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Passing the Baton through Families

作者：梁天俊 (Martin Leung) 长老 
日期: 10/18/2025
类别：主内生活

Passing the Baton through Families
– ACCCN 25-Year Anniversary

Genesis 1:1 – In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

Most history books include a chapter called “Prehistory”—the period before written records. Looking back at the first twenty-five years of ACCCN, there was also a kind of “prehistory.” As many know, ACCCN was planted out of ACCC, the mother church. Before ACCCN was officially established, there was already the North District Family Fellowship. Named after the fruits of the Spirit, it began with the Fellowship of Love and continued to multiply—Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness—until the Fellowship of Self-Control was formed in 1999. At that point, the vision of planting ACCCN became clear.

I remember one Sunday morning in the year 2000 when dozens of families from the nine fellowships of the North District stood at the front of the sanctuary. They received the blessings of the congregation and were commissioned to establish a new church in North Atlanta, extending the boundaries of God’s kingdom and spreading the gospel further. This brief “prehistory” of ACCCN reveals that, both in its spiritual DNA and in God’s calling, families have always played a central role.

Exodus 6:7 – I will take you as my own people, and I will be your God.

Just as two million Israelites left Egypt and their homes to live in the wilderness, about two hundred people from dozens of families left the mother church and had to rely wholeheartedly on God’s provision. Unlike the Israelites, however, these families—mostly young—were not escaping slavery but had been nurtured by the mother church, perhaps even with a bit of a “prince and princess” mindset. Yet once they left the security of the mother church, everything changed. They left behind a well-equipped facility and their children’s circle of friends. I believe many wrestled with the decision, but for the sake of God’s kingdom and the gospel, they were willing to sacrifice—and in doing so, they became both a blessing and an example to others.

In the early days, even finding a place for Sunday worship was difficult. Requests to rent from American churches and schools were repeatedly turned down. Only after persistent efforts by the founding elders were they able to secure a warehouse on Peachtree Industrial Blvd. for Sunday worship. Since it was not our own building, brothers and sisters took turns each week setting up chairs and tables before service and putting everything back afterward. Friday night fellowships, including the newly formed English Mark Fellowship, could not be held at the church.

I still remember leaders such as Elder Ting, Elder Lee, and Elder Ken repeatedly emphasizing that family fellowships were the roots of ACCCN. For the church to grow tall and strong, its roots needed to grow deep and wide. The key was to invite families into fellowship. That is why “Build Strong Families” has been such a central part of ACCCN’s vision—serving as the bridge between “Make Mature Individuals” and “Impact Community.” Families are the foundation of spiritual growth and also the core ministry teams of the church.

Ephesians 2:19–20 – You are no longer foreigners and strangers, but fellow citizens with God’s people and also members of his household, built on the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the chief cornerstone.

Five years after its founding, ACCCN moved into its current sanctuary—a tremendous gift of grace from God! The joy of brothers and sisters entering the new building was like the Israelites crossing the Jordan into the Promised Land. Following the Israelites’ example of setting up memorial stones, church members signed their names on the sanctuary floor before the carpet was laid. To this day, beneath every chair are those signatures of faith!

I recall that the Children’s Ministry mobilized the youth to paint Bible-story murals on the hallway walls outside classrooms. Watching them dedicate their summer days and nights to serving younger children through painting art, it was clear they were not spoiled youth but eager servants of God. This involvement paved the way for youth to take active roles in the following year’s Vacation Bible School (VBS)—as counselors, game leaders, and worship leaders. Families of all ages worshiped, learned, and served together.

It was especially moving to see teenagers dream about becoming VBS teachers in a few years, while little children excitedly told their parents that when they grew up, they wanted to lead worship like the youth. Truly, the Lord was preparing the next generation, quietly passing the baton through families.

1 John 3:1 – See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!

God’s blessings have continued through many seasons, both high and low, in the life of our church. In the early 2010s, the church’s growth created significant pressure on parking. By 2016, a new parking lot expanded capacity from 250 to 400 spaces, which largely solved the issue. Now, in 2025, as we celebrate the church’s 25-year anniversary, a couple of milestone events remind us of God’s ongoing faithfulness:

1. The groundbreaking of the Family Center marks the physical growth of the church. We continue to strengthen the body of Christ by building up the families within our community.
2. The ordination of two pastors, both supported by ACCCN through their seminary studies. One was ordained to serve our mother church, and the other commissioned as a missionary to Southeast Asia. These ordinations signify not only organizational growth but also spiritual maturity as we actively participate in Jesus’ Great Commission.

In the eyes of God, passing on the torch of faith is not merely an option—it is a sacred calling. Just as in a relay race, where the baton must be handed securely from one runner to the next for the race to continue, so too must the flame of faith be faithfully entrusted from one generation to the next. At ACCCN, this spiritual relay is ongoing, with handoffs and transitions taking place at every level of ministry.

Both the Chinese and English Sunday Schools are thriving, with record attendance that reflects a deep hunger within our congregations to learn the Word of God. Every Sunday, many parents bring their children to participate in the Children’s Program—including Children’s Worship, Sunday School, and the Children’s Choir. The remarkable growth of Vacation Bible School since its reopening after the pandemic further reveals the ever-increasing needs of our next generation.

The vibrancy of our Youth Program, College Group, Young Adult Fellowship (Psalm 34), and Young Family Fellowship (Colossians) are not only clear testimonies of God’s grace but also vital pillars for the future of our church. These ministries embody the next wave of disciples who will carry forward the mission of Christ—strengthening families, deepening faith, and extending the kingdom of God to generations yet to come.

May God continue to bless ACCCN’s family ministry and may the legacy of “life affecting life; families influencing families” endure for the next twenty-five years and beyond, as the flame of faith is passed from generation to generation.

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