I just came away from an inspiring working session. Asian Access is looking to both deepen and expand our efforts in empowering women who are in ministry. 

One of my colleagues quoted Mao Zedong who said,

“Women hold up half the sky!”

This is so true. In all my years in ministry, it’s astounding to see how many women are the key movers and shakers in the Church globally and in mission. They lead from behind, below, beside and now increasingly from the front. 

The sad part is that they receive such little investment and empowerment. One of the key sessions during the Cape Town Congress in 2010 walked through these issues: Men and Women in Partnership. You can learn more by reviewing that link and the various videos posted there.

Asian Access has seen tremendous fruit from investing in women but we realize we can do so much more. And, now we have women across Asia from many countries who are asking us to invest in them. So this weekend retreat/working session was our opportunity to explore how can we go deeper and grow further. We’ll be exploring this in the coming year and I’m very excited about what God has in store for us.

I’ll never forget co-teaching with my colleague Mary Jo Wilson this summer in South Asia. Many pastors wives attended the sessions and their eyes just lit up when Mary Jo was doing the teaching. It was so encouraging just watching them beaming from ear to ear. You’ve never seen such big smiles!

Most of them as well as other Women in Leadership in South Asia have been asking us to come and so I invite you to pray for us as we look to deepen our roots as well as expand our territory. Pray for us as we seek to empower women in ministry and pray that God provides the resources enabling us to further this important part of the Great Commission.

Mao was right. Women do hold up half the sky! The work they do for the kingdom is simply amazing and I often wonder, maybe they hold up far more than just half the sky!

"There is neither Jew nor Gentile, neither slave nor free, nor is there male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus."
— Galatians 3:28

If this type of ministry inspires you or you feel compelled to help us, especially in funding this enterprise, drop us a line. We’d love to hear from you!

Joe Handley

This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
@jwhandley

More Information

• Lausanne Congress topic: Men and Women in Partnership
• See staff profile: Mary Jo Wilson