World Missions & Outreach
The love of Jesus is the light that every heart, everywhere needs. At ACF, we partner and work with other churches and organizations around the world to build the Kingdom of Jesus. We believe that the church is the expression of God’s love to the WORLD, and we endeavor to make His name known wherever we can. Below are a few of the places that ACF is helping to spread the love of Jesus. We support these groups thru prayer, finances and exposure mission trips that expose our people to God’s work around the world.
Morelos, Mexico
ACF works closely with Rainbow Ministries in Morelos, Mexico. Rainbow Ministries is a home for children, the elderly and the disabled. The directors of the ministry are John & Paulina Bivens. John & Paulina have been working in Mexico for years and ACF has partnered with them to provide love, prayer & financial support. ACF takes numerous exposure mission trips to Morelos every year to share the love of Christ, work on construction projects and be a support to John & Paulina. If you are interested in more info on Rainbow Ministries you can contact the church office at 759-1800.
Zaragoza, Mexico
ACF is a partner with Ranchos Dos Countries Ministry in Zaragoza, Mexico. The directors of this ministry are Debra and Fernando Martinez. The mission and purpose of RDC is to reach the needy and impoverished people of Mexico. Physical needs are met by giving clothing, food and other necessities to the poorest of the poor in Mexico. There is a huge spiritual need in Mexico and Ranchos Dos Countries presents the Gospel of Jesus to thousands of people every year thru preaching, drama and special events. RDC also provides ministry opporunties for those wishing to learn more about ministering to Mexico and is a place for Missionaries to stay while ministering in Mexico, as well as a retreat center.
ACF partners with RDC to minister to the people of Mexico thru evangelistic outreach and building projects. You can get more info about RDC at www.doscountries.com
Nicoresti, Romania
ACF works with the Tanner Romania Mission in the small village of Nicoresti, to take care of children that the world has forgotten. The Tanner Mission is run by Bruce & Sandie Tanner and is currently a home to 33 mentally or physically handicapped children.
Founders of Tanner Romania Mission, Sandie and Bruce Tanner lived their lives much like the rest of us. They previously lived in the U.S.A, had raised children of their own, studied and worked to make their way through life. There was one significant difference in that they believed in and followed the teachings of Christ.
Bruce and Sandie didn’t know at this stage where they were heading but their faith and love for Christ made the mission become reality. Upon seeing ‘Shame of a Nation’ they knew immediately where they should be and made plans to put their faith into action.
Since 1991, Sandie and Bruce have lived in Nicoresti, Romania, dedicating the rest of their own lives to the work here.
Nicoresti, a small farming community is home to Sf. Anton spital where disabled children have been abandoned and left in the care of the State. It was here that Bruce and Sandie began their labor of love, cleaning, feeding and clothing these orphaned children.
It soon became apparent however that there was too much beyond their control in this environment. If they were going to be able to make a difference in the lives of these children they would have to get them out of the spital - but where?
Funds were raised and in 1993, the foundation was brought to life with Casa Elisabeta becoming the first Tanner Romania Mission group home. One by one the children were removed from the spital and taken into care by Sandie and Bruce. The children came with nothing and were given everything - a home to call their own for their lifetime.
Quickly the foundation grew and is now a family of 33 children and young adults that live within 5 homes established by Tanner Romania Mission.
The work that has been done here, the achievements of Tanner Romania Mission and the children cared for within this foundation are a testament to Bruce and Sandies’ faith and commitment to God. You can get more info at www.tannermission.org
Haiti
ACF has a deep connection with the people of Haiti. Pastor David has been ministering in Haiti since he was 12 and ACF continues to have a burden for the beautiful people of the poorest nation in the Western Hemisphere.
The Body of Christ is most effective when working together and ACF has been a partner with Hope for the Hungry, out of Belton, Tx, for years. Hope for the Hungry is an interdenominational ministry focusing on assisting children worldwide, and serving missionaries who have responded to God’s call to “Share the Bread of Life with a Starving World.” ACF supports Hope for the Hungry thru financial support, building projects and sending teams to Haiti to share the Gospel of Christ and minister to the needs of people
Hope for the Hungry was founded in 1982 by Dan and Kandy Kirkley as a result of Christ’s command to “Feed My Sheep.” The Kirkleys responded to the fact that an average of 40,000 children around the world were dying daily of malnutrition.
Hope For The Hungry ( www.hopeforthehungry.org ) exists to make a substantial contribution toward “Sharing the Bread of Life with a Starving World.” That entails meeting both the spiritual and physical needs that exist among the people God has called us to serve. We stress that while physical assistance is scripturally mandated, feeding the body without feeding the spirit, ultimately, leads only to death. We also stress that it is essential to the process of world evangelization to work through Christian leaders within the group of people we are striving to reach for Jesus. A good portion of our energies, therefore, is spent in developing and encouraging promising foreign-national Christian leaders.
In meeting the challenges before us, we will not be guided by “organizational affiliation,” but by “affiliation with Christ.” Also, we will endeavor to create an attitude of cooperation between mission organizations, churches, and individual Christians.
We emphasize that in order for an organization to be the viable entity God intends for it to be it must be composed of the body of Christ, functioning as God intends the body to function. There must not exist a “one-man” team!. We promote and encourage recognition of our own place and the place of others in the body.
We practice praying and caring for each other as two of the many privileges that accompany membership in the body of Christ.
We emphasize the practice of intercessory prayer by our actions and through encouraging others in the practice of it. This is especially true of world evangelization and for those involved in that effort.
The Law of the First Fruits is a principle by which we are pleased to abide. As an organization, we give a tithe of all non-designated funds to Christian work which is not necessarily directly related to Hope For The Hungry .
God has blessed us financially in our efforts to “Share the Bread of Life.” It is, therefore, our intention and goal to remain debt free.
We also believe that the Biblical admonition to do all things “decently and in order” particularly applies to Christian organizations. We, therefore, welcome opportunities to demonstrate scriptural accountability.
While we stress that each employee of Hope For The Hungry will be responsible for raising his or her own support, we believe that it is the responsibility of the organization to provide spiritual as well as physical assistance in obtaining that support. Additionally, it is appropriate for the organization to provide the necessary tools for that person to properly perform the task at hand. We also diligently endeavor to establish appropriate minimum and maximum support levels for each geographic area and work responsibility in order to assure a moderate living for each employee.
As we minister in other parts of the world, we believe it to be essential that virtually all programs be directed by the men and women from the host country who have a vision to win their lost to Christ. As much, therefore, as possible, Hope For The Hungry will own no property in other countries and will endeavor to work through indigenous leadership.
When we, as Americans, go to other countries we must go as servants! We cannot take our cultural baggage and deposit it on other’s doorsteps. We must be willing to adapt to their culture, not vice versa. Those who are sent by Hope For The Hungrywill be trained to be sensitive to other cultures.
We believe that physical assistance which produces long-term dependence on man is inappropriate. Undertaking projects to help people will, therefore, include means of assisting them to establish their own support systems.
We believe a sound planning process to be an essential part of being successful in our endeavors. The scriptures reveal God to be a wise planner: we are, also, encouraged to be wise planners. And yet, we must never forget that God must be able to “Direct our steps.” (Proverbs 3:6) At Hope For The Hungry , we strive diligently to be sensitive to God’s voice and direction.
