I’m delighted to welcome my friend, Patrick Fung, to the Asian Access council of reference. Patrick is a seasoned mission leader who started as a medical doctor in mission and then moved toward mission leadership through OMF. Today he leads one of the most historic missions, founded by Hudson Taylor originally known as the China Inland Mission.

"Asian Access (A2) is committed to developing Christ-like leaders with an integrated approach with the goal of reproducing other leaders and multiplying churches. I pray that God will use Asian Access to change the few who change the many for His Kingdom as God gives the growth (1 Corinthians 3:7)."

Rev. Dr. Patrick Fung
General Director of OMF International
Singapore

As our world becomes increasingly complex, I’m thrilled to announce that James Choung has joined our Council of Reference. James leads strategy and innovation for InterVarsity USA and these are days where these two attributes are essential for ministry. He’s also a student of Dr. Bobby Clinton in leader formation which has been so vital to Asian Access. He’s adapted the ideas and framework Bobby developed for the next generation, a generation that is pivotal for the future of the Church.

"It might be cliche to say that leaders aren’t born, but made, but it’s hard work to develop leaders over a lifetime. I’m thankful that Asian Access does the needed work to empower and equip Christian leaders throughout the world."

Rev. Dr. James Choung
Vice President of Strategy & Innovation, InterVarsity Christian Fellowship
Los Angeles, California

"Asian Access provides a needed service for businessmen and women in various countries to build community through high quality education but most importantly by providing the context for accountability, encouragement, and growth."

Eden Chen
Co-Founder & CEO, Pragma
Los Angeles

I’m pleased to welcome Eden Chen to our Council of Reference. We met a few years ago and his contribution to Asian Access has been multi-faceted. A few years in, after a few consulting opportunities, he taught for us in Taiwan as we were launching our A2.business community.

Since then, we’ve interacted several times most recently with him advising us on our Digital Platform. How timely too. Eden is a key player in the tech industry, having founded a few companies that are making a significant dent in that space.

Asian Access has been using and experimenting with a remarkable app for the last three years. It's a mobile, micro-learning platform called Gnowbe.

And, So-Young Kang, the app's founder has been a friend since I met her while she was leading another startup called the Awaken Group.

"Asia is rapidly increasing in her global leadership and influence and she needs authentic, Christ followers to lead. The work that Asian Access is doing to develop leaders in a holistic way is critical to transform the next generation."

So-Young Kang
Founder & CEO, Gnowbe and AwakenGroup
Singapore

I’m excited to announce the most recent leader to join the Asian Access Council of Reference.

Grace Samson-Song is someone I met during my research on Polycentric Mission Leadership. The insight she offered related to leadership and the Lausanne Movement was most helpful and as you look at Grace's story and background, you’ll see the wisdom and experience that flows from one who follows Christ deeply and knows what it takes to lead well in the present environment.

"Although there’s a place for mass evangelism, training and developing leaders has proven to be the most effective long-term strategy for reaching the world with the gospel. I deeply appreciate the strategic nature of how A2 develops leaders. Going deep is aiming high, and tackling a small number of leaders at a time is so biblical—it reminds me of the powerful potential of a mustard seed."

Grace Samson-Song, CPCC, ACC
Executive Coach, Trainier, Author: Crossing Intersections
San Jose, California

Every once in a while, you come across a powerful testimony that you just have to share. The other day, on a global prayer call with 50+ of our Asian Access global family, we had one of our leaders share the impact of the program on their country. The story was so compelling that we wanted you to be able to watch or listen… Take a listen! And, thank you for praying and partnering with us to see this kind of transformation happening...

“I am extremely encouraged when I hear of an organization with a vision to influence leaders, local churches, church networks, and entire countries for the sake of Christ and His Kingdom. Such is a biblical vision that demands appropriate action! Asian Access has that vision and is on the move! They understand as the Lord of the harvest sends laborers into His field, such servants need to be properly nurtured and developed for the multiplication of disciples, leaders, and churches. Check out their passion,...

The reputation of Asian Access was not built in a day. Over the past fifty years, all the dedicated staffs of Asian Access have greatly contributed to spreading the Christian truth and hope throughout Asia, the largest and the most populous continent where Christian population still remains a minority. I believe that Asian Access, with its clear...

It is a great privilege to join the Asian Access Board to participate in the good work of a vibrant and fruitful mission team who has already labored in Asia for half a century. I aspire to serve alongside some very dedicated and experienced leaders who have the land and the people of Asia in their hearts. After many decades of effective...

Earlier this year, we were extremely fortunate to have Edmund Chan share a few days with us at the A2 Global Leaders' Summit. As our keynote speaker, he brought three messages that stirred our hearts. If you didn't get a chance to read Joe's perspective regarding these messages, each post is listed below. Near the end of the A2 gathering, I was eager to sit down with Edmund and have him share more wisdom on leadership with the Asian Access community. I've posted two particular clips below: one where he endorses Asian Access and one where he exhorts our leaders. I'm sure you'll be encouraged by both...{addthis off}

"In this country, everything is kept secret. No one shares openly. But, this week at A2 has been different. I’ve been surprised at how open everyone is, sharing about everything they are going through. This is so powerful, I want my husband to attend again!"

Recently Silk and I had the privilege of teaching for our "Marriage and Family" module in a South Asian Buddhist country that we cannot name for security reasons. In fact, it’s a country we just launched last year. At the week-long session, we met Darwa, the wife of an Asian Access participant in that country. She was attending the A2 session along with all the other spouses and kids of the current participants. But Darwa piqued my interest when she declared, "I had no idea how good this was!"...{addthis off}

Asian Access was so impressed, I asked her to join our board!

A year ago, my friend and colleague Adrian De Visser suggested I get to know Janice Munemitsu. What a powerhouse! Upon Adrian’s recommendation, I quickly invited her to teach with Asian Access and boy was I impressed. She co-taught with me in Cambodia which she references below and as I got to know her that week, I thought, Janice would make a great board member. That led us on a several month journey of discernment… More on that later. But first, check out Janice’s sharing about her time in Cambodia...

"Asian Access understands leaders cannot be mass-produced. They are investing deeply in the lives of individual Christian leaders across Asia who in turn are reaching their nations for Christ. They are imitating Jesus’ ethos and strategy and the ripple effect is changing the spiritual climate on the...

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"I had no idea how good this was! "

Silk and I recently had the privilege of teaching for our Marriage and Family Module in a South Asian country that we cannot name. Pictured here (with a blurred face) is one of the wives who was surprised by the benefit of Asian Access. She said she was skeptical about coming for this week and even wasn’t sure the program was all that important for her husband, who pastors a church in their country and leads a network of ministries and churches...

During our recent graduation week in Myanmar, we were at a special dinner one evening and one of the participants burst out in appreciation for Asian Access. She was so exuberant that you would’ve thought Asian Access was Jesus himself! I asked her, can we have you share on video and she not only said “Yes” enthusiastically but suggested her husband, who I later learned was on the local Myanmar Working Team, should join her. Wow, what a powerful couple and amazing testimony. You won’t want to miss it! It’s five minutes but boy is it worth it. You’ll catch their enthusiasm in this video but I must confess, they are even more crazy powerful in person....