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:

OctOber 2012

The busy summer of ministry is over, but God is still moving and working in the lives of those who participated in ACCTS-related events that took place. As you read these After-Action reports, please keep those participants in your prayers.

Interaction-Rocky Mountain High (August): ACCTS’ 2012 training for young international officers included par-ticipants from four nations - Dominica, Madagascar, Mauri-tius, and the USA - who participated in both RMH activities (mountain climbing, rappelling, etc.) and Interaction lead-ership training. ACCTS’ director, Phil Exner, reports, “On ei-ther side of their week at OCF’s Rocky Mountain High held at Spring Canyon, we spent another seven days taking them to a number of places designed to prepare them for future work in their countries’ MCFs and build them up in their personal walks with Christ. In addition to instruction and practice in inductive Bible study and conversational prayer, we introduced them to spiritual journaling, and discussed leadership and ethics, integrating their faith and careers, life goals, and worked on personal testimonies. We are extremely thankful for the privilege of spending time with each one of the RMH-I participants, who are the fu-ture of MCFs in their countries. The participants described the time as ‘life changing’.” The participant from Madagas-car confirms, “Thank you so much for the opportunity you have given me to participate in Interaction-RMH. That was certainly the best two weeks of my life. I got to grow spir-itually and I got drawn closer to God. Thank you for the great tools you have equipped all the participants.May God bless you all and I always include you and the ministry that God has called you for in my prayers.”

Interaction - RMH 2012 participants

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After-ActiOn Ministry repOrts

ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 2 • OCTOber 2012

After-ActionLeadership Training in Brazil (August/September): Bra-zil’s MCF has some 200,000 members in 21 state MCFs under the umbrella of the national MCF. ACCTS staff Bob and BJ Reif-snyder, Leslie Santee, Phil and Sue Exner, and Gina Rajah, along with AMCF President General Lee Pil Sup, formed a Combined Assistance Training Team (CATT) that traveled to several different Brazilian cities. General Lee participated in the first two CATT programs in Sao Paulo and Brasilia, which gave the CATT team a wonderful chance for fellowship on his last trip to South America as AMCF president. They also held a CATT in the coastal city of Fortaleza, where they met with the national MCF president and vice president, who are planning a national MCF conference for next year. The CATT also participated in church services where several people made decisions for Christ. Finally, in Rio de Ja-

neiro they met with the Navy fellowship leader there and discussed that ministry and its future. The CATT program included military ministry fundamentals, including leadership for military Christians, ethics, chaplain and commander relationships, inductive Bible study, conver-sational prayer, personal testimony, and how AMCF’s principal sup-porting organizations (such as ACCTS) can assist military Christians. The trip was also a great opportunity to learn more about the challenges and opportunities God has put before the world’s largest MCF, and to dis-cuss their leaders’ vision for continued growth in numbers and unity.

Committed to Christ in Ukraine (July): ACCTS and the military Chris-

tian fellowship of Ukraine partnered together to host an English language camp for 63 Ukrainian military personnel and their children. Many of them had little knowledge of the Scriptures, and the camp helped them learn English while also studying the Bible. One of the camp leaders shared, “One young man told his Bible class that he would never become a Christian. On Friday evening he went forward with several others to publicly commit to Christ’s lordship!” They were given bilingual New Testaments and the MCF will be following up with each par-ticipant. Please pray that each of the campers will begin attending a solid church and grow in his or her knowledge of God.

China Outreach (August): An ACCTS team (He Gang, Ed and Sally Ward, Carson and Wendy Tavenner, Norris and Lois Webster, and Russ Hammerud) trained over 150 Chinese “English as a Foreign

Language” teachers this summer in China. Russ reports, “God’s pres-ence and blessing were evident in every aspect of the programs, and our hosts and teacher-students were highly appreciative. Be encour-aged that your partnership continues to bear fruit in ways only He fully knows. By joining them for lunch, we came to know them better and were able to interact on a more personal level regarding their joys and trials in and beyond the classroom.” Before the ACCTS group left China, Carson and Ed addressed over 200 local Communist Party offi-cials on the subjects of time management and situational leadership.

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ACCTS IN ACTION • PAge 3 • OCTOber 2012

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Pre-Action Reports:Following are some activities planned by our staff for the rest of 2012 - they deeply appreciate your prayers as they seek God’s guidance in their efforts for Him:

October: Australia: Participating in and teaching international military Christians who attend the AMCF Pacific Regional Conference and Interaction program -- Russell and Helen Bielenberg, Phil and Sue Exner, Rick and Melissa RylesFiji: Encouraging military Christians in Fiji (following the Australia conference) -- Phil and Sue ExnerEurope: Hosting a Ukrainian military Christian fellowship leader during his three-week visit to the US; planning ministry trips to Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and Germany -- Dick and Linda Barnes

Mongolia/China: Carrying out a mission and friendship trip -- Ed and Sally WardUSA: Continuing Bible study with international military students in the San Antonio region, and link depart-ing international students with their national MCFs -- Bill and Suzanne Lumpkin

November: South Africa: Participating in and teaching at a World Conference 2014 training program -- Phil Exner and Bernhard Kaltenbach USA: Hosting a Thanksgiving dinner for AFIT internationals and their families and continuing Bible studies -- Vic and Marsha GrazierUSA: Sharing ACCTS’ mission and ministry with chaplains at CAST (Chaplaincy Annual Sustainment Training) conferences -- Pete and Jacki Prindle, Harry and Linda Waters

December: Caribbean: Preparing for the Caribbean Military Christian Leaders Conference (CMCLC) planned for April 2013 in Surinam -- Jim and Lois GreshelUkraine/China: Recruiting teachers for next year’s English programs in Ukraine and China -- Russ Ham-

merudChina: Planning for 2013’s medical mission trip to China -- Cal Dunlap, He Gang/Jodie WangUSA: Continuing “Prayer Mornings” to encourage collective prayer for international military ministry and personal/national revival -- Mike and Leslie FliggUSA: Continuing to send out monthly emails, “Thoughts to Ponder” and other outreach methods to encourage military wives and their families -- Doris Waldrop Mincks

Rick and Melissa Ryles

Vic and Marsha Grazier

Mike and Leslie Fligg

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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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Conferences, Teaching and Service ***

The ACCTS board of directors and staff extend their deep thanks and apprecia-tion to two staff couples who are retir-ing. Russell and Helen Bielenberg of Australia began working with ACCTS in 1991, although they were heavily in-volved in international military ministry before that time. They were both leaders in the MCF of Australia, mentored mili-tary Christian leaders in their region as well as Spain, and worked to strengthen MCFs around the world. Earl and Sue Casner joined ACCTS in 2006, but had also been involved in military ministry and mentoring of military Christians in Europe before then. We thank God for these four individuals’ sacrificial service and pray that God will bless them in the years to come.

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

Russell and Helen Bielenberg

Thank You!

Earl and Sue Casner

ACCTS prAyer reminder • OCTOber 2012

Note: Staff member names are in bold print.

1 The military Christian fellowship of Australia hosts the AMCF Pacific Region Conference and subsequent Interac-tion leadership program from 1-8 October. Pray that all the regional military Christians who attend will contribute freely from their own cultural viewpoint, and will gain a scriptural understanding of God’s will for military ministry.

2 Praise God with us for the work which Russell and Helen Bielenberg have done to prepare for the AMCF Pacific Region Conference and pray with them as they retire from serving with ACCTS this month.

3 A staff member with Military Ministry International (UK) will be traveling in Ethiopia, South Sudan, Uganda, and Kenya until 19 October. Pray that all those he meets will be blessed by his encouragement and that together they will be guided by God in their discussions.

4 Interaction starts today in Australia, and runs through 8 October. Russell and Helen Bielenberg, Rick and Melissa Ryles, and Phil and Sue Exner lead it. Give thanks for the 13 Pacific-region delegates who are, God willing, attending and pray that they will be fully equipped to serve Christ in their nations and MCFs.

5 Pray with the new AMCF president, General Weerasooriya, as he identifies and appoints a new vice president for the Middle East, and pray for God’s provision and comfort for General Haddadin’s family as they mourn his death earlier this year.

6 Pray for military chaplains (and those who minister as chap-lains), asking the Lord to provide spiritual strength and godly wisdom as they give of themselves in their ministry of pres-ence with their troops.

7 In late August and September ACCTS staff helped lead a training event in Brazil in conjunction with the military Chris-tian fellowship. Pray that those who attended that event will continue to use what they learned in their daily lives and mili-tary service and to look for ways to share Christ’s good news with their coworkers, family, and friends.

8 Today is the final day of the Interaction leadership training in Australia. Pray for safe journeys home for the attendees.

9 Following the Australian Interaction, Phil and Sue Exner will stop in Fiji to meet with and discuss military ministry with Fijian Christians. Pray for a fruitful visit.

10 Much of ACCTS’ outreach in China is done on a friend-ship-building relationship, as that is what is culturally ap-propriate at the current time in China. Pray that God will use our staff members’ ministries and friendships with Chinese civilians and military personnel to inspire them to think about spiritual matters and seek out ways they can add spiritual depth to their lives. Pray particularly for Cal Dunlap, ACCTS’ China director, and He Gang and Jodie Wang.

11 At the September ACCTS staff meeting, General Lee Pil Sup of South Korea handed over the AMCF presidency to General Srilal Weerasooriya of Sri Lanka. Praise God with us for General Lee’s selfless work on behalf of AMCF and the ongoing partnership between AMCF, ACCTS, and other international military ministries.

12 From 12-14 October the Armed Forces Christian Union (AFCU) in the UK hosts a Ladies Weekend retreat. Pray that this weekend will encourage the military and civilian women who participate.

13 Each year ACCTS’ partner organization, Mission Support Organization in Korea, hosts an event to help indigenous military Christians begin MCFs. This year Christians from six

ACCTS Prayer ReminderOctober 2012

“I do not appeal to you to screw up your courage and sacrifice for Christ. I appeal to you to renounce all you have to obtain life that satisfies your deepest longings. I appeal to you to count all things as rubbish for the surpassing value of standing in the service of the King of kings. I appeal to you to take off your store-bought rags and put on the garments of God’s ambassadors.” -- John Piper, Desiring God

of the seven countries that participated in that event started a national MCF. Please pray that each nation’s MCF will grow in number and spiritual strength.

14 Today, please pray for wisdom and grace for staff mem-bers of our partner organization, Military Ministry International in the U.K.

15 Pray that the MCF of Nicaragua will be resuscitated. AMCF’s vice president for Central America, Joaquin Maldona-do, will travel with Vicki Maldonado, Chaplain (Captain, U.S. Army) Jesus Perez, and Zulma Perez from 15-21 October in Nicaragua to inspire indigenous Christians to re-start their fellowship group.

16 Please pray with Dick and Linda Barnes as they plan ministry trips to Moldova, Romania, Ukraine, and Germany. The Barneses work closely with MMI staff members, AMCF coworkers, and indigenous military Christian fellowship leaders in these na-tions as they plan their future outreach.

17 In many French-speaking African countries the military have great political power. Christians can be a small minor-ity. Lord, strengthen the faith of those Af-rican military Christians who feel isolated or afraid.

18 Pray with Bill and Suzanne Lumpkin as they continue in a Bible study with international military students in the San Antonio region.

19 Ed Ward will be ministering to military and civilian Christians in Mongolia and China this month. Please pray for God’s guidance on his trip.

20 Please pray for the knowledge of Christ and his hope to spread in Turkey, one of the largest unreached nations in the world. Pray that the Turkish govern-ment will be increasingly open to a multi-cultural and multi-religious nation.

21 Please ask that the new AMCF president, General Srilal Weerasooriya, be given God’s wisdom as he guides AMCF members toward being “devoted to one another in brotherly love, joyful in hope, patient in affliction, and faithful in prayer.” (Romans 12:10, 12)

22 This year marks the 50th anniversary of Officers’ Christian Fellowship’s retreat center, Spring Canyon, in Colorado, USA. Praise God for Buck Buxton’s vision to obtain Spring Canyon, and for the many events - including many ACCTS-sponsored events - at Spring Canyon which have changed the lives of military Christians from around the world. 23 Pray with military ministries around the world that are working to help their nations’ soldiers deal with post-traumatic stress disorder and traumatic brain injury. Pray that these MCFs will be given resources and wisdom as they help fami-lies through these situations.

24 Praise God with us for the many years of service which Earl and Sue Casner gave to ACCTS and to military Chris-tians around the world. Pray for God’s blessings on them as they step down from their position in European Ministry.

25 Praise God for ACCTS board members Phil and Rosa Lewis (USA), who translate our newsletter (quarterly) into Spanish, and for Elena Alikova (Ukraine) who translates it into Russian. They have all done the translation faithfully for many years and have blessed all those who are able to read the newsletter in their own language.

26 Pray with Frank Cole, Pete Prindle, Dell McDonald, and others who will be choosing delegates to attend ACCTS’ Chaplains Interaction leadership program in the spring of 2013.

27 October 1st was the beginning of a new fiscal year for ACCTS. Please pray with Phil Exner, Bernhard Kaltenbach, the finance committee, and others who guide ACCTS as we distribute the donations of our supporters to military ministry needs. Praise God for our supporters who be-lieve so strongly in the need for Chris-tians in the armed forces of the world!

28 Pray with Rick and Melissa Ryles as they have moved from Japan back to the USA. Ask for God’s guidance in their international military ministry and praise Him for their ongoing work with ACCTS.

29 Praise God and pray for ACCTS’ board members as they guide and lead this international ministry. Today, please pray specifically for Ed Lorenzini, board president; Sue Huggler, vice president; Ward Bursley, treasurer; and Jody Burs-ley, secretary.

30 The MCF of South Africa is in “full speed ahead!” mode for the 2014 AMCF World Conference. In November they are hosting a training program in prepa-

ration for the conference, and Phil Exner and Bernhard Kaltenbach will be teaching. Pray for this training event and pray also for other conference preparations. (Have you considered attending? Please contact us at accts@accts.org for more information!)

31 The military Christian fellowship in Guatemala is hosting a Basic Military Chaplaincy Course from 15-16 November. Please pray for all those who are preparing for and leading this event, including ACCTS staff members Bob and BJ Reif-snyder and Don Jukam. Give praise for the MCF’s initiative and desire to serve their nation!

ACCTS prAyer reminder • OCTOber 2012

“There is but one God, and they that serve Him should be one. There is nothing that would render the true religion more lovely, or make more proselytes to it, than to see the profes-sors of it tied together with the heart-strings of love.” -- Thomas Watson, A Puritan Golden Treasury

Ukraine English camp participants