Joe Handley becomes the fourth president of Asian Access in its 41-year history. The new president starts on June 30, 2008.
Asian Access, an evangelical mission organization announced today that its board of directors has named Joseph W. Handley, Jr., 43, as the organization’s fourth president, set to begin June 30, 2008.
The board of directors noted Joe Handley’s tremendous missions experience and abilities as key factors in their decision. Chairman Ron McMahon stated:
“The board of directors was unanimous. We really like this man that God has brought to us. One of the key factors for the board was to find a person that had the right chemistry for Asian Access—that he and his wife Silk would fit well with the staff family—as well as the capabilities for the role. We feel God has clearly blessed us with Joe Handley.”
Handley has served for nearly a decade as Associate Pastor of Outreach at Rolling Hills Covenant Church (www.rollinghillscovenant.org), a large evangelical church in Southern California committed to sharing the Gospel both locally and globally. During his tenure, the church planted several churches in the region and overseas, developed a local compassion ministry, and the number of missions participants nearly doubled. Previously, Handley established the Office of World Mission at Azusa Pacific University (Azusa, California), which mobilized hundreds of college students for global mission trips.
At its May 13 meeting, the Asian Access board extended the invitation to Joe Handley, and after carefully considering the call, Handley accepted the new post. In a family letter to Asian Access staff dated June 7, Handley wrote:
Toshio Maehara has just published a new book about biblical principles of business.
Toshio Maehara released his new book today at a dinner celebration in downtown Tokyo sponsored by publisher Word Of Life Press. The book, entitled "Business Principles From The Bible," explores seven Old Testament leaders to share important lessons with this fairly unreached segment of the Japanese population. OT businessmen studied are Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Joseph, Moses, Solomon and Job.
Maehara, a Japanese businessman himself, serves as president of Maehara & Associates based in southern California. In addition, he is founding pastor of Gospel Venture International Church (Torrance, CA) and brings this unique blend of pastoring and business experience into his writing.
Among his many roles, Pastor Maehara is also a valued member of the Asian Access board of directors.
In Shizuoka, Japan, the annual gathering of JCGI Networks (formerly Japan Church Growth Institute) was the stage for an important figure in Japan Christianity to step down from his post as Chairman of the Board. Rev. Reiji Oyama had served as Board Chair for over twenty years, taking over from Rev. Hatori. He continues as Senior Pastor of Bible Christ Church in downtown Tokyo.
Long-time Vice Chairman Rev. Paul Ariga becomes the new Chair of JCGI Networks. Dr. Ariga also serves as President of The All Japan Revival Mission.
Bruce R. Johnson is Asian Access' VP for Leadership Development and becomes Interim President on October 1, 2007.
Bruce R. Johnson is set to become the 4th president of Asian Access. At its June 5 meeting, the Asian Access board named Johnson as Interim President, effective October 1, 2007. Johnson, who joined the organization in 2004, serves as Vice President for Leadership Development. He will carry both roles and responsibilitie, which include overseeing the design and implementation of the Asian Access leader development model across twenty countries of Asia.
Johnson said, "I am eager to take on this new role at this time. The mission and vision of Asian Access have crystallized to the point that everyone in this organization understands where God is leading us. We have excellent people in the right places. But we need more resources to continue moving this ministry forward with momentum across Asia." [more...]
For the second straight year, Asian Access (www.AsianAccess.org) has received the Standard of Excellence award in the Non-Profit category in the Web Marketing Association's eleventh annual WebAward Competition for Web site development.
"AsianAccess.org was developed as a gateway for North American Christians to partner with the Church in Asia to extend God's Kingdom," says Jeff Johnston, Vice President for Communications at Asian Access. "We are humbled that our efforts have again been recognized by... [more...]
Asian Access announced that Elizabeth Crabtree will be heading out in a few days to Okinawa, Japan to join a church planting network project and help a church to multiply. As a Church Planting Associate Elizabeth will serve one church in the network, but also be a part of a team of church planting missionaries assisting six churches. There is much growth in the churches in Okinawa.
Asian Access announced that Jeff & Nozomi Johnston and their two children, Zack and Ellie have landed safely in Japan on August 21. Jeff serves as VP for Communications, and the couple hopes to contribute to the church multiplication movement in Japan. On the local level, the family will be helping Japanese to plant a church in NW Tokyo.
Asian Access, an evangelical mission organization announced today that the organization’s third president, Rev. S. Douglas Birdsall, will be stepping down on September 30, 2007.
Birdsall, who assumed the position in 1991, is also the Executive International Chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE). He cited the need to focus exclusively on Lausanne movement as the primary reason for stepping down as president of Asian Access. However, he will continue on as an Asian Access missionary, seconded to LCWE and will also continue as a member of the Asian Access board of directors. [more...]
Asian Access is pleased to report that Craig & Yumiko Chapin have been deployed to Japan, arriving on June 3. The Chapins will spend their first term working with Christ Bible Institute / Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya to train lay church members and Japanese pastors.
It started in Japan in 1967 as the Language Institute for Evangelism. It later became LIFE Ministries. Now it's known as Asian Access.
Asian Access has gathered more than 150 of their workers from across Asia to celebrate what God has done. Speaking from Malaysia, the President of Asian Access Doug Birdsall says the growth has been phenomenal. "Over the course of the past 40 years the ministry has grown from Japan to reach across Asia. And we've got all of our people here from Japan across to India, from Mongolia in the North to Sri Lanka in the south."
While they're excited about the number of people turning to Christ and the number of churches planted, Birdsall says challenges in the form of persecution are growing, especially in areas like...
Outsourcing telemarketing, technical support and other call center activities from North America and Europe to India has created an economic boon for the country.
David Dayalan
serves as Regional Coordinator for A2/North India
Gurgaon, a satellite city of New Delhi, is just one area that's thriving. Buildings are going up quickly and drawing many young employees. They've become the focus of outreach for Asian Access trained pastors.
Speaking from India, Asian Access' David Dayalan, says it's a 'call center culture.' "It been the past five years since we've had the call center culture. In fact, those of us who are based in an urban setting, all of us have been trying all ways (and) methods to..."
Japan broke two postwar taboos last week, as its Parliament voted to bring patriotism back into the classroom and to expand the status and mission of its military forces. These are efforts to rebuild national pride and end six decades of constitutionally enforced pacifism.
Peter Thomson serves as Director of Missionary Personnel in Japan
It's unclear what this will mean for the church, in Japan, but many are hoping it teaches them to be bold in their faith.
Director of Missionary Personnel in Japan for Asian Access is Peter Thomson. He says that pacifism affects the church. "Many churches have a very 'survival' mentality..."
Bruce Johnson serves as VP for Leadership Development
Nepal has seen incredible political changes in the past year. Last April, the country went from an absolute monarchy to a constitutional democratic government, moving from the world's only Hindu kingdom to a secular nation. In November, the government and the Maoist rebels brokered a peace treaty to end over a decade of civil war.
"These kinds of changes happening across that region (are) just phenomenal," says Bruce Johnson with Asian Access, "and again it's without tremendous civil wars just upheaving those countries, but allowing basically a fairly peaceful turnover into a democratic society."
"I want to give you a little report on what happened to close the week's training following your excellent teaching. The pastors you taught decided that they wanted to pray about these things that they had heard during the week. The exciting thing for me was that leader after leader had listed on his paper items that had been raised by your teaching. Lots of concern for marriage and family health and oneness... [more]
Asian Access strategic ministry highlighted by Mission Network News
Asia (MNN) -- 85-percent of the world's unbelievers live in Asia. As the Gospel penetrates, the church is growing faster than leaders can be trained. That has resulted in cults and heresies.
Asian Access' Doug Birdsall says four decades ago, they recognized the potential of the Asian church body and began making an investment in the future of the church in Asia. "This is a microcosm of the global church, as we now know it. The idea was to connect them, to develop them, to inspire them, to resource them as the next generation of leaders in the... [keep reading... or LISTEN to 4.5-minute MP3 of radio broadcast ]
Asian Access wins 2007 "Standard of Excellence" WebAward
Asian Access wins Standard of Excellence Award
2007 non-profit WebAward given to AsianAccess.org
Asian Access has been recognized for the second straight year by the Web Marketing Association for its high Standard of Excellence award in the Non-Profit category in the Web Marketing Association's eleventh annual WebAward Competition for Web site development.
Last November, Asian Access has graduated its first class of participants in Cambodia. These new graduates have bonded with one another over the last two years. Despite denominational differences, they have planned numerous several joint activities... [more]
7th Church Joins Church Planting Network in Okinawa
Good reports are emerging about the churches in the new Okinawa church planting network. The second network will bring more churches, but fewer missionaries together for this venture. The vision for church multiplication is growing in Okinawa! Pastors boldly want to multiply their churches to reach Japan and Asia for Christ. Several of the network pastors come with experience in birthing daughter churches and their desire is to learn and improve what their churches are already doing. Others come with a desire to see their churches multiply. And the network is growing. A seventh church has just joined!
Rev. Hiroshi Kawasaki [National Director, Asian Access/Japan] and I met with the pastoring couple of a cell church in Sapporo to discuss the formation of our next church multiplication network in Hokkaido. This church was planted thirty years ago and transitioned to cell groups through Asian Access 11 years ago. This couple is very interested in not just being a part of the network but even playing a leadership role. The pastor shared, 'I've heard Pastor Kawasaki talk about these Church Multiplication networks for years. But we have been pouring all our energy into developing cells locally. But now, the time has come to move forward with Asian Access to develop a CM network!"
We've added five more items to our list of 15 reasons why we're here:
1) Japan continues to be a country of major influence among world powers, yet without any strong moral compass to guide them. 2) The family in Japan is falling apart. 3) Japanese youth are in trouble. 4) Japanese people are hungry to know God. 5) God continues to call us to be here, and to equip us for the task.
Japan Stories features brief stories and even some video from Asian Access missionaries serving in Japan. Get the latest on life in Japan, being a missionary, and opportunities with Asian Access. Laugh with us. Cry with us. Best of all, come to Japan and join us!
Contrary to popular belief, Japan is far from being a "reached" country with a growing, vibrant church. In fact, Japan has fewer baptized believers in Jesus Christ than some Muslim countries.
Christianity in Japan has faced an uphill battle for hundreds of years. Religious freedom didn't come to the island nation until around the time of America's civil war.
Sung & Nicole Park
Asian Access @ Urbana Student Missions Convention
7th Church Joins Church Planting Network in Okinawa
