A2 Blog Centre

Retreating for a Vibrant Community

Mission Network News

Jesus called them together and said,

"You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave— just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Matt. 20: 25-28

Not long ago our staff met in Japan for our annual Spring Retreat. It was a delightful time as family together worshipping, relaxing, and having fun together. We spent some time in God's Word going deeper together as we sense the Lord calling us over these next few years. We also spent a good deal of time getting to know our new strategic sending partner, SIM USA. It was a great time together.

These retreats are so important to our mission family as they solidify our relationships and hold us together in our vision "to see a vibrant community of servant leaders, leading the Church across Japan." In order to do this together, it takes a lot of support: a diligent and faithful leadership team pulling together all the details and a crew of volunteers to help us worship Christ and to shepherd our children while the parents spend time together.

This year, we had a wonderful team from King's Harbor Church in Redondo Beach, CA serving in a dual capacity as the worship team and the children's ministry team. They embodied one of our core values: servant leadership. They called themselves "Team Undone" and you can follow their blog of their time in Japan here. We couldn't have asked for a better team, as they served us so well and the wonderful news is that they want to return and improve their service. Imagine that, they were outstanding as is, and they want to get even better.

They truly modeled what Christ talks about above to his disciples as they served us right and left. Team Undone, thank you for your wonderful spirit and service. We couldn't have had such a fruitful time of fellowship and retreat without you, and we are grateful for you!

Joe Handley
President

We want to hear from you. If you have reflections on servant leadership or want to encourage Team Undone, drop me a note at: jhandley@asianaccess.org

P.S. - Thanks to Ken of Team Undone from King's Harbor Church for use of his photos.

Garrett Inouye, missionary candidate, shares his call to Japan

Mission Network News

A2 missionary candidate Garrett Inouye shares about deeper issues in Japan. This is a compelling visual you've got to watch, and you can also read his thoughts below...

From Garrett Inouye:

My heart broke for Japan on a train in Tokyo. I was on an missions trip the summer of 2005, and as I was looking around at the other passengers, I felt God open my heart. He revealed that beyond the technology, fancy clothing, and apparent wealth, Japan was a land that was longing for the Gospel. And that most likely my team and me were the only Christians on the train.

However, my initial reaction wasn't to embrace this feeling, rather it started an internal struggle between God and me. To be honest, at the time I really didn't like Japan. I thought it was hot, humid, smelly, small, and there wasn't enough food. I missed southern California with our sunny skies, perfect temperature, and free refills at McDonalds. It also didn't help that every missionary I was talking to mentioned that ministry in Japan required long-term commitment. But God's call is a gift and His way is grace.

One night while I was internally wrestling with God, our team went to a prayer chapel. I figured that since this was a house of God, I would tell him to give me clear direction or I would choose to reject a calling to Japan. So I said, "God, if you want me here long term, speak to my emotions!" Then I sat and waited for God to make something happen in my heart… After 30 minutes nothing happened, so I said, "God, if you want me her long term, speak to my mind! Give me a vision or something like that!" I sat and waited for another 30 minutes and nothing came to my mind. Frustrated, but also maybe a little relieved that God hadn't said "Go", I said, "God! If you want me here long term, speak to me in an audible voice!" And as I waited I listened as hard as I could! Slowly a whisper began to emerge from the silence, and it got louder and louder. My heart began to beat really fast because I was hearing "God's voice", but then I realized it was just the man seated behind me whispering his prayers. At that point I just gave up and told God, if he wanted me to minister in Japan long term then that he had to confirm it before the end of the night.

Well later that night I had dinner with a group of friends. One of them told me that a missionary we both knew felt like God was calling me to missions in Japan for longer than 1 year. It was at that moment that God answered my prayer and confirmed my calling to Japan. I no longer had any reason to doubt, and I accepted the call to Japan.

More Info:

Garrett Inouye is a SIM Appointee for service with Asian Access in Japan under the new A2/SIM strategic partnership.
Garrett's website: http://www.garrettinouye.com
Garrett on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/garrettjinouye

Effects of Japan tsunami still spreading

Mission Network News

Tsunami impacting hearts, Japan, now North America

JAPAN (MNN) ― The effects of the 2011 Japan tsunami and earthquake are even more widespread now than they were 14 months ago.

Reminders of that fateful day remain for miles in Japan, deeply embedded in the hearts of survivors, and stretching as far as another continent.

Debris has been piling up on the coasts of Alaska, the state of Washington, and British Columbia for weeks now. Although most cannot be confirmed to be from the tsunami, many items have Japanese writing on them and include things such as building insulation, shoes, and soccer balls. A motorcycle with Japanese license plates from the tsunami hit area even washed up in British Columbia.

It's proof that the tsunami effects have now spread to North America.

Within the nation, debris removal, home repair, and open space where buildings once sat serve as daily reminders of a tragedy that occurred over a year ago.

There have been large efforts with debris removal, says Asian Access (A2) missionary Takeshi Takazawa. He says most major items have been removed. "If you come and stand in the tsunami-hit area, you will see the vast space without anything: foundations here and there of leftover buildings," notes Takazawa.

The open space is a credit to the debris removal teams, but a painful reminder to tsunami victims. Not only are their cities wiped out, but the spaces of nothingness where buildings and houses used to stand also indicate the large number of people still without permanent homes. Thousands of survivors—originally estimated at 320,000—remain in temporary housing.

The housing situation, in particular, has added to another set of problems. Although the first year of post-tsunami care was about keeping people alive and safe, says Takazawa, "Now a majority of the survivors are in temporary housing. They struggle with a sense of loss of possession as well as loved ones, families, relatives, friends. At the same time, they struggle with the loss of their hometown."

Emotional wounds cut deeper and deeper as days of loss pile on. Suicide has become increasingly prevalent in Japan; suicides are up to five times more frequent in Japan since the tsunami hit than the national average of years prior, says Takazawa.

A2 has been able to step in with removal, rebuilding and physical aid, but especially after a year of aid, their focus is increasingly on emotional and spiritual health.

"The most important thing about rebuilding is rebuilding of the community, rebuilding of the people's heart, way more than the physical space of buildings," explains Takazawa.

A2 is accomplishing this inner rebuilding in large part through consistency. A2 missionaries, in partnership with other organizations and churches, have been visiting survivors in their home on a regular basis, building relationships, committing to just listening to the residents, and praying if they feel comfortable.

This sort of consistent contact even helps in suicide avoidance. Takazawa says since the likelihood of suicide increases as people are isolated for long periods of time, and depression sets in, A2 partners mobilize teams to visit often.

The results of this compassion have been notable. The tsunami-hit region of Japan was one of the least evangelized areas in one of the least evangelized countries in the world. People were closed to the Gospel, and therefore little Gospel work was being done there.

But as A2 and other believers have reached out to the area, a radical change has taken place. People are exceptionally more open to the Good News of Christ and have come to see the church in a completely new light.

"They see the Christian church as something that they need in their society and in their life," says Takazawa. "God has opened receptivity in these communities."

God continues to create beauty from the debris of tragedy, and A2 is serving an integral role in His work. To help A2 in Japan, click here.

Listen to the MNN broadcast...

(4-minute clip)

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This story was originally published by Mission Network News. Read online here.

See other A2 stories covered by MNN

Karin Butler Primuth joins A2 Board

Mission Network News

Asian Access is pleased to announce that Kärin Butler Primuth has joined the Asian Access Board of Directors for a three-year term. We are excited to add such a high caliber person to our fine board.

Kärin currently serves as Executive Director of visionSynergy, based in southern California — visionSynergy’s expertise is in partnership formation and collaborative ministry ventures. I was introduced to their founder, Phill Butler nearly 20 years ago when he was pioneering efforts to build partnerships worldwide. I met Kärin at a MissioNexus conference last year as Asian Access was looking for advice in developing our new strategic partnership with SIM USA. Little did I know that she knew of our ministry from her time in China and had a deep sense of shared values with the overall work of Asian Access. Working together in partnership through board involvement seemed a perfect fit.

Having lived in South Africa, India, and China, and traveled to over 25 countries, Karin has developed a vision for collaboration that has grown out of a wealth of international ministry experience. Between serving two terms with her family in China, Karin was the director of a mission mentoring program for ten years, equipping leaders for cross-cultural ministry. Karin has worked most of her life in the non-profit sector, and was instrumental in the start-up of two non-profits during the eight years she worked with homeless and underserved families in the inner city of Los Angeles before going overseas.

Karin earned an M.A. in Urban Planning from the University of California, Los Angeles. Prior to that, she graduated from Northwestern University with a B.S. in Human Development and Social Policy. She is married to Jonathan Primuth, who has his own law practice. They have three children, and have sent their oldest to college.

In accepting our invitation, she writes:

"I have decided to serve on the Board of Asian Access because of my desire to invest in and learn from this vibrant and effective ministry that is significantly shaping the lives of Christian leaders across Asia. It’s my hope to make as much of a contribution as I am certain to gain through my involvement. Thank you for offering me the privilege of serving beside you."

I am delighted to welcome Kärin to the Asian Access board and hope you will join me in welcoming her too.

Joe Handley

P.S. - We would love to hear your thoughts on partnership and collaboration as we seek to be "A vibrant community of servant leaders with vision, character and competence leading the Church across Asia." Please send us your thoughts here:

Joe: jhandley@asianaccess.org
Kärin: kprimuth@visionsynergy.net

Eric Takamoto shares his heart for Ishinomaki

Mission Network News

Ishinomaki is one of the hardest hit areas in Japan's disaster zone. Within days of the tsunami, A2 missionary Eric Takamoto began making regular relief trips up from Osaka. Listen to him share about his first few trips there and why he and wife Sue have just decided to move their family up to Ishinomaki.

Japan's hope grows as the nation recovers from tragedy

Mission Network News

One year after destruction, Japan's cherry blossoms announce a growing hope

JAPAN (MNN) ― One year ago this Sunday, a huge earthquake -- the fifth-largest ever recorded -- ripped through the seabed about 40 miles off the coast of Japan.

At magnitude 9.0, the quake shifted Honshu Island 8 feet to the east and made the Earth wobble on its axis. It also sent tsunamis crashing into the coast, tearing a swath of destruction six miles inland and wrecking the nuclear power station at Fukushima.

From that disaster, a meltdown--releasing 600 million times the energy of the Hiroshima bomb--occurred. 15,000 people are known to have died; thousands are still missing a year later.

President Joe Handley with Asian Access says the repair task was daunting. "86 communities were completely washed away. People lost their homes, lost their jobs, lost their loved ones." Yet, rebuilding quickly began, and the picture of Japan today is painted amidst the hope of the cherry blossoms budding now. "Out of ashes of this disaster, we've seen hope on the rise."

As word of the scope of the disaster spread, so did the number of people who wanted to help. "The Japanese Self Defense Force were some of the first up in the region bringing help and hope, then believers across Japan--Japanese churches in particular--have been the unsung heroes. Then, believers around the world came to rally."

Here's the irony, says Handley. The hardest-hit region was also "the single least-reached region of Japan. Japan is known as one of the largest unreached people group in the world, and this particular region is the single most unreached sector of Japan."

The walls of disinterest in the Gospel began to give way. "Out of this situation, people have been asking, 'Why would you do this? Why would you care for us so much?' and, 'Why are you the ones that are helping us through these emotional situations when many others are doing nothing?' Because of that, many are coming to Christ."

Asian Access mobilized 30 tons of aid with the help of a $1 million dollar matching grant last year. That aid has gone a long way to spiritual healing. "The churches have been at the forefront of providing relief. So, as people have really faced the emotional and the spiritual trauma that has hit them, the Church has really risen to the occasion to meet people's needs."

Asian Access launched a strategic sending partnership with SIM USA to help meet the needs. Handley remarked that for the first time in his 30-year cross-cultural ministry career, "This pastor was asking me to send hundreds of missionaries. I've never in my life seen local pastors from a country practically begging me to send hundreds of missionaries. It wasn't just one pastor. It was a few."

It's just the beginning. Asian Access hopes to continue to provide funds and also missionaries to support them in this work. "Pastors think we have about a two-year window to really invest in Japan, spiritually. This is a unique time for Japan. Some have called it a 'kairos' moment, or a 'God' moment, for Japan."

The good news: A2 just received a second USD$1,000,000 matching opportunity to bring hope and healing to the country. These new funds allow A2 to continue to bolster the strategic partnerships created over the last year.

Handley explains, "We continue to invest in key pastors and leaders throughout the region, developing community centers that are centers of hope, centers for transformational and church planting efforts, even investing in small businesses that have been completely devastated."

"It's cherry blossom season," Handley says. In Japan, cherry blossoms symbolize clouds, besides being a metaphor for life. In this case, A2 teams have given life meaning through the Gospel. "Through this season of hope, this million-dollar matching opportunity will help us come alongside key churches and send more missionaries to help them share the love and hope that lies within us."

To give toward the match, either send a check to Asian Access marked: "$1M Matching Gift" or give online. If you indicate "For Japan Matching Gift" on your check, your gift will be doubled.

Listen to the MNN broadcast...

(2 minute clip; the 2nd of 3 stories)

If you don't see an audio player, click here...

This story was originally published by Mission Network News. Read online here.

See other A2 stories covered by MNN.

Read Joe Handley's staff profile.