Contact: Alex Coffin, InChrist Communications, 704-364-2942; Jeff Johnston, Asian Access, 626-914-8990
GLENDORA, Calif., June 16 /Christian Newswire/ -- Joseph W. Handley Jr. has been named as the fourth president of Asian Access, an evangelical mission organization that develops pastoral leaders and serves as a catalyst to multiply churches across Asia.
Handley's predecessor, Rev. S. Douglas Birdsall, 54, stepped down in September 2007 after 16 years to devote his full time as executive international chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization. Birdsall remains on the board of Asian Access.
"The board of directors was unanimous," said Ron McMahon, Asian Access board chairman. "We really like this man that God has brought to us. One of the key factors for the board was to find a person who had the right chemistry for Asian Access. We feel God has clearly blessed us with Joe Handley."
"Joe Handley is a wonderful choice to serve as the new president for our mission," said Birdsall. "He has outstanding Christian character and a great knowledge of world missions. Joe is the kind of leader who inspires confidence as he casts vision."
Handley, 43, has served for nearly a decade as associate pastor of outreach at Rolling Hills Covenant Church, a large, biblically based church in Southern California committed to sharing the gospel both locally and globally. During his tenure, the church planted several churches in the region and overseas, developed a local compassion ministry and nearly doubled the number of missions participants. Previously, he established the Office of World Mission at Azusa Pacific University in Azusa, Calif., which mobilized hundreds of college students for global mission trips.
"We are incredibly humbled and honored the Lord would consider us worthy for this call," Handley said. "Furthermore, we are looking forward to how He may lead us together in vision for the future. God has great plans for us, and together we are going to see amazing fruit as we allow Him to lead us."
Bruce R. Johnson, 57, who had agreed to function as interim president until a permanent president was found, joined the organization in 2004 as vice president for leadership development, and has continued that role throughout his nine-month interim presidency.
Leading Asian Access into its fifth decade, Handley will turn his attention to expansion as well. The ministry was launched in Japan in 1967 as "Language Institute For Evangelism," pioneering short-term English teaching as a means of evangelism. In the 1980s, the organization became known as "LIFE Ministries" and began to train Japanese pastors, as well as explore new models of church planting. In 2002, it adopted the name "Asian Access" to reflect its widening scope throughout Asia.
The mission has expanded into several nations across Asia, with plans to establish work in 20 countries. Current countries include Cambodia, India, Mongolia, Nepal, Sri Lanka and closed countries whose identity must be guarded. Networks have grown to include hundreds of leading pastors across Asia trained by Asian Access.
