What if there was no miraculous Incarnation to celebrate at Christmas? Can we imagine world history or our own personal history without Jesus? Christmas is a good time to consider and to give thanks for the difference Jesus has made to our lives and to our world. It is also a good time to look back on the year that is almost over. We are happy and grateful to report many answers to specific prayer.
Praise God for his grace shown to ACTS in 2009
1. ACTS Staff have pulled together throughout the year; we thank God for new baby arrivals:
2. Rev. Luka Vandi, General Manager, has been keeping the work moving in spite of the absence of key members of the management team.
3. There has been progress in the computerization of operations at ACTS HQ with our Point of Sale computer now in operation for the first time.
4. We are encouraged that ACTS sales of books and Bibles increased by 20% during the past year. Our staff deserve commendation, particularly when one takes into consideration the world economic crisis and other adversities in the Nigerian context.
5. Andrew and Danielle Gullett (from Chesham, near London) are now at NEGST with ACTS Kenya under Grace Baptist Missions.
6. The Garlands have made progress on sabbatical writing projects: my own on Preaching Christ and Jean’s on Abortion in Africa. I have continued to be in regular contact with Nigeria mostly in relation to ordering books; as well as evaluating and preparing books for publication.
7. Speaking engagements took us to Mission Africa conferences in London, Scotland and Belfast, as well as missionary rallies held in Stranmillis Evangelical Presbyterian Church.
8. A successful meeting was held recently with the working group of Revival Movement Association where we were able to work out a joint strategy on Lagos.
Pray for God’s Grace to be even more evident through ACTS in 2010
We need your prayers for:
1. Our preparations for return to Nigeria Jan 5, 2010.
2. The final editing of many new publications for printing early in 2010.
3. The release of containers delayed in the USA.
4. Guidance as we search in Lagos for the right location at the right price.
5. Isobel Stephenson (Senior Editor with Langham) as she prepares for a Writers Workshop in Ghana (Feb 21-28) and an Editors Workshop in Jos (early March).
6. Progress on our ACTS Writers Retreat Centre project.
7. Nigeria; President Umaru Yar’adua (seriously ill in Saudi Arabia); the fight against corruption; security. Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa with 150 million.
8. The family of Stephen Chapman, Mission Africa Council member, and great friend and supporter of ACTS, who tragically lost his life in a kayaking accident.
9. The need for new workers for Nigeria - short or long term – to help us with administration, IT, marketing, sales, and inventory management. The door is wide open.
Thank you so much for your interest and prayers,
Rev. Dr. Sid Garland
ACTS Executive Director | 
