BASIC JOB DESCRIPTION
My ministry with ASAP is primarily a focus on the incredible mission field that has moved to North America. We are now surrounded by many of the "least reached": people from Buddhist and other backgrounds that have come as refugees, immigrants, and international students. I developed a cross-cultural missions kit called "Reach the World Next Door" to help church members know how to find, befriend, and introduce Jesus to people in their communities from Southeast Asian background. I hope to partner with training programs, schools, conferences, and churches to use this kit to mobilize greater mission among these unreached people.
SCHOOLING
My graduate work was at Andrews University's seminary and I studied Theology for undergrad at Walla Walla College with a minor in Biblical languages. I haven't used Greek and Hebrew much but it got me ready to learn Cambodian and Thai where I think I had my real training in missions among the precious people in those two countries.
HOW YOU WERE ORIGINALLY CONNECTED TO ASAP
In 1992, God really put Cambodia on my wife's and my hearts. We talked with Judy Aitken about serving there "someday." On Friday night of Julie's graduation, Judy said, "We need someone in the refugee camps right now. Will you go?" We were surprised and really began to pray. Our conference president Don Schneider graciously released us from our sponsorship and we were in Thailand working among Cambodian refugees within 3 short months. So it was ASAP in its formative stages that got us started into a life of missions. I praise the Lord for that open door to the most exciting adventure humans are allowed—leading the unreached to Christ!
WHEN YOU STARTED WORKING WITH ASAP
October 2012.
FAVORITE ASAP PROJECT
Send an At-Risk Child to School. There's absolutely no project closer to my heart than providing safety for children that are in or at risk of slavery or prostitution. It is a horrendous that while we live comfortably and spend millions on ourselves, children are trapped, overworked, beaten, abused, and basically slowly murdered. We must care for these little ones.
WHAT YOU LIKE TO DO OUTSIDE OF WORK
I love to spend time with my wife Julie and our four children. I have an energetic, enthusiastic, eager eight-year old son Josiah, a steady, detailed, hard-working and humorous son Nathan in academy, a creative, sweet and determined college student daughter Joelle, and a married, entrepreneurial, fun-loving Cambodian son Rotha. My life is full with them! There's no time for hobbies now!
YOUR FAVORITE BIBLE TEXT
"I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me" (Galatians 2:20). I like it because it's a radical call to total living and dying for God, but it shows that it's only possible through Jesus' awesome death and that it's all about Jesus.
