A Word of Reflection from Mark Peterkins, ACCI’s Chairman of the Board I have fond memories of learning to drive a car at age 17. Like most young people today, I took driving lessons. It was so exciting to learn how to safely operate a vehicle. During in-car lessons, it
ACCI's blog
Father’s day is celebrated on the 19th of June in many countries, but not all of them. There are actually five different possible dates, depending on the country you live in. In many Catholic countries it is celebrated on the day of Saint Joseph (19th of March), with a clear reference
by Jeanne Hedrick My prayer partners and I begin each year picking a word we want to learn more about and experience at a deeper level. Last year my word was “gratitude” and boy did it deliver! Knowing myself to be a “glass half-empty” person, I knew I needed to
A faith journey to Italy When Caleb Earle was 17, he went on his first mission trip to a summer camp in Torre Pellice, in Italy. He didn’t know it yet, but it would serve as a pivotal moment in his life. Caleb recalls, “I immediately felt a calling to
Saved in order to do good For Pino Manganiello and his wife, Gabriella Multari, who are based in Italy, their missionary journey has been defined and guided by Paul’s message In Titus 3:8, “This is a trustworthy saying. And I want you to stress these things, so that those who
“For what we proclaim is not ourselves, but Jesus Christ as Lord, with ourselves as your servants for Jesus’ sake.” 2 Corinthians 4:5 “The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us.” John’s words about Jesus’ coming on this earth are one the loftiest revelations we can find
In these past weeks and months, as the pandemic has gained momentum, and while struggling through the unrest and pain in my country, I began running out of human words as I pray. Over and over again, I found myself pleading, “Come, Lord Jesus.” I’ve felt a desperation for Jesus’
Breaking the mold In Thailand, it is said, “to be Thai is to be Buddhist.” Generations have reinforced the connection between Buddhism and Thai culture making Thailand the most Buddhist nation on earth. Much of the nation’s culture, holidays, and customs revolve around Buddhism. Thais have a custom for moving
My entire adult life has been joyfully invested and spent in ACCI’s work. Now, almost 18 years later, I still feel green and new, just like my first day on the job. Not a day goes by when I’m not aware that this is all much bigger than I am.
Mark Twain once said, “The Creator made Italy from designs by Michelangelo.” Italy dangles her charm and beauty so gracefully that when she opens her mouth, opera flows out. She carries riches heavy in culture, history, art, architecture, fashion, and food that few can claim. Her canvas offers a stunning
Not by Might or Power When you hike up the Slovenian Alps located in the northwestern part of the country, two-thousand-meter-high snow-capped mountains rise above you, and below are forests and valleys with glacial lakes and rivers of stunning emerald green color that dance and sparkle. It is all very
Daniel Kort’s life has been shaped by paper. It first started when he was 14 and received a card from his Sunday school teacher that said the Lord has a special plan for his life. The words on that paper took permanent residence in his thoughts and planted an unwavering
Pioneering It is 8,000 km from Dominican Republic to Italy and Mariela, at 24, felt like a pioneer when she first stepped foot in Italy. In many ways, she was. At that time, her country often hosted American missionaries who preached the gospel, but it had been unheard of to
“Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.” 2 Corinthians 9:15 In reading this verse, we often focus on our perspective – how the gift of Christ has given us new life. Rightfully so, we celebrate how that gift has impacted us like no other gift. However, what if
“God is love” (1 John 4:16), but as His children we find it hard to love others in the same unconditional way God loves us. Sometimes it’s because we’re unwilling to pay the high price of that kind of sacrificial love. But there’s another reason too. If we haven’t learned
But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I bring you good news of great joy which will be for all the people.” – Luke 2:10 (NASB) Living in North America, it’s an ongoing challenge to resist our culture’s constant influences to live for ourselves.
“Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.” Ephesians 4:3 “Leave me alone! Leave me in peace!” we say, sometimes with little respect, when we are fed up and tired of putting up with a difficult person or situation. We somehow think that
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. It’s in the place of desperation and devastation that hope becomes vital and real. When life
I took a flight from my home city of Charlotte to Minneapolis today. After proceeding through the security check points, I chose a fast food restaurant and bought a meal. I sat up at a counter alone (ahem… it’s cold and flu season) and scrolled through my emails and
My state of South Carolina is getting ready for a BIG event. This month, a total solar eclipse will take place. Our home is within its 70 mile-wide path and the very best viewing metro location on the East Coast (Columbia) is just one hour away. For 2 minutes and
A new devotional from Jeanne Hedrick (ACCI Europe) Prayer seems to be both a blessing and a burden for Christians. We love the idea of it – to have access to the living God at any moment — but we struggle with how poorly we execute our privilege. And in
Written by Jeanne Hedrick Have you ever run across a Bible verse that sets you back, making you wonder what on earth the writer is saying? Some of these are the result of culture. Being from the West, we just don’t understand Eastern expressions and ways of thinking. Other times,
Written by Jeanne Hedrick When you’re a people pleaser like me, truthfully replying to a question can be hard. What do you want me to say? runs through my mind before I even formulate my answer. Admitting this is embarrassing. As a follower of Jesus I know what Scripture says:
Building castles takes a lot of energy. Middle age castles could take decades and hundreds of people to build. They were made to last for a very long time and to resist every kind of attack. Nevertheless, they were conquered and destroyed. They were fortresses and houses at the same
The business of missions is an important component of ministry that is often overlooked. For every missionary serving on the field with ACCI (69 currently), there is a committed office staff and board of directors who are dedicated to making sure government regulations are met, financial processes are taken care
The old is gone and the new is launched! We are pleased to introduce you to our new ACCI website. It has been completed largely through the expertise and hard work of Francesco Abortivi, ACCI’s European Director. Like all of the ACCI staff, Francesco is self-supporting to keep costs down for our
by Jeanne Hedrick Approaching the Temple Mount in Jerusalem today holds none of the visual splendor enjoyed by the pilgrims in Jesus’ day. We stood in line at the base of a long staircase coming out of the Jewish sector of the old city, waiting to be admitted at the
by Jeanne Hedrick In October I traveled to Israel and got to see with my own eyes the places I’ve just read about in the Bible. When I experienced for myself the barrenness of the southern desert region I could understand better how hard it must have been for the