June 2021 ACCTS Newsletter

For I will pour water on the thirsty land, and streams on the dry ground; I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring, and my blessing on your descendants. Isaiah 44:3

It is with a sad heart we announce that Ruba’s mom had passed away on June 1, 2021, at age 92. She died peacefully of a massive stroke in Amman, Jordan. “Najwa” loved the Lord and trusted him as her savior almost 40 years ago. Her passion was to empower young girls with education. We celebrate her life by creating a special fund designated in her memory for “Girl’s Education,” ages 17-23. You may encourage Ruba and her family by sending a special gift to Christar – AWT with a note “girl’s education.”

Thank you from Nabeeh and Ruba

“He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away.” Revelation 21:4

Life-Growth Program First Round 2021

The AWT team has been thrilled to start this incredible journey with a special and unique group of 22 women from Jordan, Lebanon, Kuwait, Egypt, and Palestine.

What makes this group unique is their thirst and hunger to grow on many levels: intellectually, emotionally, and spiritually. They better understood themselves. They shared their concerns, learned practical methods to develop their lives, and became closer to the Lord.

Our journey with another group of 22 women has already started, this time reaching Arab women from Algeria, Tunisia, and the US. They set plans for growth. AWT will be coaching and following up with them in the coming months to track their growth in their knowledge, attitudes or behaviors, and to encourage them along the way. We want to see them mature spiritually, experience healing, and grow in their identity, awareness, and peace. We want to see them not only develop but also lead and influence others. The fruit we witness encourages our hearts, ignites passion within us to keep moving forward, and lifts our spirits in prayer.

Partners and friends, it thrills us to share with you some feedback to taste some of the sweetness therein. Thank you for being part of the showers of blessings our Lord is pouring our way! We delight in Him and give Him thanks.

Click the video above for an encouraging testimony from one of our trainers

Encouraging feedback from our precious ladies:

Amal - "[I felt as if] giving birth to my child ruined my life. I learned from the session about habits to transfer my mindset into a growth mentality. I also learned that emotions are a mix of some comfortable and uncomfortable feelings that are all beneficial; there are no positive and negative emotions. I am spreading this new revelation everywhere I go. I will be quick to answer the Lord's calling me to him. I will respond quickly and rejoice because I received his salvation. I was delighted to discover my spiritual gifts. I will fan into flame those gifts of God. I am happy that I became a "Nouara" (which in Arabic means 'blossom')."

Jacklin - "I thank the Lord for anointing you with the Holy Spirit. You are a great tool in his hand. You managed to do it even if behind the scenes. Thank you for your smile. I have this special prayer inside me for women, whom I believe are vital workers in building a healthy community for working in the kingdom of God. I realized that such women exist, and God is working and has entrusted faithful people. And now that I have met you, I see it as an answer to prayer. You have a vision and a goal to empower women; you are not just giving crumbs when it comes to serving women. I thank God who leads me to your ministry with the same passion that I have for women."

Omneya - "My life was disordered! You established order in my life and helped me see things clearly in mind, health, and spirit. I have developed a better understanding of who I am. The wheel of life made a great difference in me. I now have the resilience to adopt habits. I now execute what I write. Words are not enough to thank you!"

From Trainee to Trainer: One Woman’s Story

Since the beginning of the conflict in Syria, reaching out to our friends and AWT contacts in the war-torn country has been a major hurdle. During the pandemic, they faced additional challenges in connecting to the internet to attend AWT’s online training or Zoom meetings. Mirna, a long-time friend of AWT and active participant in AWT’s programs, didn’t let these hindrances stand in her way as she sought to attend AWT’s recent Walk Thru the Bible workshop.

Mirna has a passion for sharing the message and even prepared a curriculum for children to study the Bible. The Walk Thru the Bible workshop was a significant turning point in her understanding of God’s word. It was a great support in Mirna finishing the curriculum she had begun writing. The AWT team helped her attend the conference without the barriers of Zoom. One AWT team member held up her phone to the computer screen for the entirety of the training, so Mirna could hear, see, and participate.

After the workshop, we connected Mirna with the trainer himself. She wanted all of her team to have access to this vital training. As a result, 30 women from Syria took part in the two-part training covering the Old and New Testaments. This workshop has been an excellent chance for them to encounter the Bible more closely or hear about specific events and characters of the Bible for the first time. As a result, some decided to begin reading the Bible daily and studying it more in-depth. They are growing deeper in their knowledge of the Bible, being better prepared to serve other churches in Syria. Currently, Mirna’s team is fulfilling the requirements to be able to attend AWT’s Training of Trainers so they can, in turn, equip others.

Stay tuned to hear more about this exciting and unfolding story.

Hope Springs Forth: One Woman's Story

Although her name means "hope," she would probably tell you she's lived most of her life without it. After a lady kidnapped her on public transportation and forced her into human trafficking, Hope could not return to her family. Instead of seeing her as a victim, they saw her as a source of shame and disgrace. They threatened to kill her if she returned, so they could rid their family of this shame. She miraculously managed to escape, but her troubles didn't end there. A total stranger offered to help her contact her family, but the conversation ended with Hope's father asking the man to marry her for a monthly sum of money. This so-called "marriage" was the beginning of Hope's second enslavement as her husband subjected her to more abuse. Again, Hope managed to escape with her young daughter.

Shortly after, Hope saw an advertisement on social media for AWT's "It Is Not a Shame" campaign. "I felt that these words were for me," Hope recalls. She contacted a member of our AWT team, who continues to keep in touch with her. ACCTS-AWT is trying to help Hope become self-sustaining so she and her daughter can live in safety.

Your support to ACCTS-AWT allows us to restore and share hope with women who, like Hope, have lived so long without it.

Thank you!

Last month, we received a few one-time gifts to help us cover a small part of the deficit we are facing this year. Thank you to all of you who gave and continue to give regularly or with one-time gifts. You are a vital part of the work here through your financial and prayerful partnership. The ACCTS-AWT team wants to express our sincere appreciation for you all.