Loving God
OUTCOME ONE:
Growing Christlike
Reproducing Leaders
OUTCOME THREE:
Catalyzing Movements
OUTCOME FOUR:
Overview of A2.business
The Marketplace Initiative
Emerging Kingdom Leaders
For over 40 years Asian Access has been at the forefront of leadership development. Our customer has been emerging kingdom leader pastors in Asia. But that has never been our sole mission. Instead, our mission has been to “identify, develop and release emerging kingdom leaders,” period. And emerging kingdom leaders is a landscape that has a much wider vista than pastors alone. In fact, we believe that emerging kingdom leaders in every sector of society are critical to our vision, “a vibrant community of servant leaders with vision, character and competence leading the Church across Asia.”
What's Missing From Leadership Development Groups?
I was astounded to hear, that there are 1,200 marketplace ministries in the U.S. alone. 1200! I am sure all these organizations have great purposes, missions, visions and focus. So it isn’t for lack of effort. Good organizations are really trying to minister to people in the marketplace. Each of these organizations may not necessarily be marketing focused to create a brand for its ministry or to be made aware for recognition's sake, but, I was wondering whether their reach could be more broadly known to increase their visibility.
A2 in the marketplace?
Supposedly, there are 1,200 organizations doing marketplace ministry. And now Asian Access makes it 1,201. A2.business is a great new initiative. And here’s why: First, it relates to Asian Access’ legacy and credibility over nearly 50 years of ministry in Asia. A2 has trained thousands of leaders for their work in the Church across Asia. This is not to be underestimated. These leaders are bringing profound transformation into their spheres of leader, family, church, community, and even country. Take it from Rob Martin, former director of a Christian foundation: “If you want to change a country by strengthening the Church, look at Asian Access. They do it right.”
Important and Strategic
Recently Asian Access held its fourth session for A2.business leaders in South Asia. The featured faculty for the weekend were two former senior Walmart executives who shared about their experiences in the marketplace, and how their faith provided the foundation for their leadership. On site with us in South Asia was Edwin Keh. Edwin was the COO and Senior Vice President of Walmart Global Procurement. Alongside him via video was Mike Duke who served as the CEO of Walmart. Edwin wrote afterward,“I came away encouraged and excited about how important and strategic this program is for a huge emerging economy…First of all I was amazed by the participants in the room. All of these men own or manage large businesses. They are well placed to change and influence their society and culture.”Likewise, the cohort was moved by what Edwin and Mike had to share. Edwin’s successes and failures were all a part of learning the importance of every decision a leader makes. Mike shared about his own journey and emphasized the significance of starting every day with God. Both Edwin and Mike talked about key mentors who discipled them, and how they in turn committed themselves to disciplining others.
Sense of calling diminished by sacred/secular divide
For the last 600 years, the Church has really done a poor job of understanding the biblical basis of work. And in that, when Christians think of a “calling,” it is still understood in the context of, “Am I called to be a missionary? …Am I called to be a pastor?” On the notion of “calling,” people don’t really think about am I called to be a doctor or a lawyer.
“The Lord God took the man and put him in the Garden of Eden to work it and take care of it.” Genesis 2:15
A viable interpretation of Genesis 2:15 is that we are called to work to glorify God and to serve others. If so, it would follow that this notion of calling is for all vocations—whether it’s as a homemaker or working outside the home. It’s not relegated just to the Church.
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What The’re Saying
"A2.business comes alongside men and women who are well positioned in the marketplace to change and influence their society and culture. They are movers and shakers on one hand and seekers and humble servants on the other. The fact that they are already in positions of leadership makes the A2.business experience immediately useful to everyone and encourages them to go onto great things together."
Mr. Edwin Keh 葛儀文
Lecturer, The Wharton School
The University of Pennsylvania // read more endorsements...
"A2.business plays an important role in building Christian leaders in the marketplace. Its unique curation of leaders who are both influential in the marketplace and attentive to their calling provides a peer learning experience that leaders will value. I commend the A2 leadership on its commitment to stay increasingly relevant as a training ground in a rapidly changing world."
Sangeet Paul Choudary
Best-selling author, WEF Young Global Leader and Council Member, Advisor to Fortune 500 CXOs // read more endorsements...
"There are plenty of ministries to help Christian leaders develop their skills. What sets A2.business apart is a focus on the transformation of a leader’s soul. A2 holds an integrated vision of life and leadership that refuses to separate a person’s calling in the world from his or her communion with Christ. By targeting this deeper level of existence, A2.business equips leaders with a new vision of faithfulness and not merely new tools of effectiveness."
Skye Jethani
Author, Speaker, Consultant and Pastor. Former senior editor for Leadership Journal // read more endorsements...
"One thing largely missing today is leaders with integrity, humility and transparency in all sectors of society. This is why developing leaders is so crucial. I am thrilled that A2 is leveraging its legacy, credibility and experience in training church leaders as it now enters the marketplace arena. A2 is uniquely positioned to train marketplace leaders well, because they understand the pastoral heart—encouraging and equipping them to produce effective leaders, who will in turn transform businesses and communities toward God’s ends. There are over 1200 business leader development models out there, but A2.business is a distinct one aimed at Asia that I can wholeheartedly endorse."
David D. Kim
Servant, Mobilizer, Founder, Telos Ventures // read more endorsements...
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