About ACT
Active Christians Today has been actively loving God and loving college students in Northwest Ohio since the 1970’s. We have two officially recognized student organizations; one at the University of Toledo and one at Bowling Green State University. Our students come from many different faith backgrounds and some come with no religious background at all. We love everyone of them in Jesus name!
We are not ashamed of the Truth about Jesus! Hidden Truth is not love. Every week we host a large group Bible study at each campus focused on sharing His Truth. We are also committed to integrating His Truth into our lives by living the Way of Jesus! After all, Jesus said, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life” John 14:6. Sometimes we can focus more on the Truth and fail to deeply integrate Jesus Way into our lives. Jesus Truth without the Jesus Way doesn’t lead us to the Jesus Life we all want! Jesus lived out a deep Love of God, love for His students, and love for people far from God (even His enemies). We follow this path or way - a way of living, of knowing, and loving - flowing both from and toward Jesus Christ. His Way leads to transformed lives and communities!
“We can't suppress the Jesus way in order to sell the Jesus truth. The Jesus way and the Jesus truth must be congruent. Only when the Jesus way is organically joined with the Jesus truth do we get the Jesus life.” Eugene Peterson in The Jesus Way
The ACT mission is to Encourage, Equip, and Entrust students to God’s global mission. Our prayer is that every graduating student would leave as fully devoted and equipped followers of Jesus and for them to continue to be active participants in God’s life changing movement locally and globally.
Our Mission
Our Story
Active Christians Today began in the 1970’s by bringing Christ’s global mission to a college university.
How It Started
Active Christians Today (ACT) began in the early 1970s as a ministry of faith at Bowling Green State University. Led by Darrel Fyffe and a group of faculty and students, ACT stepped into uncharted territory and established one of the earliest and most successful campus ministries in the nation.
Expanding to UT
ACT expanded to the University of Toledo with support from Jim Nichols and a dedicated student group. Despite early challenges, including the tragic loss of Bryan and Amber Rowoth, the ministry flourished under new leadership and grew through faith-driven initiatives, such as the first student mission trip to Haiti.
Where We Are Now
Today, ACT continues to thrive at both BGSU and UT, guided by staff who are ACT alumni themselves. The ministry honors its legacy of faith and service, looking forward with excitement to what God will do through ACT in the years to come.
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Donivan Williams
Executive Director
don@activechristianstoday.org
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Michelle Williams
Campus Minister
michelle@activechristianstoday.org
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ACT Board
Need to contact the ACT Board of Directors?
board@activechristianstoday.org
If you would like to talk more about what we teach and believe call us anytime. We are so transparent that you might be able to see right through us (or we try to be, anyway). We prioritize biblical truth, prioritizing the essentials of salvation while respecting differences on non-essential issues, and invite students to join us both in understanding and applying God’s Word together.
Theological Plumbing
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We believe in one true, holy God, existing eternally as Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—each fully divine. God created the world from nothing, revealing His power, wisdom, goodness, and love. He actively works throughout history to fulfill His redemptive plan: showing mercy, answering prayer, and saving all who come to Him through Jesus Christ. God desires to be known, found, and loved.
Genesis 1-3; Matthew 3:16-17; John 16:23-27; Acts 17:27; Micah 6:8; Galatians 4:4-6; Ephesians 1:3,17-23
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Jesus Christ, the second person of the triune God, created all things and took on flesh, and lived among His creation. He began His eternal Kingdom with outcasts and demonstrated His Kingdom Way through His life and teachings. Jesus death and resurrection continues to bring redemption and salvation to all who receive His gift of grace. He continues building His Kingdom through the work of His Spirit and His bride, the Church. One day He will return in glory along with a new heaven and a new earth fulfilling God's eternal plan.
Matthew 1:18-23; Luke 24:1-8; 2 Corinthians 5:19-21; Philippians 2:1-8; Hebrews 4:14-16, 7:24-25; Revelation 19:29
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We believe in the Holy Spirit, the presence of God in the lives of believers. The Holy Spirit has been given to us by God as a comforter, guide, teacher, and down payment on our eternal hope. The Holy Spirit recreates men and women, empowering us to live the new life to which we have been called. His work in us produces lives characterized by love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. Through His Spirit, God grants gifts and abilities to believers for the strengthening of the church. (John 14:16-17; Romans 8:9-14; Galatians 5:22-23; Ephesians 4:11-13)
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We believe in the authority of God’s Word as it is recorded for us in the Bible. This revelation from God has been inspired by the Holy Spirit and is entirely true. Scripture is useful for teaching, preaching and training in faith. God’s Word is the norm and standard for all subsequent Christian teaching. (2 Peter 1:20-21; John 17:17; 2 Timothy 3:16-17)
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We believe in the salvation of humanity by the grace of God through faith in Jesus Christ. By His death and resurrection we are declared righteous in spite of our sins and reconciled to God in spite of our separation from Him. Salvation is appropriated through personal faith in Christ, which is marked by true sorrow for sins, confession of Christ as Savior, and baptism into His name. Salvation is the assurance of an eternal future with God and a meaningful life in the present. (Romans 3:23-26; Ephesians 1:13-14; Acts 2:38-39; Romans 10:9)
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We believe in the Christian church, the community of God’s people founded on the confession of Christ. Jesus is the head of the body, the universal church, which is united by its common faith in Him. The church participates in the worship of God, the fellowship and training of believers, and the spread of God’s love in the world. The ministry of Jesus continues in the church as people love and help those separated from God and others. (Matthew 16:16-18; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-20; 1 Peter 5:1-4; Acts 2:42-47)