On July 22, Asian Access missionary Dr. John Houlette received the Office Fujikake Award for the Japanese version of his book, Resilience: How Japanese Pastors Can Thrive in Every Season. The award is given annually to a new book in Christian counseling by Dr. Akira Fujikake, clinical psychologist, and visiting Professor at the Seigakuin University General Research Institute.

Honshu is the largest of the four main islands of Japan. Aomori is the name of the prefecture at the northern end of Honshu. It is a rural prefecture with a declining population, and its economy relies on farming, forestry, and fishing. In early November, I had the chance to travel there to meet with a group of pastors and discuss ways that Asian Access could potentially partner with what God is already doing in the region. On Friday morning, Pastor Shibuya picked me up, along with five other people from his church, to make the hour-long drive to the city of Hirakawa (until recently, one of the last cities in Japan without a church). As we drove to the prayer meeting,...{addthis off}

Japan 2020 | Connecting through Community Outreach from SIM USA on Vimeo.

Short-term teams and interns will take part primarily in two ministries, both under the leadership of the Japanese Church. First, they will come alongside the local Church to help them host outreach events such as block parties, culture nights, pick-up sports games, dramas, and conversational English practice. These creative avenues to making community connections will leverage the unique skills and gifts of each team...{addthis off}

Japan 2020 | The Opportunity for the Japanese Church from SIM USA on Vimeo.

JAPAN 2020: A FOCUS ON 'ETERNAL HOPE'

The summer of 2020 provides a unique opportunity for us to send workers, as Japan opens its borders for athletes and spectators from around the world gathering in Tokyo for the Olympics...{addthis off}

On behalf of the entire Asian Access family, I want to thank you for your friendship, partnership and generous support. Over the year-end, as you’ll see in our brief video here, the Lord provided more than $565,000 to help us advance the mission of empowering leaders for mission movements in Asia. You were a key part to seeing nearly $316,000 being sent in to match the $250,000 challenge that was given to us. We praise God for you....{addthis off}

Missionaries on alert in the wake of North Korean missile launch

Japan (MNN) — North Korea fired a ballistic missile over Japan’s northern Hokkaido Island into the sea on Tuesday, testing already frayed international relations. Days later, Japan remains on high alert and launched evacuation drills along its west coast.  A missile defense system has been deployed to the west of Japan.  Tokyo also slapped additional sanctions against Pyongyang following repeated missile launches and other unresolved....

Our capstone day for Asian Access Jubilee in Jakarta focused on the perfect theme: The Future is Now!

Dr Ajith Fernando led us in another in-depth devotional focusing on one of the core components to the fruitfulness of Asian Access. He called it "Spiritual Parenthood" but others may call it mentoring or discipleship. It was a powerful metaphor for me given the history and trajectory of our week. You see, Asian Access holds something unique for an organization. Every leader we’ve had within the movement invests in me as the next generation leader. They stand beside me, behind me and support me along the way...

“When we do mission, we need one heart. So we can do it together.”

These two sentences best sum up our commitment to live and work in community. Pastor Yukimasa Otomo shared this with me to describe his partnership with A2 missionaries Robert and Roberta Adair. The partnership between Japanese pastors and A2 missionaries is deep. As Yukimasa Sensei added, “Having Robert [here] is good for me, because I can share my heart.” Robert was excited to partner with this pastor, too...

Team from Japan Learns About Trust

A team of young Japanese Christians recently headed to South Asia. It was my second year leading a team from Japan to this country, and I went with equal amounts of excitement and concern. I was excited about what God had in store for our team, yet was concerned about increased government pressure on the Church in this region. Walking out of the airport, our local partner immediately turned to me and said, "...

Asian Access missionaries recount the early days following the Great Japan Disaster and share how it's been an amazing privilege to journey with the Japanese as they rebuild their lives over the past five years.

TOHOKU, JAPAN (A2) — In the months following the disaster, missionary Sue Takamoto asked a community leader, “So how many funerals have you been to?”...

"If you give the driver chocolate, he will drive you wherever you need to go."This joke didn't actually come from our taxi driver, but from a successful pastor who has been a part of planting over 300 churches, starting multiple children's homes, and having a voice in the creation of Nepal’s new constitution that will protect religious freedom of minority groups. Last week I had the privilege of serving alongside this pastor and his colleagues with three of my Japanese friends...

Background Information:

Roberta was born in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. After graduating from Penn State University she served for three years in Kosovo with The Christian & Missionary Alliance. After completing her term she enrolled in Wheaton College for additional studies in missions. Robert was raised in Texas and is a graduate of Texas A&M University. From 2005-2009 he served in southern Japan with Asian Access. Like Roberta, he returned to the States to study missions at Wheaton College in 2009, which is where their paths converged.

After meeting, dating and getting married, Robert and Roberta discerned that God was leading them back to Japan with Asian Access. They are currently in Japan through a strategic partnership between Asian Access and SIM designed to leverage the strengths of both agencies to more effectively reach Japanese people and strengthen the Japanese church.

Ministry Assignments:

Robert has served with Asian Access since 2001 in a variety of roles.

• Church Multiplication Teams - December 2010-present
• j-Teams Coordinator (2009-present), while pursuing a Masters at Wheaton.
• Church Planting Associate in Kyshu, Japan from 2005-'09.
• j-Teams Leader: 2002, 2003
• j-Teams Member: 2001

Roberta joined Asian Access in 2010.

• Church Multiplication Teams - December 2010-present
• Apprentice Program (Christian & Missionary Alliance)- 2006-2009

Current Assignment:

Robert & Roberta arrived back in Japan in March 2012 after a pre-field assignment, including earning degrees at Wheaton Graduate School.

They are currently serving with Church Multiplication Teams in the Tohoku region of Japan (northern Japan). Their ministry consists of coming along side an existing Japanese church and assisting them in reaching an area where a church does not currently exist. Specific activities include language study, relational evangelism, teaching English, discipleship, coaching, and doing whatever else is necessary to help build the church in Japan.

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