In 1972 a small group of Christians began discussing the global needs for fellowship and encouragement in the militaries of the world. As a result of this conversation, the Association for Christian Conferences, Teaching and Service (ACCTS) was incorporated a few months later.

Cleo "Buck" and Louisa Buxton were instrumental in the founding of ACCTS. Through Buck's personal military experience and his years with the U.S. Officers’ Christian Fellowship " (of which Buck was the first General Secretary), God began leading them into international military ministry. As the first Executive Director of the newly incorporated ACCTS, he wrote to initial ACCTS supporters: "just as the Lord called me to the OCF in 1952 ...... he directed my sights to other areas of the world where young officers need encouragement. [ACCTS] has felt the need to encourage and uphold people who are or potentially will be involved in the decisions and development of their own country."

With known military Christians in only 12 countries, several ACCTS volunteers began traveling around the world,establishing new contacts. In addition, ACCTS sponsored the travel of Major General Sir Robert and Lady Ewbank, then President of the newly invigorated Association of Military Christian Fellowships (AMCF). ACCTS also began organizing and hosting AMCF conferences during this time. General Ewbank’s involvement opened many additional doors around the world, as well as cementing the cooperative relationship between ACCTS and AMCF.

ACCTS’ ministry operated out of the Buxton’s basement from 1972 until 1981, when it outgrew those quarters. In 1981 staff member Lt. Col. Dell McDonald (USAF, Ret) accepted the position of Executive Director, and other staff members began to join the team.

Under Dell’s leadership of ACCTS, the number of Military Christian Fellowships around the world expanded greatly. Dell and Bette traveled extensively to encourage MCF leaders and members, and were the catalyst for the formation of many of those MCFs. With the expansion in the number of MCFs came corresponding growth in ACCTS’ ministry and in the number of our staff members. Dell and Bette remained on staff as coordinators of ACCTS’ Ukraine Ministry following Dell’s retirement from the Executive Director postion in 1994. ACCTS experienced a deep loss when Bette died in 1997; however, Dell continues to play an instrumental role within Ukraine and in other areas of the world.

Cal Dunlap became the executive director in 1994. Since that time Cal and his wife Linda have furthered ACCTS' growth as an organization and have been instrumental in developing military Christian fellowships and leaders around the world.