Joe Handley

FROM THE PRESIDENT

 

Stories from Joe Handley, president of Asian Access

A2 HappyThanksgiving 2021

"walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace."
– Ephesians 4:1

The last few months I’ve been gripped by a profound podcast Christianity Today showcased: The Rise and Fall of Mars Hill. If you haven’t heard of it, it’s well worth listening to because it highlights something that Asian Access has focused on for years: the importance of Christ-like character.

Beth Moore said it’s "an important listen for any Christian leader or leader in the making."

Collin Hansen from The Gospel Coalition called the podcast "the most revolutionary thing in Christian media in the last eleven years."

The podcast is insightful and troubling because it points to the problems inherent in the modern church today, especially the popularity of celebrity pastors and leaders. It also reminds me of one of Asian Access' core outcomes: Growing in Christ-like Character.

Fortunately, God’s church is resilient. Jesus says, “Upon this Rock, I wlll build my church and the gates of Hell will not overcome it” (Matthew 16:18). It’s imperative for us as servants of Jesus to have integrity and walk in humility. As the passage in Ephesians reminds us, “we are to walk in a manner worthy of the calling…”

As we depend on Christ and abide in Him, we will grow as Christ-like leaders and our character will be formed. The more our influence grows, the more we need of him and the more we need to be mindful of the problems highlighted in this powerful podcast series.

Pray for us at Asian Access as we invest in servants of His Church around the world. May we be more and more like Jesus and less and less like the world. May we and our alumni exhibit these Christ-like character traits displayed in Ephesians and avoid the pitfalls highlighted in this podcast series.

What wisdom do you have for us in this? I’d love to hear any insights you want to share.

joe sig blue

Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
President, Asian Access

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More Information

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