Violence escalates as Hong Kong protests enter week 10

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by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

16 August 2019

Hong Kong (MNN) — As protests in Hong Kong hit the 10-week mark, some demonstrations have turned violent. Protests at the airport caused the city to ground all flights yesterday. What started as a cry of concern for extradition legislation has turned into a demonstration built upon years of frustrations.  Francis Tsui, a board member of Asian Access, says the protests have thrown Hong Kong into the most serious crisis it has experienced in decades. The demonstrations, which are the largest and longest the city has seen in some time, have significantly disrupted daily life. And it is dividing the local Church, too. “Initially, when the focus of the protest [was] quite clear on trying to fight against the...

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Bended Knees -- Being here was a breakthrough for me!

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

31 July 2019

“Being in Myanmar was a breakthrough for me.” – Pastor Hikari Suzuki

A few weeks ago, Silk and I had an exhausting and inspiring in Myanmar with the pioneering leaders of our Pan Asia Leader Development (PALD) group. This is our first cohort of specially-chosen A2 alumni—two leaders each from five of our Asian Access countries. Our five days together included many long bus rides as we visited areas in Myanmar pertinent to the country’s history, especially as it relates to the growth of God’s kingdom. We were sleep deprived but exhilarated...

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The Wind of God is Blowing (in Japan)

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

25 July 2019

For I will pour out water on the thirsty land And streams on the dry ground; I will pour out My Spirit on your offspring And My blessing on your descendants. – Isa 44:3

Vision Festa: an inspiring gathering of Japanese leaders

Ever since the Japan Evangelism Congress in 2017, Japanese Church leaders have been gathering together seeking to double the percentage of Christians in the country (Lord willing by 2023) and praying for a 10x10 blessing (by 2024) where Japan will receive 10 times the blessings. Vision Festa is where leaders come together to share inspiring reports of what God is doing in Japan and this year we were encouraged once again by countless stories of how God is moving in Japan. Between the sessions, I heard stories of many coming to faith and several baptisms; far more than I am accustomed to hearing living here. Every year I leave inspired with what God is doing but this year felt special. It feels like God is on the move and that we are on the cusp of a breakthrough...

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Hong Kong protests provide opportunity for peace, reconciliation

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by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

18 July 2019

Hong Kong (MNN) — Protests continue in Hong Kong this week. Thousands of senior citizens joined in the latest demonstrations. Meanwhile, Hong Kong police called for protection after one activist allegedly bit off part of an officer’s finger. Those participating in Hong Kong protests want current government officials to step down out, and “an investigation into police tactics,” the Associated Press reports. Demonstrators also want assurance they won’t be punished like those who led the 2014 “Yellow Umbrella” protests. Last week, Hong Kong Executive Officer Carrie Lam said the controversial extradition law which began the current movement was “dead”, but she stopped short of taking the bill off the table. Referencing a recent blog...

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Discipleship ROI

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

16 July 2019

There is no greater Return on Investment than discipleship and investing in other people.
– Mike Duke (former CEO of Walmart) 

A few weeks ago, Asian Access had a wonderful gathering in Tokyo with marketplace leaders. Edwin Keh, former Senior Vice President at Walmart and Professor at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania joined us utilizing a 4-hour video interview he conducted with Mike Duke, quoted above. They taught on discipleship as an opening topic for the orientation and launch of Asian Access/Business (known as A2.business) for Japan. As Mike’s quote suggests, far more than his investment in...

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Cometh the hour, cometh the Church—

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by Anonymous Guest Writer

Category: A2 Community Blog

10 July 2019

The Role of the Hong Kong Church in a Society in Turmoil

by an Anonymous Guest Writer

A possible call to action for the HK Church:

1) The Church could be the broker for a resolution between the HK Government and the youth. There is need for dialogue, but neither side trusts the other; here is our opportunity to step into the breach.
2) The Church can help Chinese Government understand HK better. China now recognizes the need for new ways to administer HK. Through this the HK Church may speak to the mistrust and persecution of the Chinese Church by the current Chinese regime.
3) In practical ways the Church can help the HK Government improve housing programs, drive economic opportunities, and reduce social tension through political reforms.

I was reading the papers Saturday and I came across the following letter to the editor...

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10:2

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

02 July 2019

The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few. “Therefore pray to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into the harvest.” – Luke 10:2 Maya Chittry, one of our national directors, recently spoke to a conference in Japan on the topic of intercession. She shared about a group of ladies from her country that regularly gather together for prayer. They often fast and pray for their nation, the communities and families they have, and for other countries. I’ve even experienced them praying for me and my family several times over the years. She talked about how a Buddhist leader in one village who was stridently anti-Christian came down with boils. It just so happened that Maya’s ladies had been praying for that village for six months. When this Buddhist leader was at his wits end in trying to solve the problem, he called the ladies to pray as a last resort and he got healed. Today his whole family are believers in Jesus... 

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A man who has been "changing the few who change the many"

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by Noel Becchetti

Category: A2 Community Blog

28 June 2019

Meet Mike Hoisington, Asian Access faculty

As you may already know, the national leaders for Asian Access are volunteers. While Asian Access raises funds to help underwrite the direct expenses for the programs, the national leaders donate their time and efforts, which they contribute over and above their full-time ministry responsibilities. What you may not know is that this is also true for Asian Access’ faculty. The men and women who invest in the lives of our leaders are also volunteers. They include veteran pastors, experienced missionaries, gifted community leaders who donate their time and talents to build into the lives of the Asian Access participants. One such faculty member is Mike Hoisington. For nearly 20 years, he has taught for Asian Access in at least 10 Asian countries. “I’m not good with dates or locations,” Mike told me with a grin. “I think it’s 10 countries.” (I wouldn’t be surprised if it were more.)...

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Hong Kong protests adopt Christian hymn as anthem

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by Mission Network News

Category: Mission Network News

25 June 2019

CHINA/HONG KONG (MNN) — The politics of mainland China’s relationship with Hong Kong have never been simple, but new regulations have just made things even more complicated. According to Joe Handley of Asian Access, thousands of young people in Hong Kong have been protesting a new extradition law. “That extradition law allows anybody who’s being prosecuted in Hong Kong to be taken to mainland China for their prosecution,” Handley says. “That means they won’t be prosecuted here in the courts of Hong Kong, they’ll actually be taken to mainland China under their jurisdiction rather than the type of jurisdiction they’re used to here in Hong Kong territory.” ...

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Followers Create Leaders!

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

19 June 2019

Asian Access is honored to have one of our very own, Takeshi Takazawa, contribute to a significant new work about leadership called Missing Voices: Learning to Lead Beyond Our Horizons. I received a pre-released copy of the first chapter where Takeshi offers several important insights from an East Asian perspective about leadership. Having read this chapter alone, I’m eager to get a copy of this book as soon as possible! To give you a bit of a teaser on some of what Takeshi offers...

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The Fruit of Changing the Few

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

17 June 2019

Recently Pastor P from SE Asia shared this with me: Wow!!! It is another God's breakthrough because of your unwavering support in prayers. Let us celebrate for the mighty acts of God through our partnership! God's wonderful saving grace has been falling on these Buddhists and Hindu kids today, our intensive evangelism at God's Fam Church! By the working power of the Holy Spirit, these kids are brought into the Kingdom of God as they received Jesus Christ into their hearts and lives. I just can't stop saying thank you to Jesus and to you as well, for such great honored of seeing the lives that God saved!!! Praise the Lord!!! Pastor P is a graduate of Asian Access as well as a...

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Your Church is Like a Factory

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by Joe Handley

Category: From the President

14 June 2019

Not long ago, one of our national directors was sharing about visiting a leading pastor in his nation. He was visiting to see if they could work together toward human rights in the nation. They are a country whose Christian population is constantly scrutinized and often persecuted for their faith. He went not knowing what this well-known pastor might say. In fact, he wasn’t even sure he’d be willing to help because often churches like this one, led by this pastor can become insular focused exclusively on their own congregation. However, this day, the famous pastor said to the Asian Access country director, ...

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