At the end of September, a small group gathered at Fountainhall Church at the Cross for an ACORN event. The evening was led by ACORN National Director (Scotland), Paul Haringman.
ACORN is an acronym: A – Ask, C – Call, O – Obey, R – Report, N – Notice. It’s a small and simple initiative to help believers step out, follow God, connect with others and then share what God is doing with others in the church.
After introductions, Paul started by asking, “What is it that holds you back from sharing your faith with others?” The answers were quite informative, ranging from fear to lack of understanding.
A very helpful discussion then took place and next we heard from 2 people who have been involved in ACORN for a few years. Their stories were powerful and motivating. They told of personal encounters with people they had not previously known and how they were able to see God at work through them and in the lives of those they had met.
Here is one such story, it was shared by a lady who has been practicing Acorn:
“It was pouring down with rain one day when one of the ladies doing Acorn came across a guy in a wheelchair. She spoke to him and he started talking to her. However, due to a brain injury he couldn’t communicate well and she struggled to make out a word he said. But, the man was so positive that after staying with him for a while the lady walked away with a big smile, even in the pouring rain. At the next Acorn group meeting she acknowledged we can really find God ‘in the least of these.’ The story lifted the others in the group meeting as they noticed God at work. Over the next few months, the lady kept bumping into that man in the wheelchair, and heard a bit more of his (partly harrowing) story. Now he looks out for her and loves to have a chat. Our Acorn friend is wondering what God would like her to do next in connecting with this precious man.”
A big part of the ACORN practice is meeting with ACORN groups regularly and sharing the experiences people had. Everyone emphasized how helpful and encouraging those meetings were.
I left the meeting feeling encouraged and also recognizing that ACORN can be a very useful missional tool for churches.
If anyone is interested in starting an ACORN group or knowing more about ACORN, please contact Paul Haringman at paulharingman.mission@gmail.com