What is Speed The Light?

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, creative communication, and compassionate demonstration” equipment for missionary evangelism. Through modern transportation, radio, television, print, audio, and digital equipment, our missionaries can help make Jesus known.

Speed the Light 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. It began in 1944 after Ralph Harris, then head of the National Youth Ministries department, prayed for a way to give Assemblies of God students the opportunity to help missionaries in their work.

Nearly 75 years later, Speed the Light is one of the most effective youth missions ministries in existence. Since its beginning, over $300 million has been raised for missionary equipment around the world. And, Speed the Light is still helping to disciple students to live a life of generosity as they become personally responsible for the mission of God by helping our missionaries make Jesus known throughout the world. Speed the Light operates with one guiding principle: all assistance must go to purchase equipment directly related to evangelism.

If our missionaries are going to get to those who do not yet know Jesus, 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, snowmachines, horses, camels, donkeys, wheelbarrows, etc…if it has wheels or hooves and can carry a missionary to a country, city, town, village, or under a cardboard box where someone is waiting to hear about Jesus, Speed the Light has provided it.

Simply put, we give so our missionaries can travel faster, preach clearer, and be heard louder in order for all to know Jesus.

Current STL Projects for 2023-24

These are projects that we are working on to partner with Alaska based U.S. and World Missionaries as well as organizations we partner with through Speed The Light. It takes a lot to purchase vehicles in other countries with taxes, tariffs, and other costs. Every dollar we raise matters and goes a long ways to spreading the gospel.

Vehicle | Chris and Lindsey Carter

$40K Project - The Carters are missionaries to Tskuba, Japan where they Pastor a church and impact the college campuses in their city.

Watch this Speed The Light video.