Joe Handley and Doug Birdsall
Everyone I've talked to has had rave reviews. We've heard it was the "best installation dinner" they have been to from Lake Avenue Church to Rolling Hills Church and everywhere in between!
Joe and Ron McMahon, board chair
Ron McMahon was emcee and represented all of us with class. The evening started powerfully with the opening prayer by Grace Mathews. She set the tone for a fast paced, entertaining program. Tim and Wakako Clark did a masterful job of greetings from Japan. They delivered the messages they had received from pastors in Hokkaido. What a blessing for Joe! Takeshi Takazawa gave his testimony and actually shared some details most of the staff in the US had never heard.
And of course Doug and our mission's founder were great as they welcomed Joe into the fraternity of A3 presidents (only Steve Hoke was missing, who now lives in Colorado and just could not make it). The best jokes of the night came from unlikely sources: Tom Bradford and Toshio Maehara. They had the house rolling in laughter.
As I reflect back on the evening and Joe's first three months, I'm very pleased with the transition. Our board did a tremendous job in selecting Joe. Jeff Johnston did a great job in communicating about Joe's announcement. And Joe has jumped in completely starting with a whirlwind tour of Japan, followed by trips to see donors and to visit our leaders in LD Asia. The installation dinner was the capstone of the transition.
Now I'm looking forward to what God has for us for the future!
Bruce & Mary Johnson, Joe & Silk Handley, Lori and Elliott Snuggs
