"You can sense the energy and optimism of a ministry by visiting its website and meeting the key leaders. But…to know the heart and heartbeat of the ministry, get acquainted with their board members. As the board goes, so goes the ministry. So I’m delighted to say—based on up-close and personal observations and interactions—I know that Asian Access is led by God-honoring board members who care deeply about the Gospel and the Great Commission. And as stewards of the ministry, the board ensures that Asian Access continues to meet or exceed the rigorous accreditation, integrity, and transparency requirements of the Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA)."

Mr. John Pearson
Board Governance & Management Consultant
Author, Mastering the Management Bucket 

Asian Access is privileged to have the guidance and direction of three capable boards of directors:

• U.S. Board
• Japan Board
• Canada Board [dissolved in 2014]

Beyond these boards, each country has its own leadership, usually in the form of working teams, boards and council of advisors.

U.S. Board of Directors

2020 March virtual meeting 

 Asian Access U.S. Board of Directors (March 2018)
L to R: Kaz Uemura, Bill Duncan, Doug Birdsall, Gail Wallace, Steve Woodworth, Joe Handley, Mike Eicher, Kärin Primuth, Phil Foxwell, David Kim, and David Bennett

All board members, unless otherwise noted, are independent voting members.

Dr./Rev. David Bennett [Director, Ministry Committee, chair]
Global Associate Director for Collaboration & Content, Lausanne Movement (LCWE);
Board of Directors, First Fruit, Inc.; Advisor to the India Collaboration
Washougal, Washington

Dr./Rev. S. Douglas Birdsall [Non-Voting Member of Board; Advancement Committee]
Ambassador-At-Large, Asian Access;
Honorary Chairman, Lausanne Movement (LCWE)
Boston, Massachusetts 

Mr. William F. Duncan [Director, Vice Chair; Finance Committee, chair]
Retired CEO, ISU-The Olson Duncan Agency
Redondo Beach, California 

Mr. Michael C. Eicher[Director, Advancement Committee]
Senior Vice President for Advancement, The Ohio State University
Columbus, Ohio

Mr. Philip R. Foxwell [Director, Board Chair; Ministry Committee]
CEO, Foxmark Strategic Partners
Tokyo, Japan

Dr./Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr. [Director, Ex-Officio Member]
President, Asian Access
Los Angeles, California

Ms. Janice Munemitsu [Director, Advancement Committee]
Spiritual Director, Biola University/Talbot Seminary
Corona del Mar, California 

Mrs. Kärin Butler Primuth [Director, Ministry Committee]
CEO, visionSynergy
South Pasadena, California

Mr. Francis Tsui [Director, Ministry Committee]
President of DMC Investments Ltd. (Hong Kong)
Chairman of Asia Church Missionary Society 2012-present
Hong Kong

Mr. Kazuaki Uemura [Director, Secretary, Finance Committee]
Attorney & President, Law Offices of Kazuaki Uemura
Torrance, California

Mr. Steven Woodworth [Director, Advancement Committee, chair]
President, Masterworks
Seattle, Washington

Recently Rotated Off

Mr. David D. Kim
Chief Mobilizer/Chairman/Co-Founder, Telos Ventures
Menlo Park, California
 

Emeritus Members

Mr. Thomas Bradford, Jr.
President, Atlantic Sales & Service
Birmingham, Alabama

Rev. Toshio Maehara  [Senior Advisor]
Senior Pastor, Gospel Venture International Church 
Palos Verdes, California

Japan Board of Directors

Asian Access Japan Board of Directors photo taken in 2015

Rev. Makio Kodaira 小平 牧生 [Chairman]
Senior Pastor, New Community
Kobe, Japan

Rev. Jiro Chida 千田 次郎  [Director]
Senior Pastor, Keisen Christ Church
Yamagata, Japan

Rev. Naomi Koganei 黄金井 尚美 [Director]
Senior Pastor, Onoue Seiai Church
Hyogo, Japan

Rev. Ryoichi Masuda 益田 良一[Director] 
Senior Pastor, Grace Community
Sapporo, Japan

Rev. Masahiro Matsumoto 松本 雅弘 [Director]
Senior Pastor, Cumberland Presbyterian Koza Church
Kanagawa, Japan

Dr. Yukikazu Otomo 大友 幸一[Director]
Pastor, Shiogama Bible Baptist Church
Miyagi, Japan

Rev. Kazumi Sako 酒匂 一己[Director, Finance Committee]
Senior Pastor, Jesus Way Community 
Wakayama, Japan

Rev. Shinji Takita 滝田 新二 [Director]
Senior Pastor, Katayanagi Evangelical Free Church
Saitama, Japan

Mary Jo Wilson ウィルソン・メリージョー [Director]
Vice President for Japan, Asian Access
Los Angeles, California, USA

Rev. Yoshiya Hari 播 義也 [Director]
Senior Pastor, Keisen Christ Church Saikyo Hope Chapel and National Director of Asian Access Japan
Saitama, Japan

Rev. Hikari Suzuki 鈴木 光 [Director]
Senior Pastor, Katsuta Church and Director of Asian Access Japan
Ibaraki, Japan

Canada Board of Directors (1985-2013)

We want to thank these dear friends. The Canada Board of Directors was dissolved in 2014 as a result of the new strategic partnership for Japan with SIM. But these were the outstanding individuals who served so faithfully for over 25 years.

photo of Canada Board of Directors, taken November 2011

Mr. Gordon Cleasby
President, Western Imperial Magnetics

Mr. Eckhard Draheim
Retired

Mr. Alan Lackie
Retired

Mrs. Patricia Lackie
Administrative Assistant, UBC

Mr. Donald Hawkes
Transit Operator, TransLink