For the second year in a row, "Adventures in Odyssey (AIO)," Focus on the Family's kids' radio drama, is joining forces with Christian bookstores across the country.

Starting in June, the A.C.T.S.! Summer of Service Challenge, which also features the partnership of Tyndale House Publishers and Good Goers, will encourage children to complete 12 hours of service this summer—on their own, with their family or church.

Service logs will be available in more than 400 stores. Children who participate can download a free AIO episode, and kids can also return to stores to collect stickers of favorite Odyssey characters for each hour served.

Organizers hope that the challenge will help children learn the value of giving their time, talents and abilities to help people in need.

"We want to remind kids that they have a part to play in God's story, and serving is an easy way for everyone to take part in that," said Jesse Florea, editor of Focus' Clubhouse magazine, AIO's official publication. "The challenge is a fun way for kids to learn about serving, but the end goal is that kids will deepen their walk with Jesus Christ through serving Him."

During the July 1-Aug. 16 period, children (ages 8-15) can also enter the A.C.T.S.! video contest by submitting a two-minute video, detailing how they served and why they would like to be one of the first official AIO Ambassadors. Many stores will host special recording events, and children who record their video in stores will receive an AIO prize.

From the videos received, 100 third place winners will be selected to win a $25 AIO product prize. Of those, 24 finalists (12 boys and 12 girls) will have their videos posted for online voting from Sept. 1-15, and two grand prize winners (one boy and one girl) will be announced Sept. 25 through an AIO webcast. The grand prize winners will receive an all-expense paid Good Goers adventure-based mission trip with a parent to serve orphans and spend a day of rafting in an overseas location.

Organizers hope 4,200 children will sign up to serve for a total of 50,000 hours of service. AIO is kicking off the campaign via a live launch party webcast at 5:30 p.m. EST, May 22, and will provide details on the contest's grand prize trip location. Viewers can watch the webcast online at whitsend.org/acts. For more information or to register, visit whitsendblog.org/acts/.

In 2012, more than 350 Christian bookstores nationwide encouraged AIO fans to submit videotaped auditions this summer for the "Get in the Show" contest—marking the 25th anniversary of the program.

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