ACS Adventist® Community Services has more than 1,300 localities and upholds the beliefs of the Seventh-day Adventist® World Church organization.
ACS Mission
Adventist Community Services is the official community outreach ministry of the Seventh-day Adventist church in the North American Division territories which comprises of the United States, Canada, Guam and Micronesia, and Bermuda. ACS serves the whole person, a concept known as holistic ministry whose mission is “Serving Communities in Christ’s Name.”
ACS Vision
- Expanding the scope of community services
- Building collaborative partnerships
- Integrating education in leadership development
ACS Core Values
- SHARING – We proclaim the good news of salvation by actively demonstrating the love of God.
- CONNECTING – We build relationships by connecting people with their community family and to God.
- MINISTERING – We minister to the communities we serve by focusing on their physical, mental, social, and spiritual well-being.
- DISCIPLESHIP – We empower and engage members to serve their communities by teaching, mentoring, and equipping in holistic ministry.
ACS Philosophy
The mission of ACS is “Serving Communities in Christ’s Name,” which means serving the whole person, a concept known as holistic ministry. The word holistic comes from the Greek word “holos” which implies that all dimensions of our life (physical, mental, social, and spiritual) are equally important to our functioning and well-being.
Therefore, the purpose of holistic ministry is to proclaim the Good News, the word of salvation, and demonstrate the love of God to people in need. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, there is evidence of a genuinely holistic approach toward humanity, especially people who were marginalized, disadvantaged, and disenfranchised from society. Jesus expanded the Kingdom of God to places, people, and cultures that the society had never considered God to be interested in and has thus set these examples for many (Matt 9:10, 21:31, Rom 14:14).
ACS History
In 1874, ACS began as the “Dorcas and Benevolent Association” composed of women providing clothes, food, financial support and services to needy families in churches and in their communities. This is why until the World War II era, the humanitarian work of local Seventh-day Adventist churches was known as the Dorcas Society. Dorcas was a disciple in the early Christian church in the city of Joppa who was well regarded as a person who was always doing good and helping those in need (Acts 9:36-43).
In 1879, the Dorcas Societies wanted to involve their husbands so the Good Samaritan Society was organized.
In 1953, the General Conference of the Seventh-day Adventist Church broadened the concept of service to urban ministry. This new organization was named Seventh-day Adventist Health and Welfare Services (SAWS).
In 1972, the name was changed to Adventist Community Services (ACS).
In 1983, the church organized the Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA) International to serve societies outside of North America more effectively. ADRA is a church owned non-governmental organization (NGO) that works at a global level sponsored by the Seventh-day Adventist Church to provide international relief and development.
In 2005, ACS expanded its ministry with ACS International under the General Conference Sabbath School and Personal Ministry Department to focus on Adventists in community services and outreach ministries at the local church level.
