About Us
ACS empowers Asian missionaries to reach the unreached, plant new churches, and disciple believers.
Our Mission
Since it’s inception in 1966, ACS has been passionate about finding ways to encourage and empower Asian Christian workers. This work began in northern Myanmar but has spread throughout the country and across borders into NE India, Thailand, Laos, Bangladesh, and western China. Today there are thousands of churches and over a million Christians living in SE Asia because of the faithfulness of these Asian missionaries. And there is more work to do. So, our mission remains – Empower indigenous Asian missionaries to share the Gospel and take the love and saving Grace of Jesus to those who are lost.
You Can Help
Pray
Pray regularly for these workers and for fertile soil and for us as we support their work.
Give
Your gift provides everything from support for evangelists to plant new churches in new villages throughout SE Asia, to the establishment of schools and orphanages, to ongoing relief for refugees and those displaced by disasters. Take a look at the current opportunites.
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Leadership
ACS Founders are LaVerne & Lois Morse
LaVerne was the youngest son of J. Russell and Gertrude Morse who began missionary work in Tibet in 1921 and then into China in 1927 until 1949. Laverne and Lois, along with his brothers Eugene and Robert, their parents and all their families served together in Burma from 1950 – 1965. Laverne established ACS to broker resources to empower and support the ongoing work of Asian Nationals to reach into all the Southeast Asian Countries. LaVerne actively led ACS through 2011 while serving as a Professor of Missions at Cincinnati Christian University for 27 years. LaVerne graduated to Heaven in 2016. Lois also graduated to Heaven in 2023.
Kent Odor
Chairman of the Board
Kent Odor
Chairman of the Board
Kent married Marcia, the first-born daughter of LaVerne and Lois in 1975. Kent was aware of the Morse’s mission in SE Asia as a youth because his father, Ivan Odor, as a pastor was a pioneer of the Faith Promise Rally movement of mission support in the 1960’s and 70’s. Kent is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University. Kent’s career was in executive leadership in Mega-Churches in Indianapolis, Chicago, Las Vegas, and Cincinnati. He is currently on staff and is a consultant to church leaders in the USA. He has been a teacher in the international mission’s class, ‘Perspectives on the World Christian Movement’. He has made numerous trips to Asia and has been an ACS board member since 2007 becoming Chairman in 2014.
Mark Morse
Director
Mark Morse
Director
Mark, the only son of LaVerne and Lois was born in Burma in 1957 and spent his early childhood there. While a student at CCU he achieved his bachelor and master’s degrees and became involved in supporting the Mission and many projects that LaVerne led. Mark established himself in business and found that his business success was an essential means of furthering the Gospel in Asia. Mark has now founded a cluster of businesses and built a network of supporters in an organization called Companies for Christ. Mark has been to Asia on multiple occasions and was handed the baton as the Director of the mission in 2011 as his father stepped down.
Marcia Morse Odor
Board Member
Marcia Morse Odor
Board Member
The daughter of LaVerne and Lois was born in Yangon, Myanmar (Burma). She is a graduate of Cincinnati Christian University. She has traveled back to Asia multiple times and has also served as the co-editor of ACS publications. Marcia has spent immeasurable time chronicling the videos, photos, and print work of ACS since it began. She has served on the board since 2012. Marcia and Kent have four children and nine grandchildren.
Mike Gerber
Board Member
Mike Gerber Odor
Board Member
Mike joined ACS having a long career in lending and finance. He grew up on a grain and livestock farm in Southern Ohio. He graduated from The Ohio State University with a degree in Agriculture. After a time in production agriculture, Mike began to spend his career in ag and rural lending serving ultimately, as President and CEO for Farm Credit of Western New York and later President and CEO of Farmer Mac in Washington DC. After his retirement, he served as an Executive Pastor for a Christian Church in Maryland. He currently serves as a board member at The Church Development Fund and as the ACS liaison with STADIA, a large worldwide church planting organization. Mike is an active supporter of a number of mission works around the world and has made several trips to Southeast Asia to teach leadership, and hog production. He and his wife Lee Ann served on an extended visit in SE Asia in 2018. They are an active member of Compassion Christian Church in Savanah, Georgia. His wide experience and love for ACS have been a gift to the ongoing work.
David Brachemyer
Board Member
David first met LaVerne at the Missionary Convention in Knoxville in 2001. This encounter led to three trips with LaVerne to Cambodia in 2002-2004 as a co-teacher in leadership training seminars. David and his wife spent 7 years on staff with The Voice of the Martyrs. He retired in 2014 and joined the ACS board. He currently serves the mission as the coordinator of disaster aid requests from Asian workers and the USA disaster aid providers. David and Cheryl are active in the Cedar Creek Church of Christ in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.
Chuck McDaniel
Board Member
Chuck McDaniel
Board Member
Chuck and his wife Mary have been global mission supporters and encourager of Kingdom expansion throughout their marriage. Mary is a M.D. and together they have taught CHE (Community Health Education) in Africa, South and Central America and Asia. Chuck retired from a career with Proctor and Gamble in international logistics. He became acquainted with ACS through a volunteer team that supports the ACS work in Taunggyi, Myanmar. He has now made multiple ACS trips to Asia and both he and Mary have taught many Asian workers in various practical skills. He is a leader in the International CHE movement.
George Drake
Board Member
George Drake
Board Member
George Drake has been a Board Member and was a traveler to Asia with LaVerne for 15 years. George and his wife Pixie have been active members of Southeast Christian Church in Louisville, KY for most of their lives. George retired from an IT career to expand his service for Christ more broadly in Louisville and beyond to other places in the world. George’s encouragement, prayer and wisdom are a foundational piece of the work of ACS.
Dr. George & Elaine Breuer
Boots On The Ground
Dr. George & Elaine Breuer
Boots On The Ground
George and Elaine joined the board in 2012 as the mission treasurer at LaVerne’s invitation. George retired from his career with the State of Iowa’s Public Health and Environmental Lab at the University of Iowa. Elaine was a teacher and taught for 16 years in the Cincinnati public schools. George’s skill and steady hand proved essential to the expanding work of ACS and our need to support the ACS national team in Asia. He retired from his treasure position in 2020. He and Elaine are active in the Christ’s Church at Mason, Ohio.
Dr. Van Bissel
Board Member
Dr. Van Bissel
Board Member
Vern and his wife Judi have been global mission supporters and a friend of ACS for many years. After a full career of computer programming including among other things, work on the Apollo Project in the 60’s and the national weather service in the 70’s. They together became actively involved in the lives of Chinese International students in the Northwest. For the past 20 years he has been involved in mission work in East and Southeast Asia with many trips to Asia. He has in recent years added writing Christian apologetics for science and the reliability of the Genesis record. His wide experience has brought appreciated wisdom to the ACS board.
Nate Bush
Board Member
Nate Bush
Board Member
Nate Bush serves as lead pastor of New City Church in Albuquerque, NM. In 2010 New City was born out of family prayer time in Nate’s living room and is now a flourishing congregation of imperfect people being courageous, believing in the power of Jesus to make all things new. Nate has passionately worked toward building a church that makes a renewal impact in the city of Albuquerque. Nate traveled with STADIA to visit ACS in Thailand in 2019 and fell in love with the Mission. He has become a strong proponent of the work of our team across the sea.
How We Accomplish Our Goal
ACS works with SE Asian nationals, local churches and Christian Organizations that minister in the countries of SE Asia. Our ACS mission involves radio broadcasting, literature translation and preparation, village medical services and leadership training seminars as well as personal visits to the men and women we partner with in SE Asia.