Does Asian Access send missionaries to Japan? Actually, no. When a missionary is ready to go to Japan, Asian Access never sends them. There must be a symphony of collaboration among four separate entities, each with different roles and responsibilities. This is what Asian Access refers to as the Missions Triangle:

1. The Sending Church
The missionary's home church is the body which actually sends missionaries. The sending church is responsible for bringing the pre-missionary to Christ, discipling him or her, and bringing them to a point of decision to become a missionary, which may be done in partnership with other sodalities, such as InterVarsity or Bible colleges. Asian Access believes that it is the local church which lays the groundwork for missions to happen. The sending church cultivates the "pre-missionary," confirms each one's call as a missionary, guides each in the decision-making process and prepares him or her for cross-cultural service -- whether locally or abroad.

2. Missionary
The missionary is the "sent one" or the one who has come to a decision -- confirmed by the sending church -- to minister cross-culturally. He or she is the minister of the gospel who brings the Good News of Jesus Christ to people of other cultures. Their responsibility is to faithfully share Christ to those with whom they build relationships. The missionary officially represents Christ and His Church, as well as his or her particular sending church -- and Asian Access -- to those in the host culture. Furthermore, they represent the host church to the non-Christians with whom they come in contact.

3. Mission Agency
The mission agency, Asian Access, exists to start and strengthen Japanese churches. In this triangle, Asian Access serves as the bridge of partnerships between the three other players. Asian Access brings nearly 4 decades of expertise in missions, training, evangelism and church planting in Japan to the equation. Asian Access serves all three other partners by:

• assisting the sending church in reaching part of its mission vision;
• preparing the missionary for service through pre-field training;
• equipping the missionary for more effective service through ongoing development;
• providing the host church with a well-trained missionary for ministry;
• linking both the sending church and the receiving church together and fostering an ongoing relationship between the two congregations.

4. Receiving Church
The host church in Japan is the place of ministry assignment. This Japanese congregation is responsible for utilizing the missionary in an effective and strategic manner for the purpose of starting and strengthening Japanese churches. For more information on how Asian Access partners with Japanese churches, see "Asian Access' Church Planting Partnerships" and "List of Denominations."

Asian Access encourages each entity to foster a relationship with each of the other three parties because it enhances everyone's role in the partnership. If you have any questions or comments about this Missions Triangle, feel free to write us at .