FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE –
11.11.11
Asian Access and SIM USA partner to send more church-planting missionaries to Japan
GLENDORA, CALIF. (A2) — A strategic partnership uniting Asian Access and SIM USA is aimed at
sending more church-planting missionaries to Japan. By leveraging the strengths
of the two mission-sending agencies, they hope to maximize effectiveness toward
the goal of planting 1,000 church congregations in Japan by 2020.
Following a three-year process of examining
their organizations’ respective DNA, vision, mission and core values, the
leadership teams determined to seize the opportunity to collaborate in forming
a new model of mission work, one that will allow each entity to better utilize
kingdom resources.
"SIM brings the stability
of operational support that we needed and the mobilization horsepower to help
us fulfill our vision and mission for Japan," said Joe Handley, president
of Asian Access. "This strategic partnership is not a merger or simply a
sharing of back office functions; it is truly a new way of doing mission
together, each bringing their strengths and committing to a common Kingdom
vision."
According to the
agreement, SIM USA will partner with Asian Access to recruit and send
missionaries to Japan to plant churches. SIM assumes responsibility for
recruiting missionaries, as well as the financial accounting and related human
resources functions of missionary training and U.S.-based care. Asian Access
retains responsibility for championing the overall vision in Japan, managing
the strategy of missionary deployment through its vast network of Japanese
churches, and caring for Japan-based missionary personnel.
Asian Access and SIM will
remain independent, each maintaining its distinct and separate ministry and
board of directors.
"This alliance
immediately opens up a whole new country to send SIM missionaries, rather than
having to set up a beachhead with a few pioneer missionaries," said Bruce Johnson, president of SIM USA. "On top of that, to partner with an organization like Asian
Access, which already has history, success and reputation in Japan is a
privilege and honor."
Headquartered in Los Angeles, Asian Access is
a 44-year-old mission organization that pioneered short-term English-teaching
missions to Japan. The organization now develops leaders across Asia to
multiply churches. Founded in 1893, SIM works on six continents with 2,100
missionaries—one-third from the United States alone. SIM USA is based in
Charlotte, N.C.
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Press contact:
Jeff Johnston, VP for
Communications
Asian Access, PO Box 200,
San Dimas, CA 91773 USA
info@asianaccess.org (626) 914-8990
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