|
In June, ACCTS' China Team took cadets from West Point and Valley Forge Military Academy to Japan and China for an ACCTS Exploration Asia (AEA) trip. AEA is a program that exposes cadets to Christians from Asian cultures, introduces them to the idea of international military ministry, and helps them start to view their military careers as a calling from God. The Nanjing Aviators Association is a Chinese entity devoted to honoring the Chinese, Soviet, and US aviators who fought the Japanese during WWII. The team leader for this year's AEA reports:
Greetings from rainy Shanghai; 2 week ACCTS AEA trip with USMA and VFMA cadets has ended successfully.
Praises:
- No injuries of any kind, but a taxi in which cadets were riding had a fender-bender.
- No one experienced intestinal (or other) sickness!
- Program ran under budget due to repeated unscheduled / unexpected Chinese hospitality and generosity.
- ACCTS (Love the World) was referenced in two media accounts related to Nanjing activity, all positively speaking of service.
Other news items:
- As we entered the US Embassy in Tokyo,
our future escort recognized
the cadet whose father is a pastor in Monterrey. The escort had attended the father's church while at the Naval Postgraduate School, and the cadet had been a Sunday school helper who had taught the escort's son! The escort joined us for dinner as he was in need of encouragement and Christian fellowship. He was excited to learn about ACCTS and looks forward to ministering with us in the future.
-
We signed a Letter of Intent with the Nanjing Aviators Association (NAA), definitely the result of ACCTS' multi-year visits, open and honest communication, and servant approach. The letter gives them political support for their work with us, and helps avoid roadblocks in coordinating approvals. They desire repeated and larger programs for getting NAA families together to see connections grow. They openly acknowledge our Christian character, and value our honest faithfulness to God in attending church together. 
- Two cadets were inspired to serve in Asia (both drew on family roots), spiritual growth quite possibly occurred in both.
- Clear advancement of VFMA commitment to this program.. Chinese cadet leadership is positioned for next two years of influence there. The National Prayer Breakfast will continue to be a portion of the annual cycle of how VFMA engages Chinese ministry with ACCTS.
- One USMA Cadet expressed interest in ACCTS and will spend the next three years under leadership influence of the new OCF field rep at USMA. God has created new opportunities to elevate ACCTS in lives of USMA OCF cadets.
- Passed out eight audio Bibles and shared the love of God and the hope we have in Jesus.
- Made friends with grandson (30 something) of a Chinese man who graduated from Colorado College in 1926. The CO history teacher who discovered and made this family connection is himself the grandson of Sam Houston! What a story!.
- Chinese trip host saw cadets both at his house in Beijing (for a great dinner) and again in Shanghai in a fabulous meeting room in a house once owned by Soong Meiling, Chiang Kaishek's wife. He looks forward to continuing support of the AEA itineraries.
- 24 USAFA cadets on language study in Nanjing interacted with us a short while, marking the beginning of a USAFA / AEA connection.
Pray that the seeds planted on this trip will bloom and grow, and that the good news of Jesus Christ will contine to spread in China.
|
