ACTS TEAMS: A Lasting Impact

by Haley Day, Global Reach Missionary, USA Southwest

Advancing Christ Through Service: Short-term intergenerational teams seek to grow closer to God, experience the Gospel at work in different cultures, and see missions as part of everyday life.

I grew up in the church and was very involved with all the “church” activities—VBS, youth group, church camp. While they all held important roles in my walk with Christ, nothing changed my life and put me on fire for God more than my ACTS Team trips. My first ACTS Team was when I was 14. It was the first time I visited the Southwest, USA and I immediately fell in love with the people, the culture, and the landscape. It was eyeopening for me to experience how within the United States, people could live and worship so differently from me. I went home with an experience and with knowledge that no book, class, or Bible study could have provided me. The next year, I went on two ACTS Teams, and after that, I spent three more summers on ACTS Teams.

They helped me want to do more in my own church and to reach out into my own community. By going out of my comfort zone and what was familiar to me, I learned that as important as it is to reach the ends of the earth, it’s also imperative that we are reaching the lost in our own communities. This led me down a path to taking leadership roles in my church, an internship leading youth and family ministries, and eventually to seminary and my current position as a missionary through the CGGC in the place that started it all.

Needless to say, ACTS Teams are a huge part of our ministry here in Gamerco. This past summer, the ACTS Team kicked off our summer after being on hiatus in 2020. They began the trip with a prayer drive through the local communities—praying for people, businesses, and churches. Then, they helped clean up the church’s park to host an end-of-school-year celebration for the kids and families in the community. Each year is a little bit different, and projects are usually curated around the team members’ unique skills and the current needs of the church and community. Here is a short testimony from Ellie, a member of the 2021 Southwest ACTS team:

“Going on the ACTS trip enabled me to familiarize myself with the missions of the CGGC in a hands-on and meaningful way. I was able to make connections with the congregants at the Gamerco Church of God, the missionaries, the trip leaders, and other participants. The ACTS trip allowed me to serve God as a part of a team. Even though we did not know each other at the beginning of the trip, we parted as family!”

Come be a part of an ACTS Team!

ACTS Teams are for everyone—young, old, new to the faith, and life-long Christians! If you’ve ever felt called to serve on a short-term mission team or are feeling a pull to step out of your comfort zone, there’s never been a better opportunity. Each mission field is unique and presents its own opportunities for the team that God will gather together. Be on the lookout for the ACTS 2022 brochure at your church or visit https://cggc.org/ministryareas/global-reach/missionary-detail/acts-teams/ for more info and to fill out an application!

2022 ACTS Teams

Argentina June 9 - 16, 2022 - $1,900 - Led by Caleb & Christina Acosta

Southwest, USA Navajo - June 21 - 30, 2022 - $995 - Led by Kendall & Donna Hughes

Nicaragua July 7 - 14, 2022 - $1,400 - Led by Caleb & Christina Acosta