share our ministry, including the use of newer technologies. Pray for Leslie Santee as she uses her videography to share our work.

21 The Bulgarian military Christian fellowship recently reorganized. Pray that this will allow them to share Christ’s work even further, and ask for wisdom as they carry on informal chaplaincy training programs.

22 Pray for God’s hand over military and civilian Christians in Haiti who share Christ’s hope with their compatriots.

23 Pray with Ed and Sally Ward, who will be in China tomorrow on a mission trip.

24 Military Christians in the Czech Republic ask for prayer for the growth of their MCF groups, especially in Brno.

25 As various factions work to assert their authority in Libya, pray that the approximately 2 ½% of Christians will hold steady to Christ and find ways to appropriately share Him with their friends, neighbors, and coworkers.

26 Staff members from various US-based military ministries meet today through the 28th at Fellow-ship of Christian Military Ministries’ annual meeting. Ask God to guide their discussions and plans.

27 The Philippines’ military continues to fight Muslim secessionists and guerilla soldiers while working to reform their government. Pray for military Christians in this nation who seek to be voices for Christ during difficult times.

28 Please pray with Ro-manian Christians as they seek additional MCF lead-ers in cities outside of Bu-charest and Ploesti. Pray that all the MCF leaders in various regions will work harmoniously together for the kingdom.

29 The nation of Colombia has suffered decades of civil conflict, yet both military and civilian Christians have stayed faithful to Christ and live lives worthy of His gospel. Pray with them against lawlessness and corruption, and that His kingdom will grow steadily in this nation.

30 Pray for Syria, which is experiencing strife and instabil-ity. Christians in this nation enjoy freedom of religion – pray that this will continue no matter which happens within Syria.

31 An ACCTS-sponsored medical trip to China starts today. Pray that all participants and those who receive medical care will be held in the light of God’s love during this trip.

ACCTS prAyer reminder • mArCh 2012

“God can’t clean the house of you when you’re still in it.” -- Anne Lamott, Grace (Eventually)