ALLEN CHRISTIAN FELLOWSHIP, FOMERLY KNOWN AS ALLEN CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR LEAGUE IS OUR CHURCHES OLDEST YOUTH ORGANIZATION. THIS ORGANIZATION, NAMED AFTER OUR FOUNDER AND OPERATES UNDER THE UMBRELLA OF THE CHRISTIAN EDUCATION DEPARTMENT ONLY EXIST IN ABOUT 4 EPISCOPAL DISTRICTS OUT OF 19. WHAT IS ITS FUTURE? WHERE IT IS ACTIVE, IT WORKS, WILL OUR CHURCH CONTINUE TO USE THIS PROGRAM OR REMOVE IT?

-- Anonymous, July 06, 2000

Answers

Our church, St. Paul AME, Columbus, has the only Allen Christian Endeavor (the name we still use) or ACE in our conference and probably in the 3rd District.

Previous Educational Secretaries, Drs. White and Mack, continued to support it, though mildly. The current director, Dr. Hill, basically ignores it and probably would eliminate it if it were not for its being active in some African Districts. NOTE: I've heard him say as much, so this is not just my opinion.

I have found our continuing ACE and affiliation with Christian Endeavor International to be an effective way of maintaining an interdenominational outreach for our youth. Each year in Feb, we share in Christian Endeavor Sunday services at a local United Brethren in Christ Church and they share in our ACE Sunday Services on the third Sunday in Feb. We've done this for about 5 or so years. We also participate in various state (Ohio) Christian Endeavor events.

The AME Church no longer publishes anything for ACE; however, Christian Endeavor International recently launched a web based complete curriculum aimed primariy at high schoolers, but adaptable to middle school. You can find a free access "tour" or introduction at www.teamce.com. Full access is available for a subscription of $10.00 / month - payable in advance for a year. Check it out - we subscribe and there is more material than we are able to use. It's worth the money in my biased opinion.

Even if it is officially deleted, I'm pretty sure we will continue to operate it.

-- Anonymous, July 10, 2000