I felt God calling me into full-time ministry at age 13. I took my first short-term mission trip (Costa Rica) when I was 15. I graduated with my M.Div. from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary in 2001. Prior to and after seminary, I taught elementary school, both private and public respectively. Spent a year in Hokkaido, working with a church to multiply. After the completion of that project, I headed down to the Tokyo area to help a different church try to reproduce.

Ministry Assignment:

Church Planting Associate in the greater Tokyo area. LaVera has been with Asian Access since 2002.

Words of wisdom...

Take a short-term mission trip. Take classes dealing with histories and cultures of other nations. Make friends with an international. Talk and correspond regularly with a missionary supported by your home church. And pray, pray, pray.

When you're in Japan, be sure to...

be a learner.

Looking to network with people...

I'd like to hear from Japanese internationals living in the United States about adjusting to life and culture here.

What I've learned here...

In my overseas experiences, God has gotten "bigger" for me, as I've seen Him work in the lives of people who are different from myself. My theology has been stretched, and I've had to let God out of the box in which I try to cram Him. When you see God working in a new way, it's exciting. It compels me to worship. I've learned more about the reality of spiritual warfare.

I've also learned that all people, regardless of skin color, language, or culture are basically the same in terms of needs, wants, dreams, desires, and personalities.

Why I'm with Asian Access...

I chose to serve with Asian Access because of its specific focus and family-like structure. Asian Access focuses on church planting among a strategic unreached people group--the Japanese. After taking a class on church planting and taking a short term trip with another church planting agency, I knew that I wanted to be involved in church planting. Japan is a country that needs church planters. And the Japanese can be then be trained to reach other Asians for Christ.

I chose Asian Access over other agencies because of its family-like structure. Asian Access has been around for a good number of years, but it is still relatively small. Its smallness allows for close communication among its members. The application process with them was so smooth. All of my questions were answered in a timely manner. Even on the field, the family structure remains with Japanese pastors, seasoned missionaries, and associates working together as a team to accomplish a unified goal.

How is God blessing your life and ministry?

God's hand has been so evident in my life throughout my preparation process. He has answered requests almost before they were voiced through arranging job situations to meet my needs, raising up prayer warriors, etc. After I moved, God provided me with a wonderful new church family that has allowed me to stretch myself in my ministry. One of the most amazing things that happened was that I received a scholarship from my seminary that will pay my student loans while I am on the mission field. If I hadn't gotten this scholarship, I would have had to wait up to 8 years before I could leave for the mission field.

Dates:

Birthday : Jan. 15

LaVera's website

Contact La Vera at