The protestant ministry ‘Aide chrétienne en Orient (ACO, Christian Aid in the Orient)’ has been helping churches and Christians in the Middle East since a hundred years, spiritually as well as materially. This is why ACO is having a big celebration from October 1 onwards, in Strasbourg and in Paris.
Since 1922, the ministry has been a material and spiritual bridge of support between Christian protestant churches and organizations in Europe and the Middle-East. The ACO celebrates its centenary by having conversations with people in the field, concerts, and special services. These will take place in Strasbourg, after which the celebration will continue in Paris. Different events will also take place in the Middle East, as well as in Europe.
The ACO unites missionary organizations from Switzerland, France, and the Netherlands, and protestant churches in Lebanon, Syria, Iraq and Iran. The ACO is active in the areas of education and theology, but also offers social and medical help. Besides that, they offer help with the development of the local churches and evangelism.
Christians are a minority in the Middle East. The ACO stresses that the protestant churches are a “minority within the Christian minority”. They also say that these protestant communities shine, despite them being a minority. They shine because of “their testimony lived in name of the Gospel”.
Read the original article here and find the program of the celebrations here.
