"We are joyful, serious, open, and Spirited - come walk with us."
Mission Trips
ACC supports mission trips for both individuals and groups. Our most recent trip consisted of eight members and friends who traveled to For His Children, which runs two large children's homes in Ecuador. On the 10-day visit in the summer of 2010, our mission team fed and cared for children in the cities of Quito and Latacunga. Many of the children have disabilities, so the staff welcomes extra hands. We pitched in on whatever was needed, which included some painting, woodwork, and other projects to improve and maintain the facilities. We also prepared a Bible study lesson and crafts activity, which we delivered to three groups of school-age children. Part of the joy in the trip was the bonding between team members, which started prior to the trip as we planned the Bible study lesson.
Missionary Support
We are pleased to support the work of Jeffrey Mensendiek through Global Ministries (www.globalministries.org), a joint United Church of Christ and Disciples of Christ organization focused on justice, peace, and poverty issues.
The son of missionaries, Mensendiek grew up in Japan. He works to promote a culture of inclusion and tolerance and speaks against militarism in contemporary Japan. He works for justice, with particular outreach to the victims of radiation in the Fukushima nuclear disaster.
CROP Hunger Walk
The struggle against world hunger is a major concern at ACC. We participate annually in the Pasadena area CROP Hunger Walk to raise funds for Church World Service. Their goal is to eradicate hunger and poverty and to promote peace and justice around the world. Not bad for an afternoon's stroll around Pasadena!
The money raised by the walk supports grassroots development projects around the world and immediate disaster relief, with 25% earmarked for local organizations, such as our ACTS Food Pantry. Though our church is one of the smaller groups involved in the walk, we consistently rank among the top contributors.
For His Children
Over 15 years ago, Clark and Melinda Vaughn and their two school-aged children felt God's call to leave California and start an orphanage in Quito, Ecuador. We are excited to partner with the Vaughns and caring people throughout the world to make For His Children ("FHC") a loving place for abandoned children. Several of our members have traveled to Ecuador to bring supplies to FHC, to work as volunteers holding babies, and help care for special needs children. FHC now serves over 70 children, including a second facility in Latacunga, Ecuador. To find out how you can sponsor a child who is waiting for a "forever family" or support our mission trips to Ecuador, call the church office.
Bread for the World
Bread for the World is a collective Christian voice urging our nation's decision makers to end hunger at home and abroad. Confronting the problem of hunger can seem overwhelming. What can we do? Plenty. Bread for the World members: write personal letters and emails to our members of Congress, meet with our Congressional representatives, and pray for an end to hunger and poverty.
Relay for Life
ACC sends a team each year to participate in Relay for Life. At this 24-hour event in Farnsworth Park, members camp out or come and go, walking in turn to raise money and awareness for the American Cancer Society's work. Walking between the home-made lumenarias that line the path, talking quietly, or listening to music, you feel the spirit of this event. With Relay for Life, we celebrate the lives of people who have battled cancer, remember loved ones lost, and help in the fight against this disease.