[ag-news] AG NEWS #1805: April 21, 2010

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AG-NEWS: Wednesday, April 21, 2010 
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** Record giving for STL in 2009

Nearly $9 million was raised in 2009, making it a record-giving
year for Speed the Light. Increase took place for first time in
nine years despite recent economy. Money collected is used to
help missionaries around the globe. For more information, visit
http://www.stl.ag.org.


**Christ's victory remembered -- even at sea

Easter celebrated at sea aboard USS Gunston Hall currently
deployed to West Africa. Chaplain Brian Shearer, an AG
endorsed chaplain, conducts four Easter services -- more than
100 of about 400 onboard attend. More information about AG
Chaplaincy found at http://Chaplaincy.ag.org.


** Evangel adds athletic training major

Evangel University Physical Education, Recreation and Exercise
Science Department adds athletic training major, starting fall
2010. Four-year program provides students for employment as
trainers in community, corporate or clinical settings. For more
information, visit http://www.evangel.edu.


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**RECORD GIVING FOR STL IN 2009

Speed the Light (STL) experienced a record-giving year in 2009,
raising nearly $9 million for transportation and communication
equipment for missionaries around the globe.

Chet Caudill, national STL director, says that an increase in giving
took place for the first time in the past 9 years, despite the
current economy.

"One person commented sometime last year that in light of the
national and global economy, a 10 percent decrease would be
success," Caudill says. "However, leaders and students around the
nation dreamed a God-sized dream and followed through with extreme
passion, resulting in a 2.5 percent increase!

"It is encouraging to know that God¹s economy is different from
ours, and that God is able and willing to respond to our faith," he
says. "Together, we are seeing souls saved and lives changed."

A goal of $10 million has been set in connection with this year's
"10" offering to take place on 10/10/10.

Caudill says it's important for students to get involved in STL.

"When students are challenged to give to Speed the Light, they will
identify with the heart of God and with the needs of missionaries on
the field," he says.  Caudill also believes involvement in STL will
lead to a passion for the lost, involvement in evangelism, spiritual
growth and the development of biblical principles of giving.

The money collected for STL projects is currently being used in many
different ways. According to Caudill, missionaries around the world
are using STL vehicles such as cars, trucks, boats, motorcycles,
bikes, donkeys and even camels in evangelism efforts. Missionaries
report regularly of their gratitude for essential transportation and
creative communication equipment, Caudill says.

"Speed the Light communications equipment is being utilized by
ministries such as Unsion TV in Ecuador, which has seen over 47,000
salvations since its inception," he says. Missionary Bill McDonald
has said, "For some, Speed the Light makes their job [of reaching the
lost] easier; for Unsion, STL makes it possible."

Jerry Gibson, Director of International Media Ministries, recently
commented that they could not do what they do without Speed the
Light. It has been estimated that as many as 80 million people
everyday are impacted by materials produced by IMM.

Speed the Light has provided most of the vehicles being used by
Convoy in the United States and many of the vehicles being used in
other countries. Hal Donaldson, President of Convoy of Hope, has
said, "Convoy would not exist as it does today without Speed the
Light."

Here are the top giving churches and districts for STL in 2009:

TOP 20 CHURCHES: 
1. James River Assembly, Ozark, Missouri: $225,623.38
2. First Assembly of God, Fort Myers, Florida: $77,037.22
3. First Assembly of God, Dothan, Alabama: $70,100.00
4. First Assembly of God, Montgomery, Alabama: $63,818.00
5. Fountain of Life Center, Burlington, New Jersey: $60,511.92
6. Spring First Church, Spring, Texas: $59,997.47
7. Cedar Valley Church, Bloomington, Minnesota: $58,247.26
8. Mustang Assembly of God, Mustang, Oklahoma: $52,429.27
9. First Assembly of God, Van Buren, Arkansas: $50,114.88
10. Sunset Christian Center, Rocklin, California: $47,365.12
11. Calvary Christian Center, Yuba City, California: $45,640.86
12. River of Life Assembly of God, Cold Spring, Minnesota: $43,004.43
13. Bethlehem Church, Richmond Hill, New York: $42,370.00
14. First Assembly of God, Topeka, Kansas: $41,500.00
15. Faith Assembly of God, Orlando, Florida: $40,263.60
16. Assembly of God, Chancellor, Alabama: $39,416.54
17. First Assembly of God, Jonesboro, Arkansas: $39,000.00
18. Southbridge Community Church, Savage, Minnesota: $38,063.20
19. Carbondale Assembly of God, Tulsa, Oklahoma: $36,567.92
20. First Assembly of God, Concord, North Carolina: $35,388.09

TOP 10 DISTRICTS
1. Alabama: $554,784.16
2. Southern Missouri: $496,593.13
3. Arkansas: $472,508.50
4. Minnesota: $426,908.03
5. North Texas: $419,501.59
6. Peninsular Florida: $347,027.31
7. Oklahoma: $344,737.75
8. South Texas: $335,671.02
9. Pennsylvania/Delaware: $292,174.42
10. New York: $287,881.88

For more information about Speed the Light, visit http://stl.ag.org.

--Becca Hodge


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**CHRIST'S VICTORY REMEMBERED -- EVEN AT SEA

On Easter Sunday, April 4, churches around the globe celebrated
Christ's victory over the grave and His message of love, sacrifice
and salvation. However, honoring Christ was not relegated to land,
but also occurred at sea.

Naval Chaplain Brian Shearer, an endorsed Assemblies of God
chaplain, conducted Easter sunrise services aboard the Whidbey
Island-class amphibious dock-landing ship, USS Gunston Hall. The
ship is on a scheduled deployment in West Africa in support of
Africa Partnership Station (APS) West.

The Communion service was held on the ship's flight deck. According
to Chaplain Shearer, out of about the 400 marines and naval crew on
board the ship, more than 100 attended one of the four services held
that morning.

"Sometimes it's easy to forget that not everyone celebrates Easter
or takes Communion in the relative comfort and peace of a church
building," says Chaplain Scott McChrystal, the AG Military/VA
representative. "However, God continues to use our military
chaplains to impact the lives of countless military personnel and
their families ? sometimes in very dangerous and difficult
circumstances."

For more information about the AG Chaplaincy program, see
http://Chaplaincy.ag.org.

--AG News


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** EVANGEL ADDS ATHLETIC TRAINING MAJOR

Evangel University's Physical Education, Recreation and Exercise
Science Department has added a new major to its curriculum. The
athletic training major will be available to students beginning with
the fall 2010 semester.

This 4-year program is a comprehensive major with 86 curriculum
hours, in addition to general education requirements. It is designed
to prepare students for employment as athletic trainers in
community, corporate or clinical settings.

The program will include therapeutic exercise and modality
techniques, injury evaluation and other skills associated with sport
medicine.

Head Athletic Trainer Kevin King, MS, ATC/LAT, is director of the
athletic training program.

"I am excited about the opportunities our students at Evangel
University will have in the field of athletic training after
graduating with a strong education in the classroom and great
clinical and lab experiences through Cox Health Systems," King said.

King has been a member of Evangel's faculty since 2007. He is
currently pursuing a Doctor of Philosophy in kinesiology at the
University of Arkansas. He holds a Master of Science in exercise
science from Western Kentucky University and a Bachelor of Science
in sport management with an emphasis in athletic training from
Southwest Baptist University. For more information, visit
http://www.evangel.edu.

--Cassie McDaniel


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