Pictured here with me are two Lamas who decided to follow Jesus! Their story was amazing! The older gentleman had been a Tibetan Buddhist Lama for nearly 30 years and spent most of his life preparing dead bodies for the next reincarnation. He frequently wondered whether or not this really helped and often thought of what the afterlife might have in store for him. His wife became ill and nothing he tried would heal her. He tried all the magic that a typical Buddhist priest would try to no avail. After many months of her illness, his daughter...
China (MNN) -- Authorities in China have removed and burned around 1200 crosses from Churches in the country. Why? Joe Handley of A3 says, "The government does not want to see a disharmonious society. When they see churches that are putting up these crosses, they feel like that's a bit of a flagrant kind of expression." Protestors are...
As I've been in South Asia the last three weeks, I've heard story after story of powerful life change! Several pastors shared about the persecution they face: some have been chased, beaten, and their churches have been burned. Country after country contained numerous stories toward this end. Sadly, several of the countries are even facing greater degrees of religious intolerance from their governments. Pastor G, pictured here with me, shared about the difficulties he faces in his country and how grateful he was for A3. He shared that the deeper fellowship among the A3 pastors gives him...
A3/Sri Lanka focused on disciple-making and the importance of making disciples within community...
Most of you know that many of the countries A3 works in the leaders face trials, tribulations and persecution. My colleague Jim, who serves in partnership with us through Sunrise International Ministries, shared this powerful story from one of our alumns. Sometimes the stories of others give us perspective on our own situation. I will also share the testimony of our good friend R. Recently R. shared his story with us and we were very touched...
Dear Friends, thank you for your partnership in coming alongside leaders in Asia. I am grateful for you and wanted you to see this brief video of thanksgiving. Pastors and leaders across Asia have asked me to thank everyone who prays for them, supports them, and partners with them. Persecuted pastors are especially thankful for your prayers. You are much appreciated...
Watch Joe Handley share A3's new plans to:
1) Launch leader development in a new country this year;
2) Begin exploring a second new country soon after;
3) Launch a new marketplace ministry, in which A3 takes lessons learned in 35+ years of pastoral training and apply it in developing business leaders.
Joe also reports a significant milestone that...
Inspiring attitude despite eight pastors imprisoned.
A3's Noel Becchetti learned from Asian leaders there is a new wave of persecution in their country. When he offered to pray for them, he was surprised to hear the leaders say: "Pray that we would be bold and stay bold as we face this new time of struggle."
For more info: http://www.asianaccess.org/persecutedpastor
Watch the clip...
You'll be surprised to hear the answer!
Noel Becchetti of A3 asked an A3 national church leader how he accounted for the phenomenal growth of the church in his country, where it's grown from a couple hundred leaders to now nearly 2 million in about 25 years. The leader gave two clear reasons that you would not have guessed.
Find out what they are...
USA (MNN) — When you’re at a missions conference, you’re bound to run into someone you know. That’s what keeps happening at the Missio Nexus Leadership Conference in Atlanta, Georgia.
Many MNN friends are here: InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, The Mission Society, A3, Living Water International, World Mission, to...
The spring 2014 issue of Leadership Journal had a powerful article by J.R. Briggs, Transforming Failure: How God used a painful season of ministry to change my life.
The article posts these difficult statistics about the tough calling that pastors have today..
It is a nearly unbearable feeling reading about brothers and sisters around the world who are being persecuted for their faith and feeling helpless in knowing how to respond. This is true in situations like the current catastrophe of Iraqi and Syrian Christians as well as in the everyday persecution friends face in many corners...
On a day that Americans celebrate their country's birthday, and the religious freedom that comes with it, many brothers and sisters in Christ across Asia are facing tremendous persecution. A3 is standing with these persecuted church leaders and you can too.
MNN’s Ruth Kramer interviews A3’s Noel Becchetti about persecution issues hitting A3 pastors and church leaders in several undisclosed countries. Noel issues call to prayer and ways to help.
Listen to the audio interview:
{mp3remote}http://www.asianaccess.org/mnn/06-30-14noelbecchetti.mp3{/mp3remote}
Sponsor a pastor: http://www.asianaccess.org/persecutedpastor
Asia (A3/MNN) — Persecution is alive and well in Asia.
It’s easy to forget when visiting a country and reveling in its exotic beauty. A3’s national leaders are gracious and, says A2′s vice president for leader development, Noel Becchetti, “I am often lulled into complacency as I visit with our A3 participants...
Many of our friends in Asia serve as pastors and national leaders while facing harassment, oppression, and outright persecution. They persevere with amazing courage as, in the words of a Western colleague, “They feel that suffering is part of their calling.” By coming alongside these choice leaders who serve Christ on the front lines, we can encourage and equip them to weather the deep challenges they face. Will you join us in supporting a persecuted pastor?
This fact sometimes escapes me as I travel in the region. Our A3 national leaders are so gracious that I am often lulled into complacency as I visit with our A3 participants and hear about what God is doing in their area.
I’ve been jarred out of that complacency by some recent flareups of what is in fact simmering at all times…fear and resentment of the growth of the Church in what have historically been Hindu, Buddhist, Muslim, and/or animistic cultures—or countries where one-party dictatorship has replaced any semblance of representative government. What I’m realizing is that this fear and resentment, and the persecution that can accompany it, never really goes away. Rather, it ebbs and flows, depending on events, political climate, and other factors.
At least two of our A3 countries are currently facing significant harassment and persecution...
The last few weeks I had the privilege of seeing the powerful fruit of A3: leaders being developed who are making disciples, planting churches, helping street children, working in the garbage dumps, establishing orphanages, and working with those suffering from human trafficking. It was a powerful week seeing their ministries and hearing their stories of how...
When you get on the ground in the Third World, you can find tragedy in nearly every nook and cranny—and also God’s care at work, through the kindness of His people.
We saw this up close on a recent visit to an A3 session in what we call a restricted-access country (which is why I’m supplying no names or location). After the A3 session concluded, Pastor “Joseph” took Kyle and me on a sightseeing and people-meeting time in the area. One of the stops we made was to his church; there, we met a family from a nearby Muslim-majority country. Muhammad, his wife Ilya, and their 7-year-old son Ishmael (not their real names) shared a chilling testimony...
Sri Lanka (MNN) ― Christian persecution on the island nation of Sri Lanka has seen a dramatic increase in the past year.
In the last four months alone, Open Doors USA, which closely monitors the persecuted church, says over 30 churches have been attacked by Buddhist extremists attempting to...
MNN's Ruth Kramer gets an update from Bishop Zothan Mawia with A3 about a prayer conference in Myanmar on Saturday, May 25, 2013 despite persecution trends.
Listen to Bishop Mawia pray for his country of Myanmar.
The last few months I have visited with pastors in a few countries where pressure and persecution happen on a semi-regular basis. These pastors feel 'the heat' on a sometimes daily basis. Their plight reminds me of Jesus words from Matthew 5:10-12:
"Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of Me. Rejoice and be glad, because...
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For over half a century, A3 has catalyzed movements in Asia. Now, with doors open in the Middle East, North Africa, and the West, we have boldly stepped in...
TO CHANGE THE FEW WHO CHANGE THE MANY.
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