One-Percenters... that build a culture of excellence

Details

by Rod Denton

Category: A2 Community Blog

25 January 2021

I was most interested to learn from a family in my church about their recent holiday in another state. Even more so when they had taken the time to visit a very well known church in that state. I asked them what was it that impressed them most about the church and what could we learn from them.

Their reply surprised me. It was the carpark attendants that impacted them and would even prompt them to return to the church again. They told of how the carpark attendants:

Read more ...

ReIGNITE Hope

Details

by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

22 January 2021

I am so thrilled to join the board of a great ministry birthed from my home church, ReIGNITE Hope. Several years ago, seeing the plight of the homeless and the prisons of LA, my former colleague Steve Bunyard launched this ministry and now he’s serving with them full time. I joined the board last fall because I’m so proud of what they are doing and because we have a mutual interest in partnership.

Read more ...

Asian Access to pursue growth in Middle East and North Africa

Details

by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

21 January 2021

Middle East/North Africa (MNN) — Muslims are coming to faith in Christ in unexpected masses, and they need biblically-based leaders. More about that here. Leadership training is an Asian Access specialty, but will it work in a Muslim-dominant context?

Believers must have an intimate knowledge of the culture they’re working in, and cultural norms across most Asian countries differ vastly from those in the Middle East and North Africa. That means leading and multiplying churches in Asia seems like it requires a different approach than in Muslim-dominant countries of the MENA region.

Read more ...

New year presents new opportunities in MENA region

Details

by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

20 January 2021

Middle East North Africa (MNN) — The Middle East and North Africa region is a critical ground for the hope of Jesus. According to the Pew Research Center, Christians comprise less than four percent of the region’s population, whereas 93-percent of the population follows Islam.

Asian Access President Joe Handley says missional plans in the MENA region are starting to shift, and the ministry needs your help to enter new territory.

Read more ...

Christians respond as Indonesia hit by back-to-back disasters

Details

by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

19 January 2021

Indonesia (MNN) — The search for survivors continues today in West Sulawesi, Indonesia. “[A] 6.2-magnitude earthquake hit West Sulawesi on January 15; 81 people die[d] and more than 1,000 houses [were] damaged,” Asian Access leader Juserdi* says.

The International Red Cross reports local and international first responders working side-by-side to comb through the rubble, searching for anyone who may be alive in affected areas. Multiple disasters, including landslides, flooding, and volcanic eruption, are stretching resources and manpower thin, making recovery efforts even harder.

Read more ...

Resilience

Details

by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

15 January 2021

My colleague John Houlette just completed an outstanding book for Japanese pastors. And, the principles and stories are ones that will help you thrive in every season.

I encourage you to get a copy and learn, not only how Japanese church leaders can thrive but also how you can thrive. You can access a copy here:

Resilience:
How Japanese Pastors Can Thrive in Every Season

Read more ...

LECTIO 365: a devotional tool for 2021

Details

by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

14 January 2021

Perhaps you've resolved in 2021 to read more Scripture or to pray more consistently. If so, I think you’ll enjoy this new prayer app that a friend recommended to me. It helps me do both—to actually pray the Scripture every day!

It’s a short, simple, daily reading and prayer prompt that I’ve found to be helpful in my devotion times recently: LECTIO 365 is a daily devotional app for your mobile phone or tablet.

My friend has been using it with a few of his prayer partners as a way to share what God is doing in their lives each day.

Here's more information about LECTIO 365 from its website...

Read more ...

Survey says: no Tokyo Olympics in Summer 2021

Details

by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

12 January 2021

Japan (MNN) — Support for the Tokyo Olympics just hit a new low in Japan. The latest spike in Tokyo’s COVID-19 infections has 80-percent of Japanese residents saying the Summer Games should be rescheduled again, or canceled altogether.

“People have different feelings. Some [are] saying, ‘it’s impossible so let’s give up’; [the] government hasn’t,” Takeshi Takazawa explains. Takazawa is Vice President for Missional Engagement and is the former National Director for Asian Access in Japan.

Read more ...

Looking Back on 2020, Praying Forward

Details

by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

11 January 2021

Dear Friends,

As 2020 wound to a close, the Lord impressed on me the following passage:

"In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind." —John 1:4

LOOKING BACK ON 2020

2020 was such a disruptive year. Yet the life of Christ is the light of the world. That gives me hope heading into 2021. I pray that your Christmas and New Year’s celebrations brought joy and the reminder of what is most important, even in the midst of the challenges from 2020, some of which continue to persist.

Read more ...

COVID-19 surge puts Tokyo under state of emergency

Details

by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

11 January 2021

Japan (MNN) — The world’s most populous city is now under a state of emergency thanks to soaring COVID-19 infections. Japan reported 6,100 new cases on Thursday, with roughly half coming from Tokyo. The emergency declaration began Friday and will end on February 7.“

Over the Christmas into New Year’s holidays, we couldn’t change the trend of steep [infection] increases, especially in the bigger cities. Hokkaido and Osaka requested ‘state of emergency’-type restrictions; however, Tokyo never went into that stage,” Takeshi Takazawa explains.

Read more ...

2020 Highlights: Top Stories from Asian Access

Details

by Jeff Johnston

Category: A2 Community Blog

30 December 2020

God at Work During a Trying Year

2020 has been a very trying year for everyone. Yet God was at work in amazing ways. These stories help us remember His faithfulness through the past year as He continues doing a good work in us. Thank you for your partnership in prayer and giving that made these stories possible!

Now, out of the 128 blog posts from this year, here are some of our top stories from 2020...

Read more ...

2020: Dark Clouds. Silver Linings.

Details

by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

28 December 2020

2020 has been a challenging year for all of us. COVID-19, the global economy, and polarizing politics have left their marks. The 2020 Olympics were delayed and countless people have suffered and hundreds of thousands have died from the pandemic. It all certainly made for a tough year for you and me.

Amid the Dark Clouds though, I was able to report several Silver Linings during our recent Asian Access board meeting. For these, I praise God and am reminded of the importance of giving thanks, even for the challenges we have faced.

Read more ...