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

Related links:

• Asian Access: www.asianaccess.org
• SIM USA: www.simusa.org
• Joint website for to people interested in serving in Japan: www.go2japan.org

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