ACTS MINISTRY

Executive Director
Joanna ILBOUDO, tells about the beginning of ACTS. Read about ACTS formation...
Then, read Joanna's vision for the poor...

Join ACTS Facebook Friends

ACTS Tweets

PUBLISHING AND SEMINARS HELD BY ACTS' Editions Contact

One of the ways ACTS upholds the rights of the poor is by publishing books and holding training seminars.

text

ACTS publishing program provides materials for programs at the ACTS Center. But there are other publishing projects such as a magazine for the general readers called Contact and books for the Christian readers on church history, growth and leadership. Other booklets deal with safety and health issues for families. Books are published in various local dialects and French.

The book at the right relates the story of the Good Samaritan and then applies principles from the story to realities in village life. It is a story of compassion and love for those who are hurting. When village groups use this book, there are many parallels for in depth study. Groups discuss the plight of those left behind when a family member dies of AIDS.

During the year, ACTS regularly holds seminars on how to effectively use literature to inform and train the poor. These seminars, held in various places, serve individuals from several language groups.

Seminar for community leaders and pastors

Church leaders, pastors and community mobilizers met to learn how to effectively use literature to transform lives.

A large group of Mooré speaking pastors, church leaders and community mobilizers met at the ACTS Center compound. They learned how to use ACTS publications in their work with the poor. ACTS staff and volunteer workers showed the group how the effectively use the books to encourage community development on various fronts.

For example, one session was held on how to use the books to instruct individuals who are illiterate. The group asked for more training sessions.

Books published by Editions Contact include Mobilizing the Church, Microcredit, HIV/AIDS, Community Cooperation and Safe Storage of Grain and other Foodstuffs. These assist church leaders and others who work with the poor.

A few participants of the recent training session gave testimony to the assistance given by ACTS publications and training sessions.

Pastor Jean Baptiste

jean_baptist

“I am young but I can see that this way of equipping church leaders is an innovation.

“This kind of ministry did not exist before. It empowers the church. We are privileged to benefit from such a ministry.

“Because of the hard work done by ACTS to provide us with tools to help our people, the people will respect and honor us in the villages where we are serving the Lord. We are thankful to God for ACTS work in the district of Komsilga.”

Salamata Koanda,
a women’s leader and a widow

salamata_k

“This training session on how to use ACTS books that contribute to empowerment both physically and spiritually has opened my eyes and enriched me. I believe we would receive even greater benefits from another session.”

Pastor Benjamin

benjamin

“We are thankful for this initiative of training us as leaders; because we are ‘pillars’ in our churches and community.

“The topics we examined during the training equip us to be more efficient in what we are doing and we thank God for opening the way for us to learn about ACTS literature.”

Kafando Justine, a women’s leader
“My mind was opened by this training session. I can say that this training was organized just for me.

“What I learnt equips me to be effective in my role in the church and the community.”

This year ACTS is planning to go in 4 different districts to meet pastors and women’s leaders as we have done in Komsilga, always with the same objective, empower them with the written word in their own local languages.