Missions

Location: Uganda

 

Hometown: Birmingham, Ala. (Jade) and San Antonio, Texas (Shelah)

 

Commissioned: 2004

 

The Ackers live and serve in Uganda, where their ministry focuses on providing assistance to individuals and families in need, particularly women and children. They operate a nonprofit called Refuge and Hope International, and among the organization’s work is financial support for nine Sudanese young men living in Kenya and Uganda. Some of these young people were previously child soldiers in Sudan, the native country they now seek to return to and rebuild.

 

Refuge and Hope aims to assist the poor and marginalized, advocate for children of war, partner with churches and organizations, and promote social justice.    

 

Graduates of Samford University and Southwestern Theological Seminary, the Ackers previously served in West Africa with the Fellowship.

  

 

Related stories:
• Ackers open home, family to former child soliders
• Ackers facilitate opportunities for ministry in Africa
• World tour of U.N. goals inspires students

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Stories from the field

The story began in 2001. CBF field personnel Jade and Shelah Acker were working in Sudan at a camp for former child soldiers. Two years later, several of the boys they met in that camp became part of the Ackers’ extended family.  Now, the boys live in Uganda with the Ackers, who minister there year-round. “These guys have impacted our lives in so many ways we cannot hardly remember life before them,” Shelah said. “To describe how much we love them and care for them is difficult – it’s something God has given us for them.”