What independent research and alumni feedback reveal about A3’s impact:
CHANGING THE FEW WHO CHANGE THE MANY
Over the years, I’ve often been asked a simple but important question:
"Does A3 actually work?"
It’s a fair question. We’re not in the business of running programs. We’re in the business of forming leaders—Christ-like leaders—who multiply disciple-makers and churches.
Recently, we’ve had the opportunity to look at that question from multiple angles:
- External ratings
- Independent field research
- Alumni surveys
- And decades of observable fruit
Here’s what we’re seeing.
1. Independent Credibility
Charity Navigator has evaluated A3 (Dec 2025) and awarded us strong ratings for accountability and financial health. And Candid has given A3 its highest Platinum Seal of Transparency. That matters.
Stewardship is spiritual. Transparency is spiritual. Trust is spiritual.
Yet financial ratings only tell part of the story. The deeper question is not just “Are you efficient?” but:
" Are you effective in transformation?"
2. Field Research: What the Outside Evaluation Found
Several years ago, Dr. Karen Boden conducted an independent evaluation across Japan, India, and Cambodia, interviewing 40 pastors in depth.
Her research wasn’t promotional, but it was exploratory.
She asked:
- How are participants’ lives changed?
- To what extent are A3’s four intended outcomes evident?
These four outcomes are foundational to our DNA:
- Living in a love relationship with God
- Growing as a Christ-like leader
- Reproducing disciple-making leaders
- Planting multiplying churches (today: Accelerating Christ-Centered Movements)
What Dr. Boden discovered was striking.
3. Before A3: Performance, Pressure, Isolation
Across regions and cultures, pastors described similar patterns before entering A3:
- Ministry driven by performance and pressure
- Loneliness at the top
- Preaching-centered discipleship
- Neglected marriages and families
- Ambition for larger churches rather than deeper disciples
Some spoke of burnout, others spoke of competition. Many felt they were doing ministry for God but not necessarily walking with God.
It’s sobering.
But it's honest.
4. After A3: Abiding Before Activity
The most consistent shift across all regions?
Ministry began flowing from intimacy, not insecurity.
Pastors described:
- Renewed spiritual disciplines
- Listening prayer and solitude
- A reorientation toward “finishing well”
- Moving from boss to servant
- Choosing relationship over platform
One pastor said, “I got my family back.”
Another described shifting from “using people to build ministry” to “growing together as family.”
That’s not cosmetic change. That’s inner formation.
5. Multiplication, Not Just Growth
There was also a measurable strategic shift.
Pastors moved from:
“Come to my church.”
to:
“How do we disciple deeply and send people out?”
In Japan, pastors are training the next generation of leaders under 30.
In India, A3 graduates launched "B3" movements (School of the Harvesters and others) to equip rural pastors.
In Cambodia, alumni formed the "School of Discipleship" and serve the United Pastors Fellowship to train emerging leaders and foster unity.
Multiplication became embedded in their vision. Not addition or empire building, but Kingdom building.
6. What Our Alumni Surveys Confirm
Our ongoing alumni surveys align remarkably with the outside research.
We consistently see:
- Increased intimacy with Christ
- Stronger marriages
- Healthier leadership cultures
- Greater intentional disciple-making
- New churches planted
- Leaders raised up
The narrative findings and the quantitative data point in the same direction.
When different methods converge on the same story, you pay attention.
So… Is A3 Effective?
Effectiveness in leader development is not measured in attendance charts or even skills acquired.
It’s measured in:
- Character formation
- Faithfulness over decades
- Generational multiplication
- Christlike fruit
A3 is not perfect by any means. We continue listening and refining, learning and improving.
But the evidence — from independent evaluation, alumni feedback, and global fruit—tells us something deeply encouraging:
When pastors slow down to abide in Christ,
when they embrace servant leadership,
when they are supported in community,
when they invest in the few,
the few truly do change the many.
Our Prayer
We don’t want to build large organizations.
We want to form Christ-like leaders
who finish well
and multiply faithfully
for generations.
Thank you for praying. Thank you for giving. Thank you for walking with us.
The work is quiet and the impact is generational. And by God’s grace—it is multiplying!
For more Christ-centered servant leaders,
Rev. Joseph W. Handley, Jr., Ph.D.
CEO, A3
@jwhandley
@jwhandley
@JosephWHandleyJr
@jwhandley
More Information
- Cover photo of selfie in a busy intersection by Soo Ann Woon on Unsplash
- 4-Star Charity graphic courtesy Charity Navigator
- See A3's rating on Charity Navigator
- Read: "How Effective is A3?" based on Karen Boden's alumni survey
- More on the Four Outcomes of A3
