First, “these (Central Asian) countries hate this war,” Noel Becchetti with A3, formerly known as Asian Access, says.

“They’re all taking in thousands of Russian men who have fled the country to avoid the Russian draft as refugees.”

At the same time, few in Central Asia can afford to take sides. “They’re all very poor. Migrant laborers go to Russia and Ukraine because those are the two richest countries in the region, and that’s where the labor is,” Becchetti says.

No matter how they feel about the war, most people in the region – including believers – cannot escape the effects.

“When sanctions are put upon those countries, or the war devastates cities in Ukraine, their relatives [lose] their jobs. And now there’s not much money coming home to feed their families,” Becchetti says.

The war is also hindering Gospel work. A3 plans to start new projects in four Central Asian nations this year, but “I was in a key meeting of leaders last year, and they said, ‘We cannot have any conversations about the current situation,’” Becchetti says.

“‘With the war, it’s just so complicated. We’re not going to get anywhere.’”

Pray for an immediate end to the war. Pray A3 can begin work in Central Asia. “People there feel like they’re forgotten in the world,” Becchetti says.

“We hear about Russia and Ukraine, which we should, [but] you don’t hear about the impact on all these other countries. Pray that God would help these people know that people like us are praying for him and we care about them.”

Header image is a representative image of Central Asia. (Wikimedia Commons)

Monday’s 5.6-magnitude earthquake toppled entire buildings, and scores of people remain trapped in the debris. More than 268 have died, and the death toll will rise as responders uncover more victims. Last night, West Java Governor Ridwan Kamil told a press conference, “the majority of those who died were children.”

“The earthquake happened in Cianjur,” says Juserdi Purba, Country Director for Indonesia with Asian Access.

“This earthquake destroyed many houses, and hundreds of people were injured.”

Disaster agencies recorded 25 aftershocks in the first two hours following yesterday’s quake. Following initial reports of 48 casualties, the death toll rose by more than 100 in a matter of hours.

Churches in the Asian Access network mobilized quickly to send aid, working through a seminary near the quake zone.

“We try to collect the donation to help the people [by providing] food, [clean water], clothes,” Purba says.

“We want to show the love [of Christ] to them.”

Send help in the name of Christ through Asian Access here. Pray that the compassion of Jesus will be tangible as believers help earthquake survivors.

Indonesia sits on the so-called “Ring of Fire” in the Pacific. The country has a history of devastating earthquakes and tsunamis, with a 2018 quake killing more than 2,000 people.

“Many people do not know exactly when earthquakes will happen. The government tried to help the local people prepare themselves to face any earthquake,” Purba says.

Header image depicts damage from a January 2021 earthquake. (Wikimedia Commons)

Joe Handley of Asian Access says these specific cases follow a broader trend. “Over the last few years, the government [has become] more concerned about the rise and influence of the underground church, sometimes called house churches,” he says.

“Those I’m talking to have mentioned people put under house arrest or some form of monitoring.”

The pandemic provided a brief respite from intensified persecution. “During COVID, life was chaotic, and the government focused on the health concern of the country. That gave new momentum to the underground church, and tons of people [were] joining online forms of church,” Handley says.

However, “as the pandemic started to wane, the government began to do much more review of these online formats.”

Asian Access equips Gospel workers who multiply churches. Although it does not operate in China for security reasons, leaders like Handley closely follow the latest developments.

“You have in-depth discipleship in many places,” Handley says.

Speaking of Chinese believers, he adds, “they’re not afraid of persecution; they’re not afraid of pressure. They’ve been through this before.”

Pray Chinese believers will find new strength and encouragement in the Lord. Pray also for wisdom and patience.

“Their (believers’) plan is Jesus. They want to see a better society by having people follow Christ and then improve their lives – have better marriages, families; have better commitments to their communities,” Handley says.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Christian Lue/Unsplash.

“In many ways, it (the summit) is a celebration. Because of the pandemic restrictions, we haven’t seen each other in three years,” President Joe Handley says.

“We celebrate the fact that we can be in community once again; we’re not going to have to live on Zoom forever.”

The occasion is bittersweet in several ways. “We have had two very significant losses; these are people of profound influence within our history,” Handley says.

Adrian and Ophelia de Visser
(Photo courtesy of Asian Access)

“The first [loss] was Jan Wendling; her husband [founded] Asian Access over 55 years ago. And then, on top of that, Ophelia de Visser from Sri Lanka [passed away].”

Calling the women “unsung heroes” of Asian Access, Handley says Wendling and de Visser had a tremendous impact on the organization.

“Their presence, encouragement, strength of character, faithfulness, and investment in younger ladies and men have been profound. We will miss them immensely,” he adds.

Furthermore, many leaders at the summit lost loved ones to COVID-19. Some Gospel workers who attended past conferences leave an empty chair today.

“I would ask the global community to pray for Asian Access and the leaders we work with, that we could hold these two things in tension,” Handley says.

“[Pray that] we could enjoy one another’s presence, but not lose sight of the deep sense of loss and lament that has happened to us.”

At the same time, this is the first summit held in person since 2019, and the Lord has exciting opportunities ahead. Pray believers will have comfort and hope during this bittersweet season.

“God never wants us always to be looking to the past. He wants us to look to the future, and Asian Access has some incredible opportunities God has called us into,” Handley says.

Header image  is a representative stock photo courtesy of AdenArdenrich/Pixabay.

“Before other churches in Japan needed to go to an online format, we were forced into that kind of a style. A lot of creative ideas came out of it,” Jeffery Sonnenberg of Asian Access says.

“There are some interesting new ministries we wouldn’t have dreamed of starting without being forced into an online format.”

Planted more than 20 years ago, Saikyo Hope Chapel brought believers together for discipleship and fellowship on the north side of Tokyo. “Weeks before the beginning of the pandemic, we lost our (physical) space and started meeting in rented facilities,” Sonnenberg says.

“Then suddenly, the pandemic happened, and we couldn’t access community centers. We had to switch to an online format very quickly, and that [transformed] our thinking about what ‘church’ looks like.”

Asian Access senior leaders meet on Zoom in March 2020.
(Photo courtesy of Asian Access)

Instead of following the order of a traditional service, believers became more intentional with their fellowship time when they transitioned online.

“We moved to this format where the message gets sent to you ahead of time as a video you watch online. During the service, time normally used for preaching was [allocated to] small group discussions run through Zoom,” Sonnenberg says.

Believers who didn’t know how to use their spiritual gifts in the church found new ways to flourish. In one small group, young moms longed for a way to teach their children about the sanctity of life and biblical sexuality. A Christian nurse, who teaches these principles in her profession but never saw an opportunity in the church, offered to help.

“It (the idea) turned into a series of online seminars, and people from across the country, Christians and non-Christians, ended up participating,” Sonnenberg says.

“We’ve also seen God moving. New people have come to faith, and we’ve had online baptismal services. It’s changing and transforming the way we do church and how we can use technology.”

Pray for Saikyo Hope Chapel leaders as they decide how to proceed in the new year. A few days ago, believers signed rental paperwork for a small meeting place to hold in-person activities.

“There’s still the importance of face-to-face meetings,” Sonnenberg says.

“I don’t know that we’re going to see everything going online only. But there’s been a shift towards a hybrid model.”

Header and story images courtesy of Asian Access.

Joe Handley, President of Asian Access, shares encouraging news: “We have seen remarkable results for the Gospel, despite the horrific conditions across India, Bangladesh, Indonesia; the list goes on,” he says.

“We have seen movements of God that are quite profound.”

Asian Access helps Christians in 18 countries develop leaders and build capacity. More about that here. “It’s just astounding to see what God’s doing,” Handley says.

“Some of my colleagues and friends in China were reporting revival-like conditions earlier in the year.”

(Photo courtesy of Li Lin/Unsplash)

Asian Access has been supporting partners in COVID-19 “hotspots” since the pandemic’s beginning.

“We have done several things to help. We had a monthly Zoom prayer session with our national directors and key working teams. That was very nice on the front end, but I’ve noticed ‘Zoom fatigue,’” Handley says.

“People are getting a little exhausted of that medium, so we’ve had to use other means of connecting points – prayer calls, one-on-one conversations – the last few months. [We are] even raising funds to help with relief situations where people are in really dire circumstances.”

Learn more about the COVID-19 Relief Fund here. Supporting the ministry’s efforts helps more than you know.

“We appreciate Mission Network News and all those out there that listen to us, pray for us, and support us,” Handley says.

“These are difficult seasons to run a ministry like ours. Every time you write [us] an email, we are super grateful. It lifts our spirits, so I want to say thank you.”

Ask the Lord to give Asian Access leaders wisdom. They’re considering adding a trauma counseling program after one leader’s experience in a country we cannot name for security purposes.

“What [that person] faced was horrible. It’s a PTSD-type scenario, but that can impact anybody who’s faced horrific conditions [created by] COVID,” Handley says.

Join our daily email list here, or follow MNN on social media to stay up-to-date. “There’s always a silver lining in the dark clouds. But there’s a lot to be praying about,” Handley says.

In the header image, a masked tourist walks on an empty street during COVID-19 pandemic lockdown in Singapore. (Photo courtesy of Victor He/Unsplash)

Asian Access is on the ground, helping through local partners. “We see damaged houses, churches, flooded streets; there is a power outage in Cebu, and now no water,” National Director Herman Moldez says.

“It’s difficult and [chaotic] but, at the same time, we see people beginning to organize [a response].”

The strongest storm of 2021 made landfall on Thursday, affecting more than 1.8 million Filipinos. Information is still coming in, but many already compare Rai to Super Typhoon Haiyan in 2013, the deadliest cyclone on record.

Typhoon Haiyan approaching the Philippines on November 7, 2013.
(Image courtesy NASA via Wikimedia Commons)

“They experienced the same devastation and rising waters; it’s comparable to that situation (Haiyan). But I think people are more prepared [this time], so therefore, the disruption is not as big and fast,” Moldez says.

Government officials preemptively evacuated more than 300,000 Filipinos before Rai made landfall, opening 674 evacuation centers. Hundreds of towns and villages in the central-south Philippines lack survival essentials like shelter, food, and water.

Requesting prayer, one Filipino pastor told Asian Access via text:

“Devastation in the Philippines after Typhoon (Odette/Rai) passed through… in some islands, 90-percent of buildings destroyed.”

“We’re trying to assess the situation, understand the needs; we are gathering local resources as much as we can [to] respond to what is needed,” Moldez says.

“Asian Access here (in the Philippines) is a small group, but we are part of a bigger network,” he continues, referring to the ministry’s collaboration with the Philippine Council of Evangelical Churches.

Needs will vary by location. “Localities have different challenges,” Moldez says, but he expects immediate response efforts to include “helping (people) rebuild their places; give some food and water.”

Send help through Asian Access here. Pray people will find the hope of Christ through local believers.

“In the Philippines, Christmas celebration is a big thing, [and then] comes the typhoon. Pray they (Filipinos) will find meaning in celebrating Christmas amid this crisis and catastrophe,” Moldez requests.

“Pray for our pastors. They, too, have suffered. In spite of that, they continue to serve. Pray they will be strengthened in the Spirit.”

Header image depicts Super Typhoon Rai on December 17, 2021. (Wikimedia Commons)

Japan (MNN) — Will there be any fans in the stands at next month’s Tokyo Olympics? Event organizers could announce their decision as early as today.

“Society continues to debate the overall situation, but it sounds like the government’s pretty committed to moving forward. They’ve invested a lot of money to see this happen; it will just be very different,” Joe Handley of Asian Access says.

Japan’s Prime Minister and other Olympics organizers want to allow up to 10,000 local fans into the stadiums. On Friday, Japan’s top COVID-19 adviser said holding the Games without spectators is the most effective way of reducing risk.

“No foreign visitors will be attending. It sounds like they may [only] have the athletes come; the venues will be sparsely attended,” Handley says.

Authorities announced last week they’ll lift the state of emergency in nine areas. But “quasi-emergency” measures will be in place in seven of them – including Tokyo – until July 11th.

Pray for wisdom as believers in Japan navigate the constant change.  “They’re doing the best they can to reach out and be the hands and feet of Jesus, as well as share the Good News with their neighbors,” Handley says.

“No matter which way [officials] go with the Olympics, they (believers) intend to be witnesses for Christ’s kingdom.”

Support their efforts here through Asian Access.

“Asian Access has received a $1 million matching gift to help equip these leaders to advance the Gospel, as people are witnesses amid this pandemic. They have a big new vision in Japan to plant 50,000 churches over the next decade or so,” Handley says.

“Pray about this matching opportunity, and should the Lord touch your heart to give, it would be an enormous help.”

Header image is a stock photo courtesy of Alex Smith/Unsplash.

The U.S. cut all trade agreements with Myanmar over the bloodshed. Meanwhile, protestors and armed ethnic groups called for unity against the military junta.

Neither side is backing down, putting believers on edge. “The recalcitrance on both sides have led [my contacts] to firmly believe this looks like it’s heading to civil war,” Joe Handley of Asian Access says.

“They’ve begged us, ‘please pray; pray that this situation does not occur.’”

Believers are not alone in their fears. “I’ve probably heard at least three to five reports within the last four days of a deep, deep concern that this [conflict] could lead to a civil war,” Handley notes.

Myanmar Now Urban monks, health and education staff, and university students march in anti-dictatorship protest in Amarapura, Mandalay on March 12.
(Photo courtesy of Prachatai/Flickr/CC2.0)

“The protesters are so fervent, so strong [in their resistance to] military rule that they are not giving up. The military has the power and is unlikely to give up its current position. They don’t want the democracy movement that was building for many years to continue.”

See our complete coverage of Myanmar’s crisis here.

Myanmar’s silver lining

Asian Access partners say the Lord is moving amid Myanmar’s chaos. One group delivered food supplies to a widow who could not get to the grocery store. “They were able to have a conversation about Christ, and the lady accepted Jesus,” Handley says.

“Sadly, the very next day, 30 people from that community were taken into custody, and they have not seen that lady since.”

According to Asian Access partners, abductions like these are common. “Almost 3,000 people have been detained, and some of those are random detainments,” Handley continues.

“People [are] going into homes in the middle of the night, taking someone in and interrogating them, regardless of any evidence whatsoever.”

Ask the Lord to protect believers as they bring hope and physical aid to people in need. Support Christians in Myanmar through Asian Access.

“Please pray not just for peace in society, but for our fellow brothers and sisters in Jesus,” Handley requests.

“They’re feeling that heat; they’re having to do all-night vigils in their homes because the military is coming in and taking people away.”

In header image, protesters rally against the military coup in Yangon, Myanmar, Feb. 9, 2021. (Wikimedia Commons)

Believers must have an intimate knowledge of the culture they’re working in, and cultural norms across most Asian countries differ vastly from those in the Middle East and North Africa. That means leading and multiplying churches in Asia seems like it requires a different approach than in Muslim-dominant countries of the MENA region.

Women in traditional outfits and umbrellas walking together in Kyoto, Japan.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Ryutaro Tsukata/Pexels)

Confucianism is a guiding philosophy in China, whereas most Middle Eastern lives revolve around Islam. While monotheistic religion plays a significant role in most cultures across the Middle East, that’s not the case in Japan.

At first glance, Asian Access may not look like an appropriate fit for the MENA region. Indeed, there will be distinctly unique challenges to overcome, President Joe Handley says. However, there are also sufficient similarities to bridge this gap.

“A big portion of the MENA region is in Western Asia. If you look at countries like Israel, Jordan, Turkey – they’re on the other side of the continent from [where] Asian Access [already serves],” Handley says.

Learn why Asian Access is expanding into the MENA region.

“Interestingly enough, the last few countries we have [started in] – places like Bangladesh, Indonesia, etc. – are Muslim-dominated countries; some of the largest in the world, actually, so there [are] some [commonalities] as we leapfrog into the other half of Asia.”

Pray for wisdom for Asian Access leaders as the ministry transitions into the MENA region. You can come alongside their efforts here.

“Trying to build disciples who will be strong Christ-followers and strong leaders for the Church of the future is crucial,” Handley says.

“As we lean into that region and adapt to each country and setting, we need folks to pray for this huge task of discipleship in the Middle East and North Africa.”

What do Asia and MENA have in common?

Contextual challenges are nothing new for the ministry. “Every time Asian Access has gone from one country into another, we’ve had to contextualize our approach. For instance, when we went from [working only in] Japan to adding Mongolia, we had to adapt to the Mongolian environment,” Handley says.

“As we move into the Middle East, we are going to have to adapt [again]. That said, there are common traits shared across some of these cultures.”

Ancient temple ruins in Lebanon.
(Photo, caption courtesy of Boris Ulzibat/Pexels)

Shaping ministry around an honor-shame culture is one of the most significant similarities between Islamic and Asian contexts. “Most of Asia would be called ‘shame and honor societies,’” Handley says.

“The idea of a shame-based or honor-based worldview is typical of this part of the world.”

Similarities may be easy to find in Western Asia and parts of the Middle East. Beginning work in North Africa, however, introduces unfamiliar territory. “You look at places like Libya and Egypt, and those are outside of the Asian continent,” Handley notes.

Ask God to reveal ways Asian Access can overcome cultural differences.

Header image is a representative stock photo courtesy of Mukhtar Shuaib Mukhtar via Pexels.