Board

Board of Directors

Mr. David Akiyama
AkiMountain Engineering, Computer Consultant

Rev. Dr. Keith Edwards
On-leave Pastor and Home Care Provider

Mr. Martin R. Inouye
omni-means, inc., Partner, Transportation Consultant

Dr. Bryant L. Myers
Fuller Theological Seminary, School of Intercultural Studies,
Professor of Transformational Development

Mr. Terence Shinsato
Intershop Communications

Mr. Dexter Yuen
Union Bank, Engineering Manager

Advisory Board

Rev. Barry Deguchi
Catalyst Christian Community Church, Senior Pastor

Mr. Rich Hong
Fremont Community Church, Adults Pastor

Ms. Jo Ann Kaba
Cerritos Baptist Church, Children’s & Missions Director

Mr. Derek Kamemoto
Red Dot Corporation, Engineer

Mr. Paul Mizuki
Patlite (USA) Corporation

Rev. Wayne Ogimachi
Lighthouse Christian Church, Lead Pastor

Rev. Stephen Sato
West Los Angeles Holiness Church, Pastor

Rev. David Shinoda
Pathway Community Church, Adult & Small Groups Pastor

Mr. Tom Steers
Navigators, National Coordinator — Asian American Ministries

Rev. Ellen Tanouye
God’s Church, Pastor

Mr. Collin Tomikawa
InterVarsity Christian Fellowship, Team Leader

Rev. Dr. Steve Yamaguchi
Executive Presbyter for The Presbytery of Los Ranchos

Rev. Les Yee
Peninsula Free Methodist Church, Senior Pastor

Dr. Calvin Yim
Christian Layman Church, Associate Pastor

Rev. Rob Yonemoto
California State University Los Angeles

Associates

Dr. Arlene Inouye
Fuller Theological Seminary, Doctor of Ministry Academic Advisor and Arbor Spring, Founder and Director

Kahu Rennie Mau
Pacific Arise Ministries, Koloa, Kauai, Hawaii

Rev. Pete Morris
LA Silkscreen, Graphic Designer and Freelance Artist

Mr. Don Saguchi

Mr. Wayne Shinseki
Verizon Wireless

Ms. Nancy Sugikawa
Lighthouse Christian Church
Associate Pastor, Serving Ministries

A sampling of what some
Iwa Board Members and Associates
have to say about Iwa

Calvin Yim, Associate Pastor, Christian Layman Church, Oakland, CA
“Iwa has been instrumental in helping us through issues like rapid growth challenges, financial stewardship, and leadership transitions....Using Iwa-developed tools, we have learned to better identify our target groups, develop emerging leaders, and prepare for leadership succession.”

David Shinoda, Adult & Small Groups Pastor, Pathway Community Church, San Ramon/Danville, CA
“...Iwa has been committed to the mission of developing an effective means of communicating the message of Jesus Christ in a way that is sensitive to the ears of its audience.  Sensitivity...is essential if our message is to reach the ears of a Japanese and Asian American population who do not have the hope of Jesus Christ.  Iwa plays a critical role in equipping our churches to reach people who are on the outside of the walls of our churches and I am committed to its success.”

Jo Ann Kaba, Children’s & Missions Director, Cerritos Baptist Church, Cerritos, CA
“We asked Iwa to come and give an 8 week class (on) evangelizing Asian Americans.  (O)ur church was able to have a better grasp on how to approach our unsaved family and friends. They equipped us to more effectively and sensitively share the good news of Jesus Christ.  The class was well attended and well received.”

Keith E. Edwards, On Leave Pastor, Santa Maria, CA
“Iwa provided outstanding consultation in my first seven years of ordained ministry as Associate Pastor of the Union Church of Los Angeles....So strong were my convictions about Iwa that when the ministry extended the invitation, I joined its staff, where I served for five years....As I worked with Stan Inouye on ministry development, workshops and conferences and consulting appointments I saw solid biblical and practical theology come alive in the lives and ministries of hundreds of leaders, new and experienced alike.  I witnessed transformation of many congregations.”

Stephen Sato, Pastor, West Los Angeles Holiness Church,
Los Angeles, CA
“There is a tremendous need for interchurch activities and for leadership training specific to the Asian American churches.  Because of the limited human resources and denominational sensitivity, none of the churches that I am aware of are able to promote training as can be done with an organization like Iwa.”

Tom Steers, National Director, Asian American Ministries, The Navigators
“Those of us who are in the fields, on the streets, and on the campuses are DESPERATE for what Iwa is doing to serve the Lord and the Asian American ministries.  There are no culturally relevant materials to equip our Asian American believers for the evangelism and discipling they are engaged in...Iwa is the ONLY organization that is focused on developing these relevant and necessary tools.”

Wayne Ogimachi, Senior Pastor, Lighthouse Christian Church, Bellevue, WA
“...I thank God for not only the staff, but Board members, Associates, and others, who have just been willing to hang in there with this ministry.  There (have) often been challenges of financial shortages.  There’s often been discouragement.  There (have) also been struggles to focus the ministry and prioritize....But the thing that I see now is that we’re seeing some of the fruit of that.  And I think the best is yet to come....(M)uch of the ground work...(has) been laid down...(such as) the research...the consulting...the networking...the workshops, and the training.  And now we’re starting to see more and more tools...--things that can actually be put in people’s hands--more  resources.  So I feel like...it’s been...a lot of sowing, and a little bit of harvesting.  But we’re going to see much greater harvesting in the years ahead.”

Wayne Shinseki, Verizon Wireless, Beaverton, OR
“Iwa principles have affected the way I counsel, the way I lead group discussions... probably even the way I pray!  Subtle, yet deep is Iwa’s influence on me...it permeates my life.  There is only one way to describe Iwa’s impact on me:  “Life-Changing!”