By Joseph W. Handley
CEO, A3
Across Asia and beyond, a new current of leadership renewal is flowing. At our recent National Director’s Gathering, A3 leaders from several regions of the world came together to seek God’s direction for the next season of ministry. What emerged was a picture of the A3 movement as a living ecosystem: an estuary where streams of experience and new life converge to create something vibrant and generative.
In Japan, our team has been using the Estuary Theory as a model for renewal. An estuary is a place where rivers meet the sea—where the fresh waters of new generations mix with the deep waters of wisdom and experience. This image beautifully captures what A3 is experiencing across nations: a movement where older and younger leaders are learning together, where mentoring and multiplication flow naturally, and where transformation begins within the heart before it reshapes ministries and organizations.
As one of our leaders shared,
“Leadership renewal begins with personal transformation.”
When leaders are renewed in Christ, their ministries and organizations also experience new life. That has been the story of A3 from the beginning, and it continues to define our calling today.
Fresh Water Expressions of A3
From this renewed life are emerging fresh expressions of ministry—what we call “Fresh Water Expressions.” These include new places under exploration like East and North Africa, Türkiye, Middle Asia, and Zambia, as well as our recent spheres of engagement, such as Women in Ministry, A3 Business, and Young Professionals networks.
Each of these ministry streams represents a new tributary of the same river, flowing from our shared desire to see Christ-centered movements rise across every culture and sector.
Bringing the Future into Being... Together
As we move toward our 2030 Vision, we envision:
- Identifying new catalytic leaders and movements
- Fostering collaboration and partnerships
- Launching innovation labs that nurture creative mission
- Doubling our footprint and establishing regional hubs
These goals were not set from the top down. They were born out of the collective discernment of our global community over the past year as we gathered and prayed, discussed and prayed, dreamed and prayed. We believe this is how the Spirit leads: not through rigid hierarchies, but through interwoven relationships where wisdom, humility, and innovation meet.
Leadership renewal, like an estuary, depends on constant flow; fresh faith, deep roots, and a shared openness to where the Spirit moves next. As we continue to learn from one another, we see God forming a global ecosystem of grace and growth, carrying His mission to “regions beyond” (2 Corinthians 10:13–16).
May we each continue to pour out the living water of Christ wherever we are planted, so that the world may know Him and His Church may flourish in every generation.
Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
President
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More Information
- Cover photo by Mitchell Kmetz on Unsplash
- Other photos courtesy Ideree: https://www.facebook.com/Iderbate
