Video Update from the Jessens

Watch this video update from the Jessens and hear about the amazing things their doing in Thailand!


 

Update from the Stickneys - Moving back to Dallas

This update from the Stickneys is from 5/6.  Continued prayer is needed as unrest continues in Kenya.  

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ACO Partners,

  We pray this find you and your family Blessed!

 Kenya seems to continue to make a splash in world news for all the wrong reasons. Today we find ourselves once again enduring a long weekend of scattered terrorists attacks in the areas where we do ministry. 

  The clashes in the Coastal Region between Muslims and Christians is stronger than ever. The small quiet city of Kilifi, site of Pwani University and home to ACO staff Jonathan Omolo, is becoming more of a center for such activities. 4 Pastors have been killed in the past 6 months and churches continue to be targeted with grenade and IED attacks. This past weekend, Mombasa (40 min. drive away), the center for the coastal chaos had two separate attacks in highly populated expat communities.

  Not to be outdone, Nairobi and its terrorists are keeping pace. Most of the attacks are in areas of the city that our national staff pass through on a daily basis, this past Sunday evening they shook the earth 200 yards away from the house we rent. Since the West Gate mall siege and airport bombings the country we knew as a peaceful, laid back, and low risk area has become the hot bed for Al Shabab. 

  BUT GOD CONTINUES TO MOVE IN OUR MIDST! As Robert and Jonathan, Victor and Moses, Joyce and Dorcas, and the rest of our other staff morn their countries daily battle with Jehad, they wake each morning with purpose. That purpose, brought from a lives calling to share the Gospel and Disciple young men and women, continues on university campuses across the country. This weekend (May 10th), we will celebrate 5 of our newest ACO Ignite Intern graduates (Ignite is a year long discipleship training program for students who have cleared campus and want to learn more about doing full-time life-on-life ministry). Three of these grads will be joining our National ACO Staff team, the other two will dive into the market place and invest in the lives God plants them around. A group of 7 students and ACO staff return today from Rwanda after spending a week helping an ACO graduate get ministry off the ground on 4 campuses (You can pray that God continues to open doors for us in placing a full-time staff in Rwanda in the future). The costal clashes haven't kept our ACO staff team from growing in number (our first full-time staff girl will begin ministry there this summer), but also God allows us to remain fruitful as two new Bible studies were started with NEW BELIEVERS this past semester! Our two campus start-ups this year (we live on an August to July calendar year) have been a great addition to our ministry opportunities. We are very excited to be opening a new campus on the edge of Nairobi this summer. Presbyterian East African University has accepted our proposal to place staff and begin investing in young peoples lives! (This start-up will bring ACO to 15 fully staffed campuses across the country.) Victor Otieno, ACO National Staff Director, and our team of staffremain faithful to the task that God called us to some 40 years ago! 

 Our new partnership with KEFA (www.kefaplatform.org) and our January launch into discipling medical students, surgeons, and others in the medical field has taken flight much faster than we anticipated. Our fastest growing area of ministry by far shows promise to launch ACO staff into not only South Sudan; but Ethiopia, Tanzania, Uganda and Rwanda. Investing in the Influencers of the next East African generation is a GOD TASK placed at our staffs feet.  

  We believe that ACO continues to be called by God to be a source of Discipling the Next Generation of East African Students to be a Change Agent in the Spread of Discipled Believers. The ACO Board of Directors, The Stickney family, and ACO Staff feel called and equip for the task!

  In light of the terrorist activity and overall security of the country, the ACO Board of Directors (like other organizations, including the US Embassy) has been evaluating risk vs. reward of the Stickney's living in Kenya since the August 2013 airport fire. They have decided, along with our input, that the Stickney family should relocate to Dallas in June. Tom will continue to travel back and forth to Kenya to help facilitate strategy, training and encouraging staff and students throughout the year. We (The Stickney's) are sad to see our time of living in Kenya end, but as we say goodbye to an amazing community that surrounds us we are grateful to our Board and their ongoing desire to do what is best for our family! Tom's time in the US will have him continuing to invest in our leaders in Kenya and working closely with Victor Otieno (ACO National Director). He and Kerry will also begin investing in couples in the DFW area (mush like Allen & Alice did when they returned from Kenya in the late 80's), continue telling the ACO story, and, if safety permits, running the US/Kenyan student intern program in the summers . 

  If you know the Stickney's at all, than you know we are about Equipping and getting out of the way. When we landed 4 years ago we immediately started trying to work our way out of the country (we were so blessed to have an amazing foundation to build on from Allen & Alice's 35 years in student ministry here). This move comes at no surprise in our spiritual mindset, we knew the day would come, our hearts though will miss the unique privilege of living in Africa. It is sad to leave an amazing school, small group, church and ACO staff team behind, but it is also rewarding to know that our "hands on" job is complete. Our equipping role now turns to raising the resources, walking with our ACO staff team in strategy and long-term planning, and encouraging them with mission teams we are able to bring along with us on our visits. 

  Since God is the glue that holds this all together, then you are the energy that drives it! Each month we are amazed at how each of you has allocated some of your resources to keep us moving. We are astonished at what God does through $260,000 a year. Thank you for being apart of Equipping through your Resources! 

  We hope that we will get to see you State side in the next few months (we arrive mid-June). Tom's first trip back will be in September.....you're welcome to come along!

Thank You & Blessings,

Tom Stickney                                    

Executive Director

African Christian Outreach

stickneytk@mac.com

AND

Victor Otieno

National Director

African Christian Outreach

www.acokenya.org

Go to www.AP4C.org to access the April prayer guide and join us in praying for the Dallas metroplex.  Thank you for praying.

To acess Aprayed4city March prayer guide go to their website at: www.aprayed4city.org

February 2014 APRAYED4CITY prayer guide

FEBRUARY 2014 PRAYER GUIDE

“A father to the fatherless, a defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families...” 

Psalm 68:5-6

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because He has anointed me to proclaim good news to the poor.  He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”

Luke 4:18-19

During the month of February, AP4C is praying for individuals who are orphaned or widowed.  It is our intention for believers from all ethnic, socio-economic and denominational backgrounds to unite in prayer and use this guide as a catalyst for on-going prayer.  It is also our prayer that God will unite the Church and use us to shape Greater Dallas into a place that more accurately reflects His Kingdom.  

SALVATION

“He defends the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and loves the foreigner residing among you, giving them food and clothing.” Deuteronomy 10:18

“The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” Zephaniah 3:17

Pray that orphans and widows/widowers will know the love of the heavenly Father.

Pray for orphans and widows/widowers to accept God’s comfort in their circumstances.

Pray for God’s protection, provision, direction and healing for those who are orphaned or widowed.

Pray for God to inspire believers to share His love and the Good News of the Gospel with orphans and widows/widowers resulting in their salvation.

Continue to pray for the salvation of people within your sphere of influence. 

DISCIPLESHIP

“This is what the Lord Almighty said: ‘Administer true justice; show mercy and compassion to one another. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the foreigner or the poor. Do not plot evil against each other.’”   Zechariah 7:9-10

“Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.” James 1:27

Pray the Church will lead the way in caring for and meeting the needs of orphans and widows/widowers in our city.

Pray for the Church to comprehend and reflect God’s heart for orphans, and for believers to be filled with compassion, making themselves available for how God wants to use them.

Pray that the Lord will give believers a personal sense of responsibility to pray for orphans and widows/widowers.

Pray that people within our city will pray about becoming a foster parent or adopting a child and/or ministering to a widow/widower.

COMMUNITY

“The Lord watches over the foreigner and sustains the fatherless and the widow, but He frustrates the ways of the wicked. ”  Psalm 146:9

“Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow..”  Isaiah 1:17

Pray for God to raise up people to fill the voids that exist in orphan and widow/widower care in our city. 

Pray that God would draw workers in these fields to Himself and that He would encourage them so that they would not grow weary in their work.

Pray for children growing up in foster care and orphanages and ask God to provide them with permanent loving families. 

Pray that widows and widowers will find a community of love and support as they mourn the loss of their loved ones. 

Pray for families who are taking care of relatives who are orphaned or widowed.  Ask the Lord to bless them for their sacrifice and to provide enough resources for all their family members’ needs.

TRANSFORMATION

“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.” Proverbs 31:8

“ Learn to do right; seek justice. Defend the oppressed. Take up the cause of the fatherless; plead the case of the widow.”

Isaiah1:17 

Pray that our government will execute policies and actions that will protect the vulnerable and provide the assistance needed by orphans and widows/widowers. 

Pray that as people care for orphans and widows/widowers they will be transformed by the power of Christ.

Pray that our city will become a place where all orphans and widows/widowers receive the love and care they need. 

Pray that a watching and skeptical world will see God’s love demonstrated through the care offered to orphans and widows/widowers.

 

The State of Foster Care

There are nearly 3,000 children in foster care in Dallas and Collin County.  Around 500 of them are awaiting adoption, and over 200 are in group homes or shelters. Over 100 will age out of foster care this year having absolutely no support after the age of 18 putting them at extreme risk for poverty, incarceration, and human trafficking.  Information provided by Buckner Children and Family Services

The following statistics are from Texans Care for Children.

http://txchildren.org/Images/Interior/reports/transitions_to_adulthood_for_texas_foster_youth.pdf 

While 70% of foster youth say they want to attend college, only 3% receive a college degree.

Foster care alumni are more than twice as likely to drop out of high school.

After four years of independence from the foster care system, only half of former foster youth hold a job.

A 2003 study found a third of foster care alumni have household incomes at or below the federal poverty level—nearly three times the national poverty rate.

Thirty percent of homeless adults report having been involved in the foster care system.

One in four former foster youth have reported symptoms of post traumatic stress disorder, compared to 4% of the general population.

Roughly 30% of foster youth who age out of care have a diagnosed mental health challenge, such as depression.

The teen birth rate for girls in foster care is twice that of the general population.

Nearly half of all girls who lived in foster care are pregnant at least once by age 19.

Among male foster youth and alumni, 30% are incarcerated by age 19.

 

For ways to engage visit:

www.unitethechurch.org

www.buckner.org

 

APRAYED4CITY JANUARY PRAYER GUIDE

APRAYED4CITY
JANUARY 2014 PRAYER GUIDE

Also, seek the peace and prosperity of the city to which I have carried you into exile. Pray to the Lord for it, because if it prospers, you too will prosper." Jeremiah 29:7

"Many, Lord, are asking, "Who will bring us prosperity?" Let the light of your face shine on us." Psalm 4:6
This month, AP4C is focusing on Greater Dallas Movement Day--a Jan. event that will kick off a 5 year city transformation process.  GDMD will feature remarkable speakers and leaders, all of whom have expertise in their field of leadership, focusing on the specific issues impacting Greater Dallas.  GDMD will be a full day of ministry and networking with other like-minded leaders from the Greater Dallas area all working together on ways to make the Kingdom of God more tangible in our city.

AP4C is asking all its covenant partners to pray during the month of Jan. for this event.  Many of the prayer requests will be applicable to all partners, but some requests will be specific to partners praying from January 1-23 and some specific to partners praying January 24-31. Please pray accordingly, but please feel welcome to pray as you are led.

It is also our prayer that God will unite the Church and use us to shape Greater Dallas into a place that more accurately reflects His Kingdom.  We hope you will join us!

                                            January 23, 2014
                             Kay Bailey Hutchinson Dallas Convention Center
                                        wwwgreaterdallasmovementday.com
_____________________________________________________________________________

SALVATION

"May they experience such perfect unity that the world will know that You sent me and that You love them as much as You love me. " John 17:23

"Truly my soul finds rest in God; my salvation comes from Him." Psalm 62:1

* Pray for receptive hearts and opened eyes to this Gospel movement.

* Pray that people would be drawn to the Lord because of our unity and love for the city which are        a reflection of His own love for them.

* Pray that a powerful spiritual awakening will grip our city.

* Pray that God will provide us with many opportunities to share Christ in 2014.

* Continue to pray for the salvation of people within your sphere of influence.

DISCIPLESHIP

"But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one." 2 Thessalonians 3:3

"Many are the plans in a person's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails." Proverbs 19:21

*  Ask God to guide those developing the GDMD content to address city issues and cast vision for
     city transformation: *keynote speakers(Dr. Timothy Keller, Dr. Albert Reyes, Dr. Bryan Carter)
     *emcee Froswa' Booker-Drew *Mayor Mike Rawlings and other panelists, *Afternoon work session designers and presenters, *Corporate prayer and worship.

*  Pray for the following event needs and the people responsible for their implementation:
     set-up and production, technical, hospitality, safety and security, logistics.

*  Pray that Christian leaders in business, government, education, healthcare, nonprofits, and churches will hear this vision and register, receive the teaching on January 23, and especially
    apply it afterward.

*  Pray that as we deepen our relationships with other leaders in government, education, business and other sectors that we will faithfully represent Christ's values of love, mercy, justice, and self-sacrifice in a gentle and attractive way.

COMMUNITY

"Now Lord consider their threats and enable Your servants to speak Your Word with great boldness.  Stretch out Your hand to heal and  perform signs and wonders through the Name of Your holy servant Jesus." Acts 4:29-39

"So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."  Isaiah 41:10

*  Pray that the ethnic, denominational, and professional diversity represented at GDMD would bring healing and reconciliation going forward.

*  Pray that leaders in cities aross the Metroplex will attend GDMD together deepening relationships between those government, education, business, nonprofit, and church leaders.

*  Pray that hundreds of marketplace leaders will attend, receive the teaching, participate n the planning, and be part of the solutions.

*  Pray the most pressing social and spiritual issues facing our communities really will be addressed.

*  Pray people will carry the message of GDMD into 2014.

TRANSFORMATION

"Sing to God, sing in praise of His Name, extol Him who rides on the clouds; rejoice before Him--His Name is the Lord. A Father to the fatherless, a Defender of widows, is God in His holy dwelling.  God sets the lonely in families, He leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land." Psalm 68:4-6

"Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come; The old has gone, the new is here!"
 2 Corinthians 5:17

*Pray for the partnerships between the marketplace, the church and the community--enabling all to come together to work toward the very significant goal of transforming Greater Dallas to reflect Christ's values.

*Pray that GDMD will lead to great spiritual transformation as well as social reform.

*  Pray that every work session would result in measurable, 1-5 year goals and action plans to ring the resources of the Christian community alongside existing structures wherever possible.

*  GDMD is being looked at by dozens of cities.  God willing, the results will be transformational, and the model will be replicated around the world.  Pray for His guidance in this.

WHY DALLAS?

Dallas is a globally significant city that is a leader in energy production, communications, and a magnet to internationals from around the world.  We have one of the fastest growing Christian populations of any US city and have an abundance of effective churches, mission agencies, Christian nonprofits and secular nonprofits led by Christians.  God has already begun to bring us together n unity. 

Despite our numbers and resources, Greater Dallas still has enormous challenges with education, poverty, hunger, etc. which we have been looking at in the AP4C Prayer Guides over the past year:

*   Nearly 90% of DISD graduates cannot start college without some form of remedial education
     in core subjects.

*  The Metroplex has the nation's 3rd greatest disparity between rich and poor of any American city, according to a new analysis from the Pew Research Center.

*  44% of DFW's population is 1st or 2nd generation immigrant.  We are the largest recipient of refugees of any Metroplex in the nation.

As we begin a New Year, we thank you for your commitment to pray with AP4C during 2013 and we look forward to praying with our covenant partners n the new year.

God has done many signs and wonders this past year and we look forward with hope for what He will do in 2014!

May God bless you and yours and Happy New Year.

"Forget the former things; don not dwell on the past. See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?  I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland."  Isaiah 43:18-19 

*

APRAYED4CITY December 2013 prayer guide

Thank you all for praying.   This is such a busy time of the year but the needs are great.

 

APRAYED4CITY PRAYER GUIDE DECEMBER 7, 2013

“This is how the birth of Jesus the Messiah came about: His mother, Mary, was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be pregnant through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph, her husband, was faithful to the law, and yet did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a Son, and you are to give Him the name Jesus, because He will save His people from their sins.” All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet: “The virgin will conceive and give birth to a Son, and they will call Him Immanuel” (which means “God with us”). When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he did not consummate their marriage until she gave birth to a son. And he gave Him the name Jesus.” Matthew 1: 18-25

“In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to their own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped Him in cloths and placed Him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.”  Luke 2:1-7

During the month of December, AP4C is celebrating the Savior’s birth. May the blessings of hope, joy, love, and peace be yours this Christmas.  Merry Christmas from AP4C!

SALVATION

The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and they will call Him  Immanuel (which means “God with us”). Matthew 1:23

“For my eyes have seen your salvation, which you have prepared in the sight of all nations: a light for revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of your people Israel.” Luke 2:30-32

Praise God for His gift of salvation that is celebrated at Christmas!

Pray that those who do not attend church regularly will go to church this Christmas—will hear the gospel clearly proclaimed. 

Pray that those who do not know Christ as Savior will find the greatest  gift of all—Jesus and His salvation.

Continue to pray for the salvation of people within your sphere of influence. 

DISCIPLESHIP

The Word became flesh and made His dwelling among us. We have seen His glory, the glory of the one and only Son, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth.” John 1:14

“On coming to the house, they saw the child with His mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.” Matthew 2:11

Pray for churches, ministries and organizations as they prepare and execute their Christmas services and outreaches to the city, proclaiming God’s love and gift of Jesus.

Pray for God to restore to His Church the Hope, Joy, Love and Peace of Christ’s coming to earth.

Pray that believers will give sacrificially to help others during the Christmas season.

COMMUNITY

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom His favor rests.’” Luke 2:13-14

“The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen, which were just as they had been told.” Luke 2:20

Pray for God’s protection for all who are traveling during the Christmas holidays.

Pray for God’s presence and comfort to be felt by individuals this Christmas season who have lost loved ones this year.

Pray for those who are separated from family and friends this Christmas.

Pray that God will open doors to believers to share their faith as they share the love of Christmas within their community.

TRANSFORMATION

For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on His shoulders. And He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the greatness of His government and peace there will be no end. He will reign on David’s throne and over his kingdom, establishing and upholding it with justice and righteousness from that time on and forever. The zeal of the Lord Almighty will accomplish this.” Isaiah 9:6-7

“May all kings bow down to Him and all nations serve Him.” Isaiah 11:1

Pray for God to release a spiritual awakening in our city during this Christmas season as people share the love of Christ.

Pray that individuals will be able to openly celebrate Christmas in their places of education and employment.

Pray that individuals and families would avoid getting caught up in the commercial aspects of the season, and will focus on the true meaning of Christmas.

10 Ways to Keep Christ in Christmas        By Mary Fairchild

Excerpts taken from christianity.about.com

Keeping Christ in Christmas means daily revealing the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells in you, by allowing these traits to shine through your actions. Here are simple ways to keep Christ the central focus of your life this Christmas season.

1) Give God one very special gift just from you to Him. Let this gift be something personal that no one else needs to know about, and let it be a sacrifice.

2) Set aside a special time to read the Christmas story in Luke 1:5-56 through 2:1-20. Consider reading this account with your family and discussing it together.

3) Set up a Nativity scene in your home.

4) Plan a project of good will this Christmas. Find someone with a genuine need, involve your whole family and see how happy you can make someone this Christmas.

5) Take a group Christmas caroling in a nursing home or a children's hospital.

6) Give a surprise gift of service to each member of your family. Jesus taught us to serve by washing the disciples feet. He also taught us that it is "more blessed to give than to receive." Acts 20:35 (NIV) The idea of giving an unexpected gift of service to members of your family is to demonstrate Christ-like love and service. Make it personal and meaningful and watch the blessings multiply.

7) Set aside a time of family devotions on Christmas Eve or Christmas morning. Before opening the gifts, take a few minutes to gather together as a family in prayer and devotions. Read a few Bible verses and discuss as a family the true meaning of Christmas.

8) Attend a Christmas church service together with your family. If you are alone this Christmas or don't have family living near you, invite a friend or a neighbor to join you.

9) Send Christmas cards that convey a spiritual message. This is an easy way to share your faith at Christmastime. If you've already bought the reindeer cards—no problem! Just write a Bible verse and include a personal message with each card.

10) Write a Christmas letter to a missionary. Many missionaries are unable to travel home for the holidays, so it can be a very lonely time for them. Write a special Christmas letter to a missionary of your choice, thanking them for giving their life in service to the Lord.