ACU taking pro-active steps to be a leader in Christian Missions For Immediate Release Nov. 15, 1999 ABILENE - The Department of Missions at Abilene Christian University is taking pro-active steps to become a leader in Christian missions, Dr. Charles Stelding, ACU missionary-in-residence, said. Throughout the semester, a number of activities are conducted to help students and those interested in missions learn more about what is happening in the mission field as well as how they can be involved in the mission work. Missions Chapel is conducted around the globe in the Biblical Studies Building every Friday at 11 a.m., while "breakout chapels" for continental interest groups are conducted every Thursday at 11 a.m. in various locations on campus. A "Women in Missions" luncheon is conducted three times every semester while continental interest group meetings are conducted every Sunday at 7:30 p.m. in the homes of Missionaries-in Residence or missions faculty. The Department of Missions also hosts the Summer Seminar in Missions, which is an intense two weeks of missions study and preparation, every summer. The dates for the next seminar is May 29 - June 9 and June 12-23. In conducting these chapels, luncheons and seminars, the Missions Department hopes to inform students and churches about the current trends as well as keep the old ideas which seem to be working. "We like to exchange ideas and get appropriate responses from students and churches," Stelding said. The many trends in missionary work include placing multi-national teams in certain countries, sending missionaries to nations that Christian missionaries have not gone to before and team and individual assessment of the work done before and after trips. Another trend in Christian missions is meeting people in their society and helping the Christian faith grow within that society. ACU is fostering these trends in many ways. The multi-national teams are preparing to go to the Balkan regions, while another group is preparing to enter the Nairobi society and help the Christian faith grow there. Dr. Sonny Guild is the faculty facilitator for the Missions Assessment Center at ACU "With a holistic approach of the Gospel working throughout all facets of the society, the Christian missionary can have a great impact in the world today," Stelding said.   -30- Archived News Releases - Current ACU News and Events If you are a member of the media who would like more information about this release, please contact Tom Craig, director of media and community relations, at craigt@acu.edu or call 915-674-2692 (cell phone: 665-5469). Last update: Nov. 15, 1999 This page is maintained by Tom Craig, craigt@acu.edu. http://www.acu.edu/events/news/991115-missions.html