ABOUT ACEA

To connect thousands of campus evangelists with hundreds of apologists to make the gospel relevant today for high school and college students.

ACEA’s vision is to resource and connect 1000 national campus evangelists and 100 apologists by 2030. Through cross pollination and synergy, we believe that laborers can be empowered to more effectively reach the millions that are on the educational campuses with the gospel that is communicated in ways that is relevant to post-modern thinking. We desire to not only connect evangelists and apologists but also serve in providing tools and resources that equip those working on the campuses.

The central focus of ACEA is to send laborers to “go into every person’s world” through missional living. ACEA reaches to both national and international evangelists and apologists, training them to live a missional life for God. ACEA seeks to train both graduated and undergraduate/graduate students called to serve as short-term or long-term campus missionaries, evangelists, apologist and/or church planters.

“Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to all human creation… these signs will accompany those…”

Mark 16: 15-17

TO REACH THE LOST AT ANY COST!

ACEA believes the harvest field is ripe and that the campus is one of the most important places where generations are impacted for the rest of their life. The ACEA mission is for God-called campus evangelists and apologists to equip believers in Christ’s gospel and provide the apologetics to advance that gospel past all protest and modern day arguments. ACEA gatherings encourage, equip and enlighten campus evangelists and apologists in current tools and methods for Spirit-led evangelism and how to so equip believers and churches.

“Have the same attitude of mind in you Christ Jesus had, who though continuing to be essentially deity, did not think to cling to equal rights with God, but rather emptied Himself of the glory of deity… being found in human form, he humbled Himself… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father.”

Philippians 2:5-11

“Have the same attitude of mind in you Christ Jesus had, who though continuing to be essentially deity, did not think to cling to equal rights with God, but rather emptied Himself of the glory of deity… being found in human form, he humbled Himself… so that at the name of Jesus every knee should bow… every tongue confess that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father”                                                                                                             Philippians 2:5-11

The Alliance of Campus Evangelists & Apologists exists:

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1. To provide a unique and needed place of fellowship for those called by God as evangelists and apologists. 

Each campus evangelist and each apologist are unique among those many other God-called ministers.  The evangelist and apologist are specialized by calling, gifting, job assignment, and usually temperament.  This gathering adds value as various evangelists and apologists contribute to the dialogue from their unique vantage points and practices.  Yet all united in cause:

Make my joy complete by being of the same mind, maintaining the same love, 

united in spirit, intent on one purpose.

-Philippians 2:2

2. To support evangelists and apologists on any campus, college or high school. 

Jesus said, “The harvest is great but the workers are few.”  Therefore, anyone who attempts to do the “work of an evangelist” will have our encouragement and respect.  We will help strengthen the evangelists and apologists!

“When He saw the crowds, He felt compassion for them… then He declared to His disciples, ‘There are so many people to harvest, but the workers are so few.  Pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest, that He will cause many workers to go into the harvest field.”  Matthew 9: 34-35. 

3. To identify others having God’s call as an evangelist and/or apologist.  

Many people on campus and in our local churches are called by God as Ephesians 4 evangelists and/or apologists.  Some are aware of this calling, but many have not self-identified so as to see themselves as evangelists and/or apologists.  We want to aid them in finding their God-appointed niche of service which will, in turn, strengthen the local churches and extend the kingdom of God.

“And He gave some as . . . evangelists, . . .”

-Ephesians 4:11 – 12

4. To stimulate the development of evangelistic and apologetic ministries on campuses and in local churches.

For those campus leaders, campus ministries, pastors and churches with a desire to more effectively equip their church members to enter the campus harvest fields, we provide resources, consulting, training, organizational skills and encouragement.

“And He gave some as . . . evangelists,. . .for the equipping of the saints for the work of service, to the building up of the body of Christ…”

-Ephesians 4:11 – 12

5. To cooperate with local churches. 

While ACEA members may be staff of para-church organization, we all believe in the local church and in church-based evangelism efforts that begin with the evangelist/apologist attending a local church and supporting the local church pastor.  We encourage evangelists/apologists to work in conjunction with local churches and to direct all new converts into meaningful local church participation.

 “So, the churches were being strengthened in the faith, and were increasing in number daily.” 

-Acts 16:5

ACEA serves as a gathering forum for evangelists and apologists to connect in synergy, share hearts and to engage in practical equipping. ACEA facilitates face-to-face gatherings during the year to share best, Spirit-born practices for personal evangelism and mass evangelism of students in their teens and twenties. ACEA also coordinates one-hour Zoom calls to do the same.

 These gatherings and calls are for those who self-identify as an Ephesians 4:11 campusevangelist, a campus apologist, or a campus church-planting missionary. The purpose is to share best, Spirit-born practices for personal evangelism and mass evangelism of students in their teens and twenties.

Please email Dr. Leo Lawson for more info on dates and venues: [email protected].

ACEA has also coordinated the schedule of gatherings around various other events happening in the body of Christ. For example, ACEA met alongside of Luis Palau’s Next Generation Alliance. In 2017 ACEA then met alongside of Ed Stetzer’s Amplify Conference, from The Billy Graham Center, Wheaton College.

See Ed’s reference to ACEA:
https://www.christianitytoday.com/edstetzer/2016/november/mark-your-calendar-to-join-me-at-amplify2017-national-evang.html

“Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds…” Heb. 10:24