Key Leaders Talk About Leadership Preparation, Calling, and A3
As God continues to grow A3, our Board and leadership team discerned the need to strengthen our leadership structure for this new season. In response, CEO Joe Handley sought a trusted leader who could partner with him as U.S. President and help steward A3’s expanding mission.
We are excited that Janelle Stoops, formerly of Frontiers, answered that call. In this conversation, Joe and Janelle share how God led them together, Janelle’s journey of discernment, and their shared vision for A3’s future.
Here is the flow of their discussion...
Joe: I am very excited today to welcome a new member to the A3 family. A3 has been growing the last few years, as many of you know, and we need a lot of help these days. And today, I'm excited to introduce Janelle Stoops to the A3 family and to you. She's going to become the new U.S. President for A3, and we're very thrilled to have her join us. As we get to know her a little bit, I thought we'd ask her a few questions. So Janelle, tell us a little bit about yourself. How did you grow into ministry? What brought your interest into this?
Janelle: So, I first felt called into ministry when I was about 16 years old. And that's when I felt God calling me to bring the Gospel to the ends of the earth. And really my life's verse has always been Romans 15:20-21 in wanting to preach the Gospel where it hasn't been preached yet. And so that's always been really the call on my life. And so I ended up spending about 10 years in Central Asia. First as a single, and then married with young kids doing churchplanting when we were overseas. I had the privilege of seeing the very first church in that part of the country that had ever been. And so that's kind of how God first got me involved in ministry... and that's where we first met each other.
Joe: That's great. So that's exciting that we've known each other this long. Janelle: Yes.
Joe: Tell us a little bit more about that history of ministry. What, what's been your experience in ministry growth over the years?
Janelle: So again, you know, we served as church-planters for about 10 years in Central Asia. And then after that came back to the States and I went back to work with Frontiers first as a catalyst for the Middle East region. That was interesting because I had been so focused on Central Asia and then now God kind of expanded my vision to include the Middle East. After that, I was appointed as the Director of Strategy Coordination for our international office. And then most recently I've served as the co-director of Frontiers USA.
Joe: How exciting, what fun history you've got, that you bring to A3 family. Speaking of the A3 family, how in the world did you get to know us? How did that come about?
Janelle: Well, you know, it's interesting, I think through you, I've heard about A3. But it wasn't until more recently that I really started digging in more deeply to what is the vision and what's the mission of A3... what are the core values. And I have to say that the deeper I dug, the more impressed I was. And having been a part of churchplanting in pioneering situations, I saw the need for leadership development. And I saw what happened when it wasn't available. Or when people, you know, had to fly to a different country or a different part of the country to be developed. And as I saw and learned more about what A3 was doing, I think I really resonated with that. And when I think about, you know, what it's going to take to see the Gospel reach the ends of the earth... I think that it's going to take the very work that A3 is doing, because it's going to take the very people that A3 is developing. And so when, the more that I learned about that, the more I thought, I want to be a part of this.
Joe: Oh, that's cool. We're excited to have you. So this last position you've had with Frontiers... it sort of is very similar in some ways to what you're stepping into. What is it about the new role that intrigues you?
Janelle: So like you said, I mean, in many ways there are a lot of similarities in terms of, you know, oversight of people and strategic planning and budgets and all of that. I think some of the things about A3 that intrigued me—one is just the increased geographic focus. So for the past many years with Frontiers, I've been exclusively focused on the Muslim world. And so looking at what A3 is doing, I think I'm intrigued just to learn even more, and to see firsthand what is God doing around the world in all the different regions. So I'm excited about that as well as to dig deeper into leadership development.
Joe: And, as you look at this new venture for yourself, what are some things that you think you bring to the table? What are some of the assets you'll bring to the A3 family?
Janelle: Well, I think that my different experiences that I have had in ministry. So whether it was serving as a field worker, you know, for 10 years in Central Asia, most recently, you know, directly in the Sending base, right of Frontiers, USA, I think I bring in different strengths from all of those different life... life experiences, and different skills along with that. I think also I love collaboration. I love learning from different people and then kind of seeing how different things fit together. And then dreaming, like what could we do next? What does God want to move us into for the future? And God has given me faith to believe him for some pretty amazing things. And so I'm just, I'm excited to bring that into A3 and to see, you know, together with all of you who have been here for a while, what can we do together?
Joe: That's awesome. And you know, one last question, but I'm going to piggyback on what you said. You're excited about some things. What are some of those things that you might be most excited about stepping into this new, new position?
Janelle: I am most excited about meeting the A3 family and staff. I have heard wonderful things about them from you and from others. And I know they're just a great group, and I'm excited to meet with them face-to-face and to learn from them. In my previous role with Frontiers, my kind of area of specialty was innovation. And so I'm looking forward to bringing that as well into A3. And just seeing with the changes in the world today, you know, whether it's politically or in the religious atmosphere, the changes in the church, with all that's happening, how does God want us to take the strong foundation that A3 has and really just multiply that into the future?
Joe: As you, as you lean into this new season, is there anything you'd want to say directly to the A3 community?
Janelle: I think I would want to say to the A3 community that I am so excited to join you. I think that through Doug and Joe and others, there is such a strong foundation in A3, and I can't wait to be a part of what God is gonna do in taking A3 into this next season of multiplication and fruitfulness.
Joe: We are so jazzed to welcome you to the A3 family!
Janelle: Thank you, Joe.
Watch their conversation...
If the video player does not work, click here... https://vimeo.com/1147875224
Joe Handley
CEO, A3
@jwhandley
@jwhandley
@JosephWHandleyJr
@jwhandley
Janelle Stoops
U.S. PRESIDENT OF A3
@janelle.stoops@janelle.stoops@janellestoops
Related Information
- Looking Ahead to 2026 + A Big Announcement
- Meet Janelle Stoops, A3's New U.S. President
- Special thanks to Hearken Creative Services for the videography.
