What IS OAFC?
What IS an OAFC Weekend?

OAFC . . . is Ongoing Ambassadors For Christ, an "ongoing" witnessing movement for youth and adults of the LCMS. It is nationwide, making its ministry available to all LCMS congregations. OAFC has ONE GOAL, to be used of God to emphasize the saving Gospel -- Jesus suffered, died and rose in victory for all sins so that all people can be certain of going to heaven. All OAFC materials are Christ-centered so that people can see the ONE WAY TO HEAVEN. OAFC activities include: 

  1. Witnessing to all of Jesus Christ, our Savior
  2. Inviting the unchurched to the congregations we serve; and
  3. Training other youth and adults to witness for Christ.

A Weekend is where ambassadors come together at a host congregation in their area, generally once a month at a different congregation. During the weekend they conduct neighborhood surveys to share the saving Gospel and find prospects for the host church. They also witness of Christ's love and salvation at a nursing home, during Sunday School, and in the church service.

Arrangement Info
Refer to www.oafc.org/docs.htm  for a list of forms that both describe how to arrange for a weekend and provide tools for promoting the weekend in your congregation.

An Overview Of An OAFC Weekend

OAFC Weekends last from Friday evening until Sunday Afternoon. 

Friday Evening
  • Registration
  • Sharing in Song, Drama, Puppets, Bible Study, Etc.
  • Closing Devotion and go home with host families
Saturday
  • Bible Study
  • Witness survey preparation & canvassing
  • Lunch at church
  • Canvassing and Tabulating results
  • Supper at church
  • Nursing home visit
  • Preparation for Sunday morning
  • Closing sharing & devotion
Sunday
  • Participation in Sunday School and Church Services
  • Potluck meal after church

OAFC began in 1970 in Brownsdale, Minnesota, led by Rev. Fred Darkow. A handful of youth wanted to learn to share their faith. Training sessions which included canvassing were held and methods were developed. These youth grew in their witnessing skills and became excited about God's Word and its power. Soon, nearby churches were requesting training for their youth, and regular training weekends were scheduled. Within a year over 100 youth were trained and today that number is over 32,000 with active groups in many areas across the nation. OAFC is incorporated, employs fulltime staff, and is a Recognized Service Organization of the LCMS.

The Local Ambassador Group is the heart of the OAFC movement. Here, monthly weekends are held in sponsoring churches. Generally, each church hosts a weekend once a year. If needed, the churches of two or three synodical circuits may join together to fill the schedule. Each weekend includes sharing and witnessing within the group and in the community, a nursing home, the worship services and Sunday school.

OAFC Ambassadors are primarily youth (Jr. High age and older), but more and more adults are also participating and many of these are being trained as leaders for the local groups. Any area can begin the OAFC ministry by inviting trained Ambassadors to come and train their adult leaders and youth.

Training others is the goal that makes OAFC a multiplying ministry. The result is a greater army of witnesses for our lost world and a more evangelical church. 

Ambassadors Share the Gospel and love of Jesus Christ:

  • SONG - Youth love to sing and share their faith in singing. Scriptural songs also help them remember God's promises in their daily lives.
  • DRAMA - Messages can be strongly emphasized through drama and the Gospel can be related to any circumstance of life portrayed by a drama.
  • PERSONAL WITNESS - Sharing the story of how God has worked through the experiences of your life to reveal His love and confirm the truth of His Word can strengthen and encourage others.
  • PUPPETS - Puppets can talk honestly and openly, revealing how we act and think and can relate the Law and Gospel in this way. Children especially listen closely to the message of puppets.
  • WITNESSING METHODS - Witnessing methods are a key to helping people verbalize their faith in a way that is clear, concise, and doctrinally correct. This helps them in their everyday witness as well.

  • BIBLE STUDY - This involves searching God's Word which is the source of our faith and the power and motivation for effective witness.

OAFC's Benefits To Youth Include
  • Focuses on the Law and Gospel and helps them to be sure of their salvation.
  • Helps them begin to witness verbally.
  • Provides regular opportunities to gain confidence in sharing their faith.
  • Provides an outlet for their Christian learning and Catechism instruction.
  • Stimulates their continued growth in personal faith and public worship.
  • Gives them opportunity to do the most important work of the church; leading people to Christ.
  • Helps them realize they are an important part of the church.
  • Opens their eyes to the great spiritual need of the world.
  • Causes them to cherish their Christian upbringing and Lutheran faith.
  • Provides great Christian fellowship and positive peer pressure.

OAFC's Benefits To The Church
  • Congregations are encouraged in their outreach to their community.
  • Confirmation "drop outs" are reduced.
  • People are invited into the Kingdom of God and connected to His family.
  • An understanding of the spiritual health of the community is assessed.
  • A positive attitude toward the Lutheran Church and evangelism is developed.
  • Strong future leaders are developed.
  • Many Ambassadors go into full time church work.
  • Youth become more dedicated in their congregational activities.
  • Provides a dynamic youth program for small churches that have few youth.
  • It becomes an important part of a large congregation's full youth ministry.
  • Equips youth with "tools" they can use in their church.
For information on hosting a weekend, or on starting an OAFC group in your area, refer to the directory for a list of contacts in your area, and/or send email to info@oafc.org.
Documents for arranging a weekend, including bulletin inserts, typical schedule, promotion poster, host signup sheet and guidelines, worship planning, witness survey, and witnessing methods can be found in pdf and MS Word format at www.oafc.org/docs.htm.
 
National office
P.O. Box 41
Athens, Illinois 62613-0041
217 636-7729 (217 MEN-PRAY)
email info@oafc.org

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