1. How does an MCF begin?

Military Christian fellowship begins when two or more military Christians from the same nation meet for fellowship, prayer, Bible study, and witness. If any nation considers that these activities are illegal the associates are encouraged to follow Christ's teaching in Mt. 22:21 and "Give to Caesar what is Caesar's."

A group is recognized as a Military Christian Fellowship (MCF) when it takes a name and appoints a leader. However in many nations it may be necessary for military Christians to maintain only informal links with one another.

2. How are MCFs organized?

Each national MCF chooses a name, sets up its organization, and functions according to its needs. The national MCF is totally independent, autonomous, and self supporting financially. It is essentially nonpolitical and ideally non denominational.

An MCF needs a constitution to guide it and give it legal standing. A constitution normally includes: organization name and address; purpose; how organized and governed, frequency of governing meetings, quorum (percentage of votes needed to approve actions); officers, description of their duties, how elected, term of office, staggered elections to establish continuity, eligibility for reelection; procedures for changing the constitution.

3. How is AMCF organized?

AMCF is a worldwide association of national Military Christian Fellowships (MCFs) and individual military Christians in nations that do not have an organized fellowship.

What the AMCF does have is a President and regional Vice Presidents. Together these officers make up the "Presidential Bench" of the AMCF. They are volunteers and are supported by several military ministry organizations, the MCFs, and others as their capacities permit.

The officers of the AMCF (the Presidential Bench) have no authority over the internal affairs of national MCFs. They neither direct nor represent them. The MCFs take their directions directly from God. At the national level, the AMCF officers function to encourage and help those associated with the AMCF. At the international level they coordinate activities and provide encouragement, guidance and assistance based on the needs of the association and the national MCFs.

4. How can an MCF or individual person become associated with AMCF?

Any MCF or Contact may request association with the AMCF by indicating this informally by any means to any AMCF officer (the president or a regional vice-president) or staff member of ACCTS, Accts MMI, or MSO. The information will be passed on to the AMCF President who will provide a reply. A "certificate of association" is available for those MCFs which desire to have one. Click here for email addresses. Those associated with the AMCF are encouraged to work together with the object of encouraging servicemen and women of all nations to apply the teachings of Jesus in their personal and professional lives. They are expected to keep ACCTS, who publishes the AMCF Newsletter, informed of their correct addresses, and are encouraged to send prayer requests and information about their activities to the newsletter editor (AMCF, PO Box 27239, Denver, CO 80227 USA: or, editor@accts.org) so that they may be shared with other associates. In turn they are kept informed of and encouraged to participate in AMCF activities.

5. How can we help our MCF grow?

Growth results naturally or as the result of a plan. Natural growth occurs when members of the group invite a friend or acquaintance, or when a member is transferred and decides to start a new group. Planned effort generally results in faster growth. The MCF may use many ways to accomplish this.

6. How can we explain an MCF to others?

Many MCFs have found it important to emphasize several things when discussing the MCF with non-members. These things include:

1. The MCF is not a new denomination or church.
2. It does not take members away from a church or chapel. On the contrary it allows the church a missionary outreach into the military establishment.
3. Military service is not incompatible with Christianity. Military Christians are encouraged to give their very best in their duty and service for the glory of God (Colossians 3:23).
4. The Commander should be kept informed so that he understands and does not oppose the MCF.
5. Where a chaplain's program exists, MCF members normally offer to support and enrich the program.

7. What kind of activities do MCFs have?

Any activities which please God and honor His Son Jesus Christ are appropriate. The activities of a national Military Christian Fellowship are generally based on A PASSION FOR GOD -"Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind." Matthew 22:37, and A PASSION FOR MEN "Love your neighbor as yourself." Matthew 22:39. The activities generally fall into one or more of the practices of the Early Church: "And they continued steadfastly in the apostles DOCTRINE and FELLOWSHIP, and in BREAKING OF BREAD, and in PRAYERS." Acts 2:42 (capital letters added for emphasis). These categories of practices in the early church therefore have been used to show typical activities of an MCF. It is worthwhile noting that the believers "continued steadfastly," or devoted themselves, to these things.

The activities listed above as appropriate for a Military Christian Fellowship are often combined. For example, the most common, and probably the most important, activity of an MCF is the frequent, regular gathering of members in small groups for prayer, Bible study, fellowship, and witness. It bears repeating that whatever is pleasing to God and honors His Son Jesus Christ is appropriate.

MCFs around the world have many different kinds of activities, which have included small group Bible studies, prayer meetings, evangelistic events (concerts, Christian films, English language programs, etc.), conferences, and leadership training, to name just a few. Click here for examples of activities of various national MCFs.

8. What kind of objectives and goals do MCFs have?

The principal objectives of an MCF usually include:

1. Carrying out the Great Commission (Matthew 28: 18-20) within the armed forces; and,
2. Helping members reach spiritual maturity.
   Click here for examples of objectives and goals of various national MCFs.

9. What unique resources can our MCF use?

Any job is done more easily if one uses the right tools. Likewise the work of MCFs is done more easily if all the resources, or tools, available are used. Some of the easily overlooked resources are:

1. Supporting Organizations. The 3 principal supporting organizations are ACCTS (the Association for Christian Conferences, Teaching and Service) at accts@accts.org, Accts MMI (Accts Military Ministries International) at headoffice@acctsmmi.com, and MSO (Mission Support Organization) at mso@mso.co.kr. These can help in many ways, and provide links to other organizations.
   The 21 other supporting organizations are listed in Annex S of AMCF Reference Manual.
2. Spouses. The spouse's support is essential to the MCF
3. Retirees. Retirees often have more time available to dedicate to the ministry. In addition, they bring years of experience and maturity to the MCF.