If you have checked out the Asian Access website, you already know about our strategy of fostering networks of churches where each participating church plants a new church. I want to share the latest news about how things are going. In a word, “rockin”!
“Rockin” because...
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When I first went to our Japanese neighbor's house and met Helen, it was clear to see from the sparkle in Katsu's eyes that she was Daddy’s girl. And the tenderness with which he talked about her disabilities was surprising to hear from a Japanese man.
She’d already spent the first fifteen years of her life with only one good eye, and virtually no hearing, but it didn’t seem to have affected her independent spirit. Then again, independence is second nature to... a cat.
With Katsu's affection for Helen, it wasn’t too much of a surprise that when we started the book of Genesis in our Sunday evening Bible study, he was very interested in the creation of animals… and man… and the difference between them.
“What does it mean that God breathed life into man?”
“So do animals have souls?”
“If animals don’t have souls, will there be animals in heaven?”
All I could say was. . .
November 26, 2007
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 is the new Chair of JCGI Networks. Ariga also serves as President of The All Japan Revival Mission.
In this photo, Rev. Oyama is on the left, Rev. Ariga on the right and Doug Birdsall in the middle. Birdsall was also honored at a dinner, having served as President of Asian Access for 16 years.
"So Pastor Sako, how was your summer? What did you do?"
"Well, Peter, I went for a drive."
"That sounds nice, where did you go?"
"Japan," answered the pastor.
"Well, yes, seeing that we are an island, that's obvious."
"I drove around Japan," he continued. "Literally."
Thus began an amazing discussion I had with Kazumi Sako, a pastor from Wakayama Prefecture (near Osaka) and a proven leader...
Public Statement: For Immediate Release (09.30.07)
New Asian Access Leader Continues Mission and Vision of Developing Leaders and Multiplying Churches
GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA (A2) | September 30, 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 his responsibilities 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."
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AsianAccess.org earns second consecutive non-profit award from Web Marketing Association
SUMMARY
Asian Access (www.AsianAccess.org) has been recognized for the second year in a row 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. Asian Access provides leadership development and support to emerging pastors who multiply churches across Asia.
September 21, 2007
GLENDORA, CA (A2) - 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. Asian Access provides leadership development and support to emerging pastors who multiply churches across Asia.
"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 the Web Marketing Association with this WebAward. A few years ago Asian Access changed its corporate name from "LIFE Ministries," as we began expanding to several countries outside of Japan. At that point, we needed to transfer some content from our previous website LIFEjapan.org, but also re-engineer the new site to better fit the scope of our widening corporate vision. One enhancement since last year that likely contributed to our award was adding our new flash video player to highlight our new DVD, A2:RE:DEFINED."
More than 2,400 sites from 40 countries were adjudicated in 96 industry categories during this year's competition. Entries were judged on design, copy writing, innovation, content, interactivity, navigation, and use of technology.
"Many of the entries this year continued to show impressive creativity and technical innovation to win in this year's WebAward competition," (www.webaward.org) said William Rice, President of the Web Marketing Association, Inc. (www.WebMarketingAssociation.org). "While some companies are constantly improving their Web efforts in small ways, others are making incredible leaps ahead. The WebAwards has always been a great way for Internet professionals to showcase their work and gain recognition and marketing opportunities for web development that sets the standard for the entire industry. We’re pleased to announce that one of the winners of this year's WebAwards is Asian Access" (www.AsianAccess.org).
Last Friday, my son shouted the customary “Tadaima” (I’m home) as he came through the front door after school. He’s in the fourth grade at the local elementary school, which means in just two more years his schoolwork may well be beyond the capabilities of his parents.
A few minutes after his arrival, there was a knock on the door and in came a schoolmate. I thought to myself,“How nice. He’s having a friend over.” Two minutes after that, the front door flew open and down the hall ran another friend. My home office, which is in the front of the house, usually provides a nice vantage point to observe who is coming and going, but this kid was a blur.
As I got up to investigate the blur, four more boys were coming through the front door. I wasn’t sure if I was still thinking that this was nice.
“Umm, son, what’s going on?” I asked.
“Just having some friends over, dad.”
“OK, but perhaps next time give us some warning.”
“OK, dad.”
So now what? Seven fourth graders were bouncing off the walls, pulling out the Game Cube, and crowding around our TV...
(More) Exactly 20 Years Ago
Celebrating the 20th Anniversary of first arriving in Japan
At this very moment on September 6, 1987 I was walking out of customs at Narita Airport in Tokyo to explore Japan for the first time. I had just finished college at the University of North Carolina, where I became a Christian. At the end of my senior year, I signed up for a 1-year stint as an English teaching missionary with Asian Access (formerly LIFE MInistries) in Tokyo. My life would never be the same.
Walking out of the customs doors into the airport arrival area made the reality hit: "This wasn't Kansas anymore; I was in a totally different country. . ."
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This was an encouraging letter sent to an Asian Access faculty member. . .
ASIA
[edited for security]
Dear J.,
I want to give you a little report on what happened to close the week's training following your superb teaching.
The pastors decided that they wanted to pray about these things that they had heard you teach on during the week. So, at 3:00PM we began to pray. This is how they organized it: Each participant listed four or five issues on a sheet of paper, and then over the next few hours each leader prayed in turn for every other participant in the group.
Fourteen leaders were praying for each other and then also being prayed for. When they go into this mode, mind you, they do not pray for just a minute or two, but in most cases it was 15-20 minutes for each person. By 5:45PM they had prayed over four of the fourteen. After supper, we resumed prayer again at 7:30PM and they finished about 11:00PM that day. I don't think I have ever prayed so intensively in my life.
The exciting thing for me was that leader after leader had listed on his paper issues that had been raised by your teaching. Many of these issues concerned marriage, family health and unity ("oneness"). And the participant who was the coordinator for that week wrote five items on his sheet, every single one of them encapsulated your teaching, especially with regard to his relationship with his wife.
I can't help feeling that especially in his case your visit was most timely. That is such a good investment to make at this time in our work here. Without a doubt it was an especially rich time, and possibly a very critical one for us at this time in the work of equipping leaders. Time will help us see this better.
I want to thank you for coming to be with us at this very busy time in the life of your church. But I am also deeply grateful to your church family because this is a commitment the entire church is making to the worldwide kingdom advance in Asia.
Warm affection to all our friends there, and peace and grace to the entire church family.
Sincerely,
"Asian Access Staff Member"
Related:
Refecting on Dr. Ortlund's Passing
By Doug Birdsall
The Asian Access family mourns the loss of Dr. Ray Ortlund who was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday evening, July 22. Ray played an invaluable role in the life and mission of Asian Access. During the 25 years that he served on the board, Ray was an inspiring role model to every person in the Asian Access community. He was a friend and pastor who loved God, loved people and loved life. . .
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Reflecting on Doug's Decision
As I blended into the crowd of 350 other Christian leaders gathered from across the world at a small seminary in downtown Budapest, there was one person who, try as he might, could not blend in: Doug Birdsall. It was very clear to me and the 349 others at the Lausanne International Leadership Meeting that here was a man whom God has anointed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:4). . .
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When I first arrived in Japan twenty years ago with eight other missionary recruits, we were met at the airport by a man named Doug Birdsall. As the mission’s field chairman, Doug could easily have sent someone else to pick up nine groggy newcomers, but he came himself. He wasn’t too important for that. . .
Asian Access' mission statement is to "identify, develop and release leaders." We consider those three verbs to be core competencies. They are at the heart of what God has called us to do. Each of them is a challenge unto itself. But it is the final one that can be the most emotionally challenging. . .
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Public Statement:
For Immediate Release (06.12.07)
Asian Access President Plans to Step Down in September; Interim President Named.
Douglas Birdsall resigns to focus on Lausanne movement
GLENDORA, CA (A2) June 12, 2007 - 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.
“After much thought and prayer, I realized that I could no longer effectively lead both organizations. I remain committed to the people and the vision of Asian Access. I am grateful for the evidence of God’s provident Hand in using everything I’ve experienced up to this point to prepare me for this new role with Lausanne. I want to give it my all. I also realize that Asian Access is at a point in its growth where it needs the undivided time and passion of a new leader who can take the ministry forward.”
Ron McMahon, Chairman of the Board of Directors, expressed the board’s unequivocal appreciation of Rev. Birdsall’s tenure.
“The board deeply loves Doug and Jeanie, and we wish them the very best as they follow God’s call. We appreciate the manner in which they have led this mission with progressive vision and untarnished character. Doug’s sixteen years at the helm sharpened our ministry by focusing all our work on developing leaders and multiplying churches.”
The ministry launched in Japan in 1967 as “Language Institute For Evangelism,” pioneering short-term English teaching as a means of evangelism. In the 1980s, the organization became known as “LIFE Ministries” and began to train Japanese pastors, as well as to explore new models of church planting. In 2002, it adopted the name “Asian Access” to reflect its widening scope outside Japan.
Under Birdsall’s direction, the mission expanded beyond Japan into several nations across Asia, with plans to establish work in 20 countries by 2012. Current countries include Cambodia, India, Mongolia, Myanmar, Nepal, Sri Lanka, and closed countries whose identity must be guarded. These networks have grown to include hundreds of leaders across Asia who have been trained by Asian Access.
McMahon confirmed that the board accepted Birdsall’s resignation from the post, stating, “While we are sorry to lose Doug as our leader, we see this development as a kingdom advance, not as a setback. Our mission is to ‘identify, develop and release kingdom leaders.’ In keeping with this objective, we feel we are releasing Doug to pursue his expanded calling.”
“As an organization, one of our core values is generosity, and we must let Doug pursue this larger vision.” McMahon added. “God will bless His Kingdom through Doug’s new call. And we embrace this new calling for him. Even so, the board has asked Doug to remain on as an Asian Access missionary and a board member for the foreseeable future. We’re pleased Doug accepted our request.”
The 53-year-old Birdsall added, “We have deep affection for Asian Access. Jeanie and I consider ourselves part of the Asian Access family, and have for 28 years since we first joined the mission and moved to Japan. We’re eager to remain Asian Access missionaries, and I’m honored to serve on its board.”At its June 5 meeting, the Asian Access board named Bruce Johnson as Interim President, effective October 1, 2007. Johnson, who joined the organization in 2004, is a current staff member and also serves as Vice President for Leadership Development. His responsibilities include overseeing the design and implementation of the Asian Access leader development model across twenty countries of Asia. The board also established a search committee and a process to find a permanent replacement.
Dr. David Bennett, a member of the Board of Directors’ search committee said, “Doug is stepping down when the ministry is expanding and with a capable leadership team already in place. We don’t see a major shift in direction. We know God’s vision for us and are continuing to pursue it energetically and enthusiastically. Transitions can be challenging times, but they also help deepen our trust in God. As our recent 40th anniversary celebration in Malaysia demonstrated, the Lord has been faithful to Asian Access over the last four decades, and our mission’s future is bright as we hope to identify our fourth permanent president by the spring of 2008.”
Asian Access, based in southern California, develops leaders and serves as a catalyst to multiply churches across Asia. The organization trains Asian pastors and deploys missionaries to Japan to partner with Japanese churches. Asian Access is a member of Evangelical Council for Financial Accountability (ECFA) and Evangelical Fellowship of Mission Agencies (EFMA). For more information, Asian Access can be found on the internet at www.asianaccess.org.
Press Contact:
Jeff Johnston, Vice President for Communications
Asian Access | P.O. Box 200 San Dimas, CA 91773 USA
telephone: 626) 914-8990, ext. 240
email: jjohnston-AT-asianaccess.org
web: http://www.asianaccess.org
media kit: http://www.asianaccess.org/media
A team of Asian Access staff bloggers bring you their posts from the A2 Community.
