Tell us what you have learned by participating in a mission trip?

by Brooke Cole
2011-2012 Acteens State Panelist

           Over the summer, I chose to serve as a summer missionary with the North American Mission Board. I was chosen to serve on the Maryland/Delaware State Traveling Team. Maryland was not my first choice for several reasons. I wanted to serve at a church near my home so that I could visit my parents and friends on the weekends. When I first found out that I was going to Maryland, I was a bit disappointed (in fact, I think I cried). Two months was a really long time to be gone, and I wasn’t even sure where Maryland was! I seriously considered not going on the trip. I was scared. After a lot of thought and prayer, I decided that God chose me for this trip for a reason and that I was going to trust Him every step of the way.

            When the morning came for me to leave, we packed up the car with my two duffel bags that I would be surviving with for two months. Saying good-bye to my parents was no easy task, but I managed. Then I waited all alone for my flight. I was going into uncharted territory, trusting people I had never even met and going places I had never been. I’m a country girl and I was about to enter a very big city. I was the first of my teammates to land in Baltimore. When we had all met one another, I kept thinking that it was going to be a very long summer. Imagine four young women who had never even met spending every moment of their lives together for the next two months. It was a daunting thought. But we survived. We became a family. God has a reason for everything, even if you don’t see the big picture. It is not always easy to put your trust in Him, but I promise, it’s worth it!

Tell us what makes Acteens different from other things in your life church?

by Miko Bloom
  2011-2012 Acteens State Panelists

Acteens is one of the few Youth activites at my church.  Acteens is a place where girls work on projects and take lead of other mission projects.  Acteens is so different because how many places do you know of where teenage girls are put in charge of putting projects together?  Not very many.  When most people see a group of girls working together they usually think they are causing trouble, but at Acteens they are just trying to make the place we live a better place.  Acteens is so differnt in so many ways. Girls working with other girls to build friendships, worship, and service for others. These things can really make a change in our souroundings and the people we encounter everyday.

Tell us what you have learned on Acteens Activator’s Trip

by Alyssa Hargrove

2011-2012 Acteens State Panelists

Last summer I had the opportunity to go to Naples, Italy on a mission trip, along with 59 other people from Tennessee, to share the gospel to the people there. That mission trip really opened my eyes to many different things and changed my heart forever.

Naples is a very large and packed city with four million people in the city. Only a small percentage is Christians, while most people are Catholic. Most of the people are Catholic because of their ancestors, not necessarily because they want to be. It’s just as if that’s the common thing to be there. The families there are so close that when one becomes a Christian they almost get disowned from their families. Unlike us, where most people would be excited for us. This really opened my eyes because I’m very close to my family. I would be sad to think my own family would disown me for making the best decision of my life.

When in Italy my only fear was the language barrier. I knew very little Italian. I almost felt weak. How can God use me to witness to these people? God really did prove me wrong! Even though we didn’t speak the same language, we understood one another in some way! And even if we never understood each other, I know the Italians saw Jesus’ love through us.

I learned that God can use me! I just have to be willing to let Him use me.

Connection 2012

We are well on our way planning for Connection 2012!  I look forward to what God will do in each girls life that attends!  If you have never been before this is the year to start!  Leigh Gray will share with us from her heart during Bible Study and Cindy Johnson will lead us in song!  They are both fantastic women of God that will have tranformational things to say! 

Conferences this year are coming together and back by popular demand are leaders like Sarah Valley, who will be taking on a new role as a conference leader, and Jeff and Rachel Henry, and the fabulous Shingletons!  We are expecting great missionary speakers to share with us their experiences from around the world!

Again this year we have the great opportunity to be a part of offering at Connection for the TN WMU to build a missionary house.  Missionary houses are used by career missionaries that are state side in the US! 

Now that you are convinced you have to be there, here is a link to register!!  (or you can just read more information that will help convince you)

Connection Registration and Information

Pictures from last year: