Asian Access expands upon vision of LIFE Ministries
October 2002
We have a great privilege to serve a God who is a creative God of new beginnings. We see God’s eternal truths demonstrated and presented in fresh ways every generation. God has wonderfully blessed the work of LIFE Ministries over the thirty-five years of our history.
He has prospered our work in Japan of evangelism, planting churches, and developing leadership. We have seen great fruit from our work, for which we give God all the glory.
Just last summer, we are estimating that over 2000 heard the Gospel message through short-term missionaries. About 100 responded with a desire to learn more and over 125 made a profession of faith.
Today, regional church planting networks are expanding in Okinawa and Hokkaido. Plans are being completed for the establishment of five new church multiplication networks in Tokyo, Osaka, and Kyushu. And, Leadership Training Institutes continue to train the most forward-thinking, evangelistically minded pastors throughout the country. Approximately 90% of all church growth, for the entire country, happens in churches led by graduates of LIFE’s Japan Church Growth Institute.
Now, God has impressed on my heart a broader vision to expand the ministry across Asia. The work in Japan will continue on, with the partnership of respected Japanese leaders working side by side with our missionaries. Our work there will begin to go by the name Asian Access/Japan. But, the fruitfulness of the leadership development work in Japan has given birth to new opportunities across Asia.
With the new opportunities, we are changing the name of the ministry to Asian Access. The new name, Asian Access, represents the expansion of the work throughout the region to include twenty countries in Asia. Asian Access symbolizes our desire to provide leaders of the church in Asia with access to the same caliber of leadership development opportunities their North American counterparts would enjoy. Asian Access represents our hope to provide the church in North America access to the highest quality of information and the best ministry opportunities that exist in the Far East. And, Asian Access reflects our longing to be part of the Great Commission so that every man, woman, and child would have access to the Good News of Jesus Christ.
Our name is new, but our ultimate purpose remains the same: to glorify God in all that we do by making Jesus Christ known, loved, and served in Japan and Asia.
Asian Access is clearly an expansion of our ministry horizons. Even now, Asian Access is advancing the important work identifying national leaders to partner with us in more than a dozen countries. Using the model developed and honed in Japan, Leadership Training Institutes are being established, in many countries, at a strong pace. Some countries are up and running, seeing their second and third Institutes training leaders. Other countries are starting their first training within a few weeks, while several other countries are ready to begin early next year.
It is an exciting time as we watch God at work. It is a thrilling time as we see leaders equipped to unite the church, extend the Kingdom, and transform their communities for the glory of God.
Doug Birdsall, President
Asian Access
