The FACT annual Family Festival of Nations is February 21-28, 2021. It's a full week of remembering that the Great Commission is yet unfinished. But we have hope. Scripture reveals when it will be completed: And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in the whole world as a testimony to all nations, and then the end will come (Matthew 24:14). God has raised up The Alliance to be one of His end-times families to carry the gospel to the least-reached places of the world through Spirit-filled, Bible-preaching, people-loving churches. And we won’t stop until the job is done.
FACT is part of The Alliance family, and we get to be part of the unfinished work.
This year’s Festival will look a little different because of the impact of COVID-19, but that doesn’t have to diminish the excitement and opportunity of the Family Festival of Nations. More details below.
In Acts 14 we read about the Apostle Paul’s return to his home church in Antioch, where believers celebrated and reaffirmed the biblical truth that God remains on his unfinished mission to reconcile all people to Himself. That mission didn’t end before the gospel reached us; it hasn’t ended for those still lacking gospel access; and it won’t end until all have had opportunity to hear. God invites us into His unfinished mission. All of Jesus for All the world takes All of us!
> UNFINISHED JOURNEYS
WE INVITE GOD into our own unfinished journeys, allowing Him to mold us into His Son’s likeness and to help us see the world through His eyes. As we grow in our knowledge and understanding of who He is, how deeply He loves us, and to what lengths He will go to bring all people to Himself, our journeys converge with His heart for the world. Each day, we seek His Spirit’s presence, power, and guidance to walk with Him in the path He has chosen for us.
> UNFINISHED STORIES
GOD INVITES US into the unfinished stories of individuals, communities and peoples whom He loves. This invitation propels us to pray, to serve our communities, and to send and support those who have been called to take the gospel to the regions beyond. The Alliance international workers we send and support place themselves in the crossroads of those they’ve been sent to serve-introducing Jesus into the unfinished stories of those in need of the hope only He can offer.
> UNFINISHED MISSION
WE JOIN GOD in his unfinished mission—the Great Commission (Matthew 28:18–20)—until all have had opportunity to hear and respond to His invitation.
Will we join Him? Missions Emphasis in The Alliance is our chance to answer this question in the way He whispers it to us today. Will I do what He asks, joining Him in finishing His mission? Will I give? Will I be a prayer warrior? Will I minister to those in our city for whom it’s been made difficult to turn to God? Am I willing to go serve peoples of the world still living without access to the good news?
Taking the gospel to the remaining unreached peoples of the world requires risk, sacrifice, full dependence on God, and His Spirit’s guidance regarding the true spiritual, physical, and emotional needs of our world.
How will you join the unfinished work?
Special Project
This year's special project is raising money to help with swimming instruction in Central Asia.
Drowning is one of the leading causes of death for children in the target area. The funds raise will go toward the purchase of a portable pool to take into villages as well as 2 new teachers and CPR training for all staff members. The focus will be on water safety, skills acquisition. As students and parents both learn about water safety the likelihood that a family will forever be changed by the tragic realities of drowning decreases.
Be part of this project by placing coins, dollars, or checks in a collection can. Or give online to the Special Project Fund. They're available in the front foyer. Bring your cans back to a service on Sunday, Feb. 28 where we will collect them as part of the Closing Service of Family Festival of Nations week.
Schedule
Note: We whole-heartedly welcome facial coverings at all on-campus / in-person events for your safety and the safety of others in light of the new COVID variants as we gather in light of the unfinished work with care & concern for the whole community.
Sunday, February 21
Worship Service -- 9am or 10:45am / Sanctuary and live.factoccoa.com
Prayer & (provided) Pie -- 6PM / FLC (sign-up required)
Monday, February 22
Family Night -- 7:00PM / FLC (sign-up required. No Nursery provided).
Note: Both of the above events will happen around round tables on the FLC gym floor. There will be limited movement and no room activities as in previous years. You may enter through either the upper or lower entrance. Plan to sit in family groups or with people are you COVID-comfortable being in closer quarters with. Seating capacity for both Prayer & Pie and Family Night is 160. Tables will be set up with 6 chairs each. There will be additional 2-person tables set for couples who wish to exercise more caution. Neither event will be live-streamed.
Tuesday, February 23
Adults/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary and online (must request link)
Kids’ Festival -- 7:00PM / Children’s Wing
Wednesday, February 24
Adult/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary and online (must request link)
Kids’ Festival -- 7:00PM / Children’s Wing
Thursday, February 25
Adult/Youth -- 7:00PM / Sanctuary and online (must request link)
Kids’ Festival -- 7:00PM / Children’s Wing
Friday, February 26
No scheduled events
Saturday, February 27
Men’s Breakfast -- 9AM / Location TBD (sign-up required)
Women’s Brunch -- 9AM / Location TBD (sign-up required)
Note: FACT location will be determined based on number of sign-ups for each group. Food will be prepared/catered and safely served. You will not need to bring anything with you.
Sunday, February 28
Closing Worship Services - 9am or 10:45am / Sanctuary and live.factoccoa.com
Saturday, March 6
Envision Atlanta Saturday: Church-wide opportunity to minister at Parc 1000 (sign-up required). If you desire transportation to get to Clarkston, please indicate that when you sign-up. More information on available activities will be made available soon.
Sign-Up
Please note: this year a number of events have sign-ups for both safety and preparation. Please help us by signing up in advance. Food and seats can only be guaranteed for those who sign up.
Live-streaming
We will be live-streaming certain portions of the Festival.
Sunday Morning Services will be streamed as normal at live.factoccoa.com, YouTube, and Facebook.
Sunday evening, Monday evening, and the Saturday breakfast/brunch will not be live-streamed.
The Tues. Wed., and Thur. evening services will be available online, but will be streamed in a different way due to security concerns. They will not be available at our normal spots like on Sunday mornings and will not be recorded or available for viewing later. You will need to request (in advance) the link and password for each evening you wish to participate from home.
My Faith Promise
God has called each of us to join Him in fulfilling the most urgent task in human history: reconciling all people to Himself.
A Faith Promise is an active step of faith you can take over the next year to give all people the opportunity to hear and respond to Jesus' invitation. The "Faith" part means that you are trusting God to provide; the "Promise" part is your commitment to give what the Holy Spirit has prompted you to give.
Will you join in this unfinished work? Taking All of Jesus to All the World takes all of us. You can play an important financial part in this partnership.
To learn more and complete a Faith Promise Pledge, click the link below. Your Faith Promise is an agreement between you and the Lord and will only be seen and tabulated by the FACT Finance Team. While we will record your giving for tax deductible purposes, we will not track your giving compared to your Faith Promise. Questions? Contact us.
Meals & Food
A highlight of each year’s Festival is the food. Due to the impact of COVID-19 and out of an abundance of caution, we are choosing to reduce the food aspect this year. There will not be any evening meals (Monday - Friday) as part of the 2021 Festival. We know this is a disappointment for many, and we apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.
We will have pie as part of the Prayer & Pie on Sunday, 2/21. The pie will be prepared by a team in advance and served as part of the evening.
We will have a small selection of international desserts on Monday, 2/22 at the Family Night. Again, this will be served directly to each table that evening.
The Men’s Breakfast and Ladies’ Brunch will be catered/prepared in advance and served with safety protocols in place.
We will not be having the International Potluck on the last Sunday, 2/28.
For the 4 events involving food, we very much need you to sign-up in advance to ensure we have enough food and enough seats.
