association for christian conferences, teaching and service

What is ACCTS?

ACCTS is an organization dedicated to encouraging and helping Christians around the world reach spiritual maturity and become effective communicators of the gospel. This effort is directed primarily, but not exclusively, towards the armed forces. ACCTS is an integral part of the global Association of Military Christian Fellowships (AMCF).

Rear Admiral Serapio Martillano of the Philippines, then Vice President of the AMCF for South East Asia with Helen and Russell Bielenberg and Joan Davis, Judith Miller and Erica Brown, Associates of the British Officers' Christian Union at the meeting of AMCF officers and ACCTS staff at Sunbury, UK, March 1997.

What is ACCTS' Mission?

The Mission statement of ACCTS is to assist in the development of Christian leaders in the armed forces of the world and in the establishment and growth of military Christian fellowships.

ACCTS South West Pacific Ministry

ACCTS' south west Pacific ministry was originally directed by CAPT Chuck Piersee, USN, and his wife Carol, assisted by LtCol Don Snow and his wife Jonie. Chuck and Carol handed over to LTCOL Russell Bielenberg AM (RL) and his wife Helen in 1995.

Russell and Helen are well qualified for this responsibility:

• During the period July 1972 to October 1981 Russell was Honorary Secretary of the Officers' Christian Fellowship of Australia, and was Chairman for the following two years. Helen was constantly at his side and accompanied him on the many visits they made to OCF members around Australia.

• In 1980 he and Helen made a two month trip to seven countries of South America on behalf of ACCTS making and following up Christian contacts within the armed forces.

• It was early in 1990 that Russell became the permanent part-time Staff Worker for the Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) of Australia, working in that position until August 1994. That work involved writing a bimonthly newsletter and prayer calendar, supporting the governing Council, writing resource material and maintaining contact with some 50 Area Representatives around Australia to provide them with resources and encouragement, including some visits. In 1994 he made visits to Defence installations in the Northern Territory, Wagga Wagga and Moorebank, NSW. He also maintained contact with members of similar organisations overseas, and occasionally made visits to them. In 1993, for example, he and Helen visited Christian servicemen in Tonga and New Zealand.

• It was Russell and Helen's long association with overseas Military Christian Fellowships which led them to participate in and help coordinate a World Conference of the Association of Military Christian Fellowships (AMCF - www.amcf-int.org ) in Virginia, USA, in 1994, following which they travelled once more in Spain, encouraging and helping them to reorganise their association. Following that visit Russell and Helen were accepted as full time staff for ACCTS, with particular responsibility for the south-west Pacific and Spain.

• Since early 1995 they have undertaken ministry trips within the south west Pacific to Fiji, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands and Vanuatu, as well as to Cuba, Thailand and the Philippines, countries outside their normal area of responsibility. In 1999 they visited the Commander of the UN force in southern Lebanon and some of the Fijian troops serving there. These visits are in addition to those made to their other area of responsibility, Spain. (See below.)

• In 1997 they set up, coordinated and made presentations at a program called "Interaction", a two week training program for foreign military Christians, run in Australia for the first time. Delegates attended from the Philippines, another Asian country, Vanuatu, Fiji and New Zealand. The delegates from Vanuatu were so encouraged and learnt so much that they presented their modification of the program to their own police force in aspects of leadership, inductive Bible study, personal testimony preparation and delivery, goal setting, and delegation. Here is a photo of a worship time:

• In 2000 ACCTS staff members Chuck and Carol Piersee and Don and Jonie Snow together with Russell and Helen formed a Mobile Training Team which travelled to Vanuatu to run a week long training program similar to Interaction at the request of the Deputy Commissioner of Police, Mr Holi Simon.

• The Bielenbergs continue to minister in Australia as they are able. In particular, each year they sponsor an overseas student family where the husband is studying at the Australian Defence College, helping them to settle in to Australia and sharing the gospel with them. They seek opportunities to take advantage of the visits of overseas military Christians to encourage members of the MCF of Australia. Such a visit was made by retired Brigadier George Fernando of Sri Lanka early in 2001, and another by the President of the world wide Association of Military Christian Fellowships (AMCF), General Lee, Pil Sup and Mrs Lee, of Korea in 2003.

Brig George Fernando visiting MCF members.	General Lee speaking at MCF luncheon.

Helen also has the role of Prayer Secretary of the MCF of Australia. This photo shows her with Gen Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the Defence Force, after the graduation parade at the Royal Military College, Duntroon in December 2003.

Forum of Christian Military Ministries

• As part of our work in the Southwest Pacific, we organised in 2002 the inaugural meeting of the forum on Christian Military Ministries, a forum to enhance the ministry of each Christian organization working within the Australian Defence Force. For further information go to FCMM.

Additional information:

Our Ministry Vision Statement

Prayer Update

The latest newsletter is found here

The previous newsletter is found here

Last modified: 7 May 2004.

These pages are designed by: Ian Matters, Iris Technologies. and updated by Thomas Bielenberg.