ASAP Celebrates 15 Years of Service
By Julia O’Carey, Associate Director
On October 23, Adventist Southeast Asia Projects (ASAP), a non-profit ministry based in Berrien Springs, Michigan, celebrated the lives of those who gave their hearts to Jesus over the past fifteen years of ASAP’s existence. ASAP invited their board of directors, representatives from the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, ASI partners, volunteers, prayer supporters, donors and friends in the community to join in the celebration. The evening was filled with inspiring mission reports, beautiful music by the Ong family, an authentic Asian dinner and concluded with a prayer session for the people of Thailand, Cambodia, Laos, Vietnam and Myanmar, the five countries of ASAP’s focus.
Judy Aitken, ASAP’s founder and director, shared how the passion to bring Jesus to the suffering in Southeast Asia had begun years before there was ever a building or official non-profit status. It began when she first responded to a desperate call for nurses to volunteer in the Thailand refugee camps in the early 1980’s. She recounted how step by step God miraculously led in bringing thousands to accept Jesus as their Savior.
In his speech, Benjamin Schoun, the Vice President of the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists, affirmed the way ASAP partners closely with the official SDA Church entities in accomplishing its mission. Schoun said, “AWR is like the flight artillery, bringing God’s messages via the air waves, and ASAP national missionaries are like the ground troops, following up the interests. Both are crucial in accomplishing the work before Jesus’ soon coming.” Bruce Bauer, ASAP board chairman, interviewed the Lo family, a dedicated Hmong couple who are ready and willing to bring the gospel to their people. Hmong ministry is one of the many great opportunities ahead of ASAP for there are 14 million Hmong and many have yet to hear the gospel.
ASAP praises God, their Provider, for not only sustaining them these past fifteen years but for expanding their mission. Two years ago ASAP began training and supporting national missionaries in the country of Myanmar. The way in which the details for ASAP’s 15 Anniversary Celebration came together so beautifully on a small budget and limited staff is yet one more indication of God’s providence. The staff, their spouses and friends in the community cooked the food. Michael Tan, a professional photographer volunteered to take pictures. Over $40,000 was given that evening to support evangelism in Vietnam, the translation of the Bible into the Hmong language and for a number of other great ministry needs. 