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ACCTS in action To assist in the development of Christian leaders in the armed forces of the world and in the establishment and growth of military Christian fellowships.
Not “Somehow” -- But Triumphantly
ACCTS staff member Linda Dunlap went to be with her Lord on Good Friday, April 13, 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’s love shining through. Ed and Sally Ward traveled to China with the Dunlaps, and
recall that Linda touched many people there, including a man with questions about Christianity: “Linda graciously, but so very clearly, presented the Gospel to [him], and in a way that could not be misunderstood. And of course, all the while Linda was beaming that wonderful, warm smile of hers!” Chuck Piersee also recalls her testimony, stating, “So much of her life was dedicated to bringing the message of the Savior to people worldwide. Her beauti
ful smile and infectious laugh disarmed anyone who might take offense at the message she was offering.” Linda’s smile was non-stop, and during a Russian ministry trip Dick and Linda Barnes actually had to tell her that smiling on Russian public transportation, where the only expressions usually seen were dour, could cause problems and seem suspicious! “Linda tried real hard not to smile, but found it difficult,” they remember fondly. Linda’s friendship meant much to people around the world. Leslie Santee pointed out that one word could describe Linda - selfless: “She exhibited more of the Christ-like behavior of Philippians 2:2-7 than any human I know.” Albanian native Emanuela Kalemi Haien remembers, “She listened very patiently, and afterwards you couldn’t help
but feel the hope of our Jesus through her encouragements and prayers.” Brazilian Gina Rajah shares, “For me, Linda was the warm hand rubbing my back, a bubbly, smiling friend with a compassionate missionary heart.” Jodie Wang affirms, “She was loved by all of her Chinese friends!” and Kristin Goodrich comments, “Linda modeled godly friendship done well.” In honor of Linda’s love for the people of China, ACCTS has established a Linda Dunlap China Memorial Fund. You can donate by check (made out to ACCTS, with a note stating it is for the China Memorial Fund) or by credit card (go to www.accts.org , choose “Donate Now” then “Give Now”. When prompted to enter a category choose China Ministry and add in the memo line in memory of Linda Dunlap. ).
Actions, Not Words: Sharing God’s Love in China Through Medical Missions For several years, ACCTS has sent medical missions teams to remote locations in China, thanks to volunteer doctors such as Ed Ho and Carolyn Ho (a brother-sister team). This April’s trip to the Yunnan province was unique in that over a dozen Chinese people were also part of the team (which included the doctors, staff members He Gang, Carson Tavenner, and a physician’s assistant, Claudia Baylon). The Chinese natives greatly helped the U.S. team listen to the villagers’ needs and serve them better. Doctors treated a variety of ailments among adults and children, including lung problems, high blood pressure, and the injured stub of an amputated leg. Before one afternoon clinic, the ACCTS team participated in a church service at which they sang several hymns. (Many of the people in this region are Christians.) One of the Chinese participants was Esther, a Christian who was eager to participate. As a result of ACCTS’ work in China, Esther -- a successful businesswoman -- plans to start her own organization to do similar work “wherever a great need exists.” She believes that “actions, not words, tell people that God’s love is real.” Since ACCTS has always emphasized building indigenous Chris-
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tian leaders to carry on God’s work around the world, this is an exciting possibility. Please pray for Esther and the others who hope to continue sharing God’s love with the Chinese people. More detailed reports of this trip are available -- if you are interested in seeing those reports, we’d be happy
to send them to you by email or mail. (Please email accts@accts.org or phone Elizabeth at 1-800-487-8108 to request these reports.) Additionally, if you join the ACCTS Facebook page, photos will be posted there and on the ACCTS webpage. International soldier photos courtesy USDOD.
Actions, Not Words
Interaction Rocky Mountain High Needs You!
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Learn how to help your military Christian fellowship grow. Climb and rappel the Rocky Mountains Meet U.S. and international military cadets and officers Go white-water rafting See how MCFs impact people, militaries, and nations Visit other points of interest in Colorado Grow in leadership and ministry skills
WHO? U.S. and international military cadets, officers, leaders, and spouses who are seeking to improve their ministry skills. WHEN? 26 July - 9 August 2012 WHERE? Officers’ Christian Fellowship’s Spring Canyon Resort, Colorado COST: $845 plus airfare to Colorado MORE INFORMATION: Contact ACCTS at 1-800-487-8108 or visit the website (www.accts.org) and click “Rocky Mountain High-Interaction 2012.” ACCTS IN ACTION • Page 3 • May 2012
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New Resource for Military Christians MilitaryBeliever.com is a location-based social network for the Christ-centered military community. The site matches service members and their families with churches, ministries, military believers, events, and Christian service opportunities based on their profile, which includes skills, spiritual gifts, spiritual maturity, and personal interests. ACCTS is involved in listing international service opportunities and other international information. The website and database is new and growing with time, so please visit it today, register, and become involved in this community of military Christians. Photos courtesy usdod
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PO Box 27239 Denver, CO 80227-0239 Phone: 1-800-487-8108 Fax: 303-986-4710 Email: accts@accts.org Web: www.accts.org
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ACCTS Prayer Reminder May 2012 Seeing death as the end of life is like seeing the horizon as the end of the ocean.
Note: Staff member names are in bold print. 1 In late March leaders from several U.S.-based military ministries met for the annual Fellowship of Christian Military Ministries meeting. Pray that the Spirit will continue to bring unity among these ministries so that God will be glorified. 2 In April an ACCTS team provided medical care to villagers in a remote area of Yunnan in China. Ask that the villagers’ healing in bodies and spirits will be a testimony of God’s love to others in their community. 3 ACCTS held Chaplains Interaction, our annual leadership training event for international chaplains, in April. Pray that God will guide the participants as they have now returned home and put into action what they learned. 4 Please pray for several staff members who are dealing with cancer, including Suzy Neu and Noel Dawes. Pray for the success of Noel’s upcoming bone marrow transplant. Uphold their spouses, Paul Neu and Meryl Dawes, as well. 5 Please join Ukrainian military Christians in prayer as they meet today for a Pray and Plan meeting. Ask for God’s guidance on all their ministry plans for the upcoming months. 6 Pray today for Myanmar (Burma), which recently hosted elections at which pro-democracy candidates won. Pray particularly for military Christians at this time of change. 7 Pray that the military Christian fellowship in Thailand will grow as Christians share their hope and faith in the Lord.
ACCTS prayer reminder • May 2012
8 Ask that military chaplains worldwide, their spouses, and ministry helpers, be strengthened and guided as they minister to troops. 9 Praise God for military Christians in Albania – a nation that was officially atheistic until the fall of Communism. Pray that Christians will bring hope and light to their nation. 10 Pray with military Christians in Kyrgyzstan as their country faces ongoing ethnic tensions. Ask that Christians in this primarily Muslim nation be able to build much-needed bridges of reconciliation on both personal levels and national levels, and that all faiths will have no restrictions put on their religious practices. 11 A sixty-hour Basic Military Chaplaincy Course starts in El Salvador on 11 June. The military Christian fellowship of El Salvador requested the chaplaincy course as well as an ACCTS-led American English Language Training program. Please pray for all participants, for team leaders Bob and B.J. Reifsnyder, and other team volunteers. 12 Please pray for ACCTS’ former director Cal Dunlap and his family after the April death of Cal’s wife Linda. Praise God for Linda’s remarkable life of faith and service to Christ! 13 Mother’s Day (USA) “Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting; but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. Give her the reward she has earned, and let her works bring her praise at the city gate.” -Proverbs 31:30-31 14 Pray for ACCTS staff who are ministering to army chaplains at CAST conferences from 14-17 May and 21-24 May. Ask the Lord for opportunities to encourage and pray with these chaplains who minister to
troops around the world. 15 Praise God for the healing from combat operational stress and trauma that Christ has brought to over 200 combat veterans who have attended Welcome Home Initiative retreats. Pray that upcoming retreats will be similarly blessed. 16 Pray for the nation of Syria, which has undergone great unrest lately. Pray that the peace of Christ will especially be with military and civilian Christians in this nation. 17 Pray that full religious freedom will come to Cuba, and pray for strength for military and civilian Christians who currently cannot fully express their faith. 18 Please pray for positive responses from the island nations of the Pacific to invitations to attend the AMCF Pacific Conference and Interaction in October. One of those nations is Kiribati, which is sinking into the ocean due to climate change and is in fear of having to abandon their country.
that military Christians there will share Christ’s love and forgiveness with their co-workers, friends, and families. 25 Pray for ACCTS’ summer English camps in China and Ukraine – that the teachers will be opening to listening to God, and that students’ hearts will be open to learning and being spiritually blessed. 26 Military Christians in Russia need prayer as they find creative ways to share Christ with their co-workers. Pray that freedoms will not be further eroded and that there will be religious renewal, especially among Russia’s armed forces. 27 Pentecost Pray for the Holy Spirit’s leading on all ACCTS and AMCF staff and co-workers, including ACCTS director, Phil Exner, and AMCF’s president, General Lee. 28 Memorial Day (USA) Please pray for the families of military men and women who have died in the service of their nation.
19 Armed Forces Day (USA) Please pray for the men and women 29 Pray who serve in the U.S. that military “Death - the last sleep? No, it is the final awakening.” armed forces. Pray Christians in -- Sir Walter Scott especially for those Lithuania will, deployed in war zones, with the Holy the families they left behind, and those now living with Spirit’s prompting, share Christ with their co-workers. PTSD or physical injuries Church attendance is declining in this nation and unity among believers is needed. 20 Pray for wisdom for He Gang and Jodie Wang as they plan this summer’s outreach events in China. 30 Three months from today the MCF of Paraguay hosts the start of the XIV South America Regional 21 Pray for stability in the nation of Malawi, and pray AMCF Conference, which will be followed by an that military Christians will continue to faithfully serve ACCTS-led Interaction program for MCF leaders and God as they serve their nation. their spouses. Please pray that preparations will be done in a way that God will be glorified. 22 Pray for preparations for this July’s InteractionRocky Mountain High and those who are planning it, 31 The Democratic Republic of Congo still deals with including Harry Argo and Emanuela Haien. repercussions from its violent past. Pray that military Christians will lead the way in healing and reconcilia23 Today, please pray for U.S. and Canadian troops tion. which are involved in the war on terror. Pray in particular that military Christian fellowships in these nations will be given wisdom as to how to minister. 24 Mali’s separatist rebels declared a cease fire in April. Pray that peace will reign in this nation and ACCTS prayer reminder • May 2012