Page A3 Sections

Details

by Jeff Johnston

Jeff Johnston

02 September 2007

This was an encouraging letter sent to an A3 faculty member. . .

ASIA[edited for security]

Dear J.,

I want to give you a little report on what happened to close the week's training following your superb teaching.The pastors decided that they wanted to pray about these things that they had heard you teach on during the week. So, at 3:00PM we began to pray. This is how they organized it: Each participant listed four or five issues on a sheet of paper, and then over the next few hours each leader prayed in turn for every other participant in the group.Fourteen leaders were praying for each other and then also being prayed for. When they go into this mode, mind you, they do not pray for just a minute or two, but in most cases it was 15-20 minutes for each person.  By 5:45PM they had prayed over four of the fourteen. After supper, we resumed prayer again at 7:30PM and they finished about 11:00PM that day. I don't think I have ever prayed so intensively in my life.The exciting thing for me was that leader after leader had listed on his paper issues that had been raised by your teaching. Many of these issues concerned marriage, family health and unity ("oneness"). And the participant who was the coordinator for that week wrote five items on his sheet, every single one of them encapsulated your teaching, especially with regard to his relationship with his wife.I can't help feeling that especially in his case your visit was most timely. That is such a good investment to make at this time in our work here. Without a doubt it was an especially rich time, and possibly a very critical one for us at this time in the work of equipping leaders. Time will help us see this better.I want to thank you for coming to be with us at this very busy time in the life of your church. But I am also deeply grateful to your church family because this is a commitment the entire church is making to the worldwide kingdom advance in Asia.Warm affection to all our friends there, and peace and grace to the entire church family.Sincerely,
"A3 Staff Member"

Related:

• A3 Faculty
• 12 Curriculum Topics
• Essence of A3

Details

by Sue Plumb Takamoto

Sue Plumb Takamoto

07 August 2007

Reflecting on Doug's Decision

As I blended into the crowd of 350 other Christian leaders gathered from across the world at a small seminary in downtown Budapest, there was one person who, try as he might, could not blend in:  Doug Birdsall.  It was very clear to me and the 349 others at the Lausanne International Leadership Meeting that here was a man whom God has anointed “for such a time as this” (Esther 4:4). . .

Just as Esther was given global influence by God to affect a period in history, so too do I see a ... 

Read more …

Details

by Doug & Jeanne Birdsall

Doug & Jeanne Birdsall

24 July 2007

Reflecting on Dr. Ortlund's Passing

The A3 family mourns the loss of Dr. Ray Ortlund who was called home to be with the Lord on Sunday evening, July 22. Ray played an invaluable role in the life and mission of A3. During the 25 years that he served on the board, Ray was an inspiring role model to every person in the A3 community. He was a friend and pastor who loved God, loved people and loved life. . .

Read more …

Details

by Chinzorig

Chinzorig

17 July 2007

Naadam is the Mongolian National Holiday, commemorating the People's Revolution of 1921. Every TV channel would broadcast the man's three games: mongolian wrestling, archery and horse racing. It is interesting that in old times these were the main sports/skills needed for the families to survive. Every male was expected...

Read more …

Details

by Elliott Snuggs

Elliott Snuggs

16 May 2012

A3’s mission statement is to "identify, develop and release leaders." We consider those three verbs to be core competencies. They are at the heart of what God has called us to do. Each of them is a challenge unto itself. But it is the final one that can be the most emotionally challenging. . .

We've all experienced the emotions of releasing someone we love. I remember the first day my son went to kindergarten. My wife and I cried as we walked back from dropping him off. We had released him for the first time to someone else's care. It was difficult. But we knew it was the right thing for him. Now he is going to be a senior in high school. We are one year away from releasing him again.

Today as A3 released our president, Doug Birdsall, to devote 100% of his organizational leadership to Lausanne, I think many of us find this releasing thing difficult. It is so much easier to keep people within than to send them out. As Doug shared with all of us his decision to leave A3, I felt a deep sadness mixed with a deeper joy. Sad that we would lose such a gifted and talented leader--a true friend, but joyful that he is released to a new role in the kingdom which will have a wide ranging effect on world evangelization.

So I find myself reflecting on the last 24 years that I have ministered together with Doug in A3. He picked me up at the airport the first day I traveled to Japan to launch a whole new era of my life. He believed in me enough to ask me to serve next to him when he became president back in June of 1991. I've shed some tears today. But releasing is what we are all about; releasing leaders to unite the church, multiply the church, and transform the world through the power of the gospel. Praise God that he allows us the privilege, even when it is hard to do.

More Info:

• Elliott Snuggs serves as Vice President for Operations at A3.
• You can read Elliott's staff profile for more information.

Details

11 June 2007

Doug Birdsall

USA (MNN) ― Doug Birdsall has been with A3 for 28 years. In 1991, he was named President of the organization. His tenure will be coming to an end as he's stepping down.

"Three years ago I accepted the leadership of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization, with the thought that I would be able to

...

Read more …

Details

by Jeff Johnston

Jeff Johnston

11 June 2007

Public Statement:
For Immediate Release (06.12.07)

A3 President Plans to Step Down in September; Interim President Named.

Douglas Birdsall resigns to focus on Lausanne movement

GLENDORA, CA (A3) June 12, 2007 - A3, an evangelical mission organization announced today that the organization’s third president, Rev. S. Douglas Birdsall, will be stepping down on September 30, 2007.Birdsall, who assumed the position in 1991, is also the Executive International Chair of the Lausanne Committee for World Evangelization (LCWE). He cited the need to focus exclusively on Lausanne movement as the primary reason for stepping down as president of A3. However, he will continue on as an A3 missionary, seconded to LCWE and will also continue as a member of the A3 board of directors.“After much thought and prayer, I realized that I could no longer effectively lead both organizations.  I remain committed to the people and the vision of A3.  I am grateful for the evidence of God’s provident Hand in using everything I’ve experienced up to this point to prepare me for this new role with Lausanne. I want to give it my all.

Read more …

Details

by Doug & Jeanne Birdsall

Doug & Jeanne Birdsall

29 May 2007

by Doug Birdsall, President of A3 (1991-2007)...

When I returned from our A3 40th anniversary celebrations in Malaysia two months ago, I drafted a letter to give you a fresh report. However, it was so full of superlatives that I found it to be "over the top" even for a person of my temperament.So, I have taken time to reflect and gain perspective.During these weeks, we have received e-mails from many of the participants from across Asia.We have also enjoyed reading prayer letters from many of our missionaries in Japan and our staff in the U.S. to see how they reported on our 40^th Anniversary festivities.

Read more …