9Marks supports the work of Access Partners because of its unique emphasis on biblical indigenous church planting. Access Partners offers its Business as Missions services solely to those who make healthy church planting their utmost priority in the field.

The other reason we like Access Partners is because of its strategic focus on the least reached region of the world, Central Asia—where only 0.016% of the population is Christian. This is a region where conversion leads to persecution and even martyrdom for followers of Christ. Governments are highly restrictive against Westerners living in-country, so the work of Access Partners has proved crucial to church planting there.

As pastors, you would be encouraged to hear the many stories of God’s work in Central Asia amidst such a seemingly dark spiritual environment. Take, for example, a young lady who heard the gospel for the first time last year. Access Partners provided her with a Bible during a trip in 2007, and over the past year church planters continued to share the gospel with her. Last year she became a Christian and was baptized.

Another church planting team supported by Access Partners have seen amazing fruit among locals in their region. They trained local Muslim background believers to bring the gospel to others in their community, and this past year alone these believers have seen over 100 people make professions of faith in Christ.

Through these examples and more, Access Partners is continually amazed at what God is doing among the nations. To learn more about God’s hand in Central Asia, visit www.access1040.com. Also, my next blog post will give you some specific ideas for how you, as a pastor, could uniquely impact the work of Access Partners.