The Purposes of ACFI
Shine
First and foremost, we exist to glorify God. We seek to shine with His light. We strive to be the city set on a hill, the light that is NOT hid under a basket. We seek to shine for God in all that we do, and especially in our worship of Him.
In order to shine, we must be light. "Light" is a result of an encounter between energy and matter. Many elements come together to produce light. When many lights are joined together, they produce a magnificent and glittering brightness. Darkness is diminished and light is profoundly abundant, and God is glorified.
The life we live is a journey. The destiny is God; and, "God is light and in Him there is no darkness" (I John 1:5). Jesus described God's people as the "light of the world" (Matthew 5:14). This means that we are the custodians of the light to mankind. The responsibility to bring that light into the spiritual darkness of the world rests upon us (Matthew 5:15). Jesus also commanded us to shine by reflecting that light for others to see (Matthew 5:16).
As we journey in God and through God, it is expedient for us to remember that the "Light" we bear is meant for all mankind. A cooperative and collective reflection of the light will produce sufficient "Light" for all. Jesus prayed for this venture; (John 17:21-23) and, we are also reminded by the Apostle John when he declared:
That which we have seen and heard declare we unto you that ye also may have fellowship with us: and truly our fellowship is with the Father, and with his son Jesus Christ". (I John 1:3)
Blessed be God, the Father and our Lord Savior Jesus Christ, who by His grace has called us to His marvelous "Light" and fellowship and commanded us to shine, to bring redemption and life to the lost. To Him be Glory and Honor!
Serve
The second purpose of ACFI is to serve. Why is this second? Jesus himself commanded it. When asked, "What is the greatest commandment?" Jesus answered, "To love the Lord your God." (That's why we seek to shine for Him - our first purpose.) He then went on to say, "And the second greatest commandment is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself." From this we draw our second purpose - to serve our fellow man.
ACFI implements its commitment to serve in the following three ministries:
Send
When you are leaving your husband or wife to make a trip, often the last things you say to them are the most important.
- "Don't forget to pick up the children!"
- "Drive safely"
"I love you"
How fortunate we are to have Jesus' last words to us, His beloved, just before He was taken up to His Father. And what did he say? "Go into all the world and make disciples." Brothers and sisters, we are SENT. This is ACFI's 3rd purpose - to evanglize.
In the changing political climate on the African continent, one characteristic remains common: A strong nationalism that leads to rejection of Western ideas and thoughts. For this reason the work of indigenous missions like ACFI in reaching out to our own people is critical. When Africans see their own people transformed by the love of Christ, they are more willing to accept the truth of the Gospel than if they hear it from westerners.
Over the years western missionaries have endeavored to evangelize the continent of Africa. The enterprise has been very costly. In addition to the need for regular upkeep, there is an enormous expense for language and cross-cultural training as well as the need for personal effects and transportation. However, it is unfortunate that the effort has produced few significant results due to many barriers including language, culture and lifestyle among others. When indigenous missionaries reach out to their own people, far-reaching results may be achieved with far less expense.
Indigenous missionaries are of the same language, culture and lifestyle of those they are trying to reach with the Gospel. In contrast to the $5000 monthly support often needed to maintain a western missionary family, it requires as little as $100 monthly support to maintain an indigenous missionary family. ACFI is therefore God's answer to reach Africa by training and sending dedicated spirit-filled indigenous workers. To God be the Glory!
ACFI seeks to implement our third purpose through our evangelism and church planting mininstry.Strengthen
The second word Jesus spoke to us before he was taken up instructed us to make disciples. This is our fourth purpose. We must strengthen new believers in order that they may become fully-devoted followers of Jesus - true disciples. The number of so-called Christians in Africa has reached 52 percent but the figure includes nominal Christians who have retained old practices of idolatry, witchcraft, spiritism, ancestor worship, all while claiming the label "Christian". In addition, or in place of, the old tribal religion, other Africans have embraced liberation theology -- a humanistic stance which mistakes political liberation for salvation. In still other cases, modern African theology borrows from old African religions and ends up espousing such doctrines as universalism. In some cases, liberation theology and apostasy have crept into once Bible-believing denominations. Who is better to counter these errors and strengthen local believers than consecrated indigenous workers, called of God and annointed for service? Strengthening local believers through discipleship is ACFI's third purpose (Romans 8:28).
ACFI seeks to implement our fourth purpose through our Christian education ministry.
Our Beginnings
ACFI was started by Reverand T. Edward Kofi. As a youth Reverend Kofi was led to Christ through the evangelistic ministry of entrepreueur R. G. LeTourneau, who at the time set up a missionary enterprise at Baffu Bay, Liberia. In 1980 Kofi surrendered to the call of God to full time Gospel ministry. He had a burden for the salvation of thousands of villagers in rural Liberia and the urban slums. Reverend Kofi then launched an extensive evangelistic movement throughout Liberia which brought thousands of lost souls to Christ and helped establish many churches. This effective Gospel movement became African Christians Fellowship International (ACFI). The vision is to preach the Gospel to every lost soul on the African continent and to the world as a whole.
How ACFI Functions
African Christians Fellowship International is administered by the Holy Spirit through consecrated spirit-filled Elders who also provide oversight and spiritual covering (I Peter 5:1-5). Structured within the framework of Ephesians 4:11, "And He gave some Apostles, and some Prophets, and some Evangelists, and some Pastors and Teachers". ACFI adhere to plurality of leadership. The Elders are committed and accountable to one another and the body of the Church (I Peter 5:2,5). You can find our doctrinal statement here.
ACFI/U.S. and Canada
African Christians Fellowship International has been chartered to provide adequate representation of the ministry in the U.S. ACFI is tax-exempt, non-profit organization in the U.S. which seeks expedite contacts between the African and American church. An ACFI US Board has been appointed and offices established in Lancaster, South Carolina. Members of the Board are reputable and dedicated Christians drawn from across the U.S. The primary responsibility of the Board is to facilitate the work of ACFI in the U.S.
An ACFI Board for Canada has also been established, and Revenue Canada has been petitioned for incorporation and tax exemption as a charitable Church Mission Agency. The Board consists of five dedicated Christians (all volunteers) from various provinces across Canada. Meanwhile, Northside Church, Vanderhoof, BC has volunteered to handle ACFI interests in Canada until Revenue Canada approval is received.