What a week it was! The A3 National Director Gathering brought together leaders from around the world for a powerful experience of unity, collaboration, and deep reflection on our mission and vision. Rooted in the changes we embraced around 2020, this gathering offered us a unique opportunity to strengthen our understanding of the path ahead, both personally and collectively.
Welcoming Jeyakaran Emmanuel
The week kicked off with a significant moment of celebration: the appointment of Jeyakaran Emmanuel as our new Vice President for Global Ministry. His warm welcome into this leadership role was met with enthusiastic support, as everyone in the community expressed their joy for this new chapter.
Supporting One Another in Community
One of the most moving aspects of the gathering was the palpable sense of care and prayerful support that we experienced. We especially rallied around those in our midst who have been facing extraordinary difficulities, praying over them and their families during their challenging times. Our community not only lifted them up spiritually but also came together to provide financial assistance, embodying the love and support that defines A3.
Discussing the Major Shifts for A3
Our time together also allowed us to wrestle with the ongoing implications of our updated vision and mission. The key shift in focus—toward accelerating Christ-centered movements by equipping visionary leaders across all sectors of society—emerged as a central theme. This shift marks a significant change from our previous emphasis on pastors and local churches alone. Now, we are being called to identify and empower movement leaders across diverse fields: business, government, education, and more.
Assessing A3's Four Outcomes
As we evaluated our progress on the first three of our four outcomes, there was a sense of gratitude for the strides we’ve made. However, there’s a shared determination to improve on the fourth outcome—accelerating Christ-centered movements. We recognize that this will require reaching into new spheres of influence and fostering greater diversity among leaders, including younger voices, women, and seasoned leaders working together.
Our history as a movement was a powerful backdrop for this discussion. From our early days in Japan, where our audience consisted mainly of Japanese individuals learning English, we’ve grown to a broader vision of “kingdom leaders”—a more diverse and far-reaching group that extends beyond pastors. God has been broadening our understanding of what it means to lead in His kingdom.
Inspiring Case Studies on Succession
The inspiring case studies from Japan and India highlighted the power of the estuary model, where multiple generations of leaders work side by side, releasing ministry to younger, more diverse leaders while seasoned leaders move into newly created roles. This generational collaboration has borne fruit, and we’re excited to continue fostering this dynamic.
Accelerating Christ-centered Movements
On our final day, we turned our attention to how we can leverage our alumni networks to further accelerate Christ-centered movements. It was inspiring to hear from each country about the impact their alumni are making, and we explored ways to expand and enhance these efforts. Together, we set ambitious goals to achieve by April 2025, which we will present at the upcoming Leaders Summit.
Gratefulness for Noel Becchetti
The week closed with a heartfelt celebration of Noel Becchetti’s incredible 12+ years with A3. The stories shared during this time were a beautiful tribute to the countless ways he has blessed the movement. As Noel transitions from leadership, we are filled with gratitude for his journey with us and will deeply miss him and Kyle.
Profound Reminders of Community and Shared Mission
This gathering was a profound reminder of the community we share and the mission we are called to fulfill. We left encouraged and energized, ready to take bold steps toward advancing Christ-centered movements and continuing to serve together for God’s glory.
Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
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@jwhandley
@JosephWHandleyJr
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