Support This Ministry: Asia-Pacific Leadership Academy

First of all, thank you very much for your interest in my teaching ministry! Although my teaching takes place in many areas of the world, the support opportunity I wish to provide is for the part of Asia that is served by theAsia-Pacific Leadership Academy (APLA).[i] Specifically, six nations are directly involved: the Philippines and the five countries in the Mekong region (Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar). We recently established a not-for-profit (tax free) organization for this purpose, named the Asia-Pacific Missions Foundation. Donors may make tax deductible contributions to this foundation and may earmark your contribution for mission work in any of the six countries or for the Academy (APLA), of which I am the Dean and primary teacher. All money disbursement decisions will be made by the Foundation’s Board of Directors, assisted by input and recommendations from sub-committees for each of the seven areas designated to receive funds. The Foundation charter stipulates that churches giving $50,000 or more annually will have a seat on the Board, and churches giving at least $10,000 will have a seat on the sub-committee for the country to which they are directing their contribution. This arrangement provides for a number of voices to be heard as a part of the decision making process, and allows those providing the most support to be the most directly involved.

Regarding my part in the Asia-Pacific region through the Academy, I have support for my work for at least the next year. However, since many of our students are not on the staff of the churches in the Philippines, support for travel, tuition and materials is needed. At some point, I will be in need of support for continuing to serve through the Academy, and will keep you apprised of that. In the meantime, it is important for you to know how acute the financial needs are in the Philippines, since most of our disciples in this part of the world are in this country of 7,000 islands. There are 22 churches in the Philippines, of which 21 are in the Provinces. The church in Manila has about 2300 members, with a ministry staff of only 9 men and 4 women, and an administrative staff of 3 women (who serve all of the churches). Of the 21 Provincial churches, only two have a fulltime couple on staff (Cebu and Cagayan de Oro) and of the other 19, only 6 have a fulltime male leader and none of these 19 have any women on staff. Therefore, money is urgently needed for the work in the Philippines and for all aspects of the work in the Asia-Pacific churches. As the web site states: “The Asia Pacific Mission Foundation is an international organization dedicated to the spiritual, medical and educational needs of the Asia-Pacific Region.”

Since the Foundation web site is just being set up, contributions may only be made by check at this time, but you will be able to give online through the web site very soon. The web site is

http://asiapacificmission.com and the e-mail address is  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Feel free to write and ask questions or give input. Checks may be sent to this address: Asia-Pacific Mission Foundation /  8711 South 24th Way / Phoenix, AZ 85042. Susan Wedin, the wife of one of the Phoenix elders (Bob), has volunteered to serve as administrator of the Foundation for at least the first year, free of charge. As a woman with a financial/human resource background by training and experience, setting up the Foundation has been her labor of love especially, but the rest of us in churches who help support missions in the Asia-Pacific area appreciate her efforts greatly. The benefits of funding missions through an organization like this one are quite significant for those providing support and for those receiving it. Thank you very much for your consideration of joining us in this great work through your prayers and financial contributions. The money given will have a great impact in a part of the world that is very open to the gospel of God’s Son. May God bless you!