The concept is simple: we give so others can speed the light of the gospel to a world in darkness. This is accomplished by providing the "essential transportation and creative communication" equipment for missionary evangelism. Through modern transportation, radio, television, the printed word, and equipment for mass evangelism, our missionaries can better fulfill the Great Commission. Speed the L
ight (STL) is the student-initiated, volunteer, charitable program that provides much-needed equipment to missionaries across the nation and in over 180 countries around the world. Since its beginning, STL has raised over $253 million for missionary equipment around the world. (For more information on STL, click here: Knowing Speed the Light.) Speed the Light began in 1944 after Ralph Harris, then head of the National Youth Ministries department, prayed for a way to give A/G students the opportunity to help missionaries in their work. Now, by providing ministry equipment to our missionaries, STL is training the young people of America to develop individual ownership of the Great Commission as they help our missionaries spread the gospel message to the lost. Today, Speed the Light is one of the most effective youth missions ministries in the church world. Assemblies of God students have accepted a great responsibility to voluntarily sacrifice and raise funds to purchase the equipment. STL operates with one guiding principle: All assistance must go to purchase equipment directly related to evangelism ("evangelism" is defined as propagating the gospel and instructing converts). STL equipment has not been nor is presently given for promotion, solicitation, or normal administrative functions. If our missionaries are going to get to where the lost live, it will be because of Speed the Light. Every missionary in the Assemblies of God will at some point fly, drive, or float to their destination in transportation that has been provided to them by our churches and students through Speed the Light. Airplanes, cars, vans, motorcycles, bicycles, trucks, buses, boats, horses, camels, donkeys, wheel barrows, etc., if it has wheels or hooves and can carry a missionary to a country, city, town, village, or under a card board box where someone is waiting to hear about Jesus, Speed the Light has provided it. We give so our missionaries can travel faster, preach clearer, and be heard louder, in order that Heaven might be a bigger place…filled with people from every nationality, color, and tribe who have accepted Him as their Savior.
