Asian Access

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Joe and Silk: Happy Easter 2019

19-Apr-2019 • Joe Handley

19-Apr-2019 • Joe Handley • blog: From the President

Hi Friends! It’s Good Friday here at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. We just want to let you know how grateful...

Hi Friends! It’s Good Friday here at O’Hare Airport in Chicago. We just want to let you know how grateful we are as we get ready to board our flight back to Japan where we’ll celebrate Easter. We...

Increasing Persecution: How You Can Help

18-Apr-2019 • Joe Handley

18-Apr-2019 • Joe Handley • blog: From the President

Every time I turn around these days there are reports of increasing persecution of believers and churches...

Every time I turn around these days there are reports of increasing persecution of believers and churches in various countries. It seems that persecution is on the rise as nationalism becomes the political...

Shaping Your Culture

15-Apr-2019 • Rod Denton

15-Apr-2019 • Rod Denton • blog: A2 Community Blog

By what you create or what you tolerate
I was recently reminded of the valuable responsibility leaders...

By what you create or what you tolerate
I was recently reminded of the valuable responsibility leaders have in shaping the culture of their organisation. They can shape their culture intentionally, or...

Jason Richard Tan: "Asian Access came at just the right time"

12-Apr-2019 • Jeff Johnston

12-Apr-2019 • Jeff Johnston • blog: A2 Community Blog

Hello, my name is Jason Richard Tan. I was introduced to Asian Access way back in January 2017. And at...

Hello, my name is Jason Richard Tan. I was introduced to Asian Access way back in January 2017. And at the time I was just recovering from the very discouraging and painful ordeal. I had lost my voice,...

Emperor to step down as Japan approaches Reiwa era

06-Apr-2019 •

06-Apr-2019 • • blog: Mission Network News

Japan (MNN) — There’s a new day dawning in the land of the rising sun. Japan’s current emperor – Akihito...

Japan (MNN) — There’s a new day dawning in the land of the rising sun. Japan’s current emperor – Akihito – is stepping down at the end of April. His son, Crown Prince Naruhito, will take over this largely-symbolic...

Details: by Joe Handley; Category: From the President; 29 June 2008

My family, taken June 2008. Today is my first official day as president of Asian Access. And with this post, I enter the blogosphere. I am grateful to God for what He has done in my life to get me to this pivotal point. And I am humbled to be in this position. I am also thankful for my time at Rolling Hills Covenant Church and Azusa Pacific University and what the Lord taught me through those roles and, more significantly, through the people I served alongside. I hope I can apply those lessons in this whole new ministry context. And now I, along with my wife Silk and kids Rebecca, Rachel and John join a new community...

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 27 June 2008

Joe Handley starts work as President of Asian Access on Monday, June 30. As he joins the A2 Community, I thought it would be good to hear from our board members about our new president.

So here are some statements from the Asian Access Board of Directors regarding the selection of Joe Handley as the fourth permanent president of Asian Access:

Ron McMahon

President, McMahon Development Group (San Diego, CA); Chairman of the Board of Directors:

"The Board of Directors was unanimous...

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 15 June 2008

Newly-appointed president Joe Handley sat down with us for a quick 2-minute video introduction.

We are pleased to present, Joe Handley...

Thanks to Hearken Creative for video production.

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 15 June 2008

Public Statement: For Immediate Release (06.16.08)

Asian Access Names Joseph W. Handley, Jr. as New President CHARGED WITH LEADING THE MISSION INTO GREATER EXPANSION ACROSS ASIA

JUNE 16, 2008 | GLENDORA, CALIFORNIA (A2)

Joe Handley, President of Asian Access

Asian Access, an evangelical mission organization announced today that its board of directors has named Joseph W. Handley, Jr., 43, as the organization’s fourth president, set to begin June 30, 2008.

The board of directors noted Joe Handley’s tremendous missions experience and abilities as key factors in their decision. Chairman Ron McMahon stated:

“The board of directors was unanimous. We really like this man that God has brought to us. One of the key factors for the board was to find a person that had the right chemistry for Asian Access—that he and his wife Silk would fit well with the staff...

Details: by Gary & Barbara Bauman; Category: A2 Community Blog; 02 February 2008

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?”...

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 02 December 2007

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.

Details: Category: Mission Network News; 27 November 2007

International (MNN) ― The missionary movement in Asia seems to be growing.

Bruce Johnson of Asian Access reports, "Europe and the U.S. and North America have been sending missionaries over the past decades. However, I've been so encouraged as I've traveled across Asia, and I keep hearing in country after country where they are

...

Details: Category: Mission Network News; 04 October 2007

International (MNN) ― Asian Access has named Bruce Johnson as their interim fourth president. He'll be overseeing the growth of their leader development model across the twenty countries of Asia. Johnson, who joined the organization in 2004, serves as Vice President for Leadership Development.

Of his new

...

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 02 October 2014

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. . ."

Details: by Jeff Johnston; Category: A2 Community Blog; 02 September 2007

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:

Details: by Sue Takamoto; Category: A2 Community Blog; 07 August 2007

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). . .

Just as Esther was given global influence by God to affect a period in history, so too do I see a ...

Details: by Doug & Jeanne Birdsall; Category: A2 Community Blog; 24 July 2007

Refecting on Dr. Ortlund's Passing

By Doug Birdsall

Dr. Ray Ortlund, Sr. 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. . .

Details: by Chinzorig; Category: A2 Community Blog; 17 July 2007

Mongolian wrestling at Naadam Naadam is the Mongolian National Holiday, commemorating the People's Revolution of 1921. Every TV channel would broadcast the man's three games: mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing. It is interesting that in old times these were the main sports/skills needed for the families to survive. Every male was expected...

From the President

From the President blog by Joe Handley

A2 Community Blog

A2 Community blog with posts from a variety of contributors around Asian Access

Mission Network News

Stories about Asian Access published by Mission Network News, a mission news service dedicated to keeping Christians informed on evangelical mission activity around the world. In doing so we hope to educate and motivate Christians to prayer, participation, and support of missionary work to help further the Great Commission.