Mission
ASI—the organization of Seventh-day Adventist lay persons involved in professions, industry, education, and/or services—exists to provide challenge, nurture and experience in Sharing Christ in the Marketplace as well as support the global mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Vision
ASI and its members will be known for their unswerving honesty in business principles and practices, unflagging participation in the various ministries of the Church, unwavering positiveness toward Church leadership, unhesitating provision for the needs of others, and untiring focus on the Christ they represent in the marketplace.
Become an ASI member
ASI members share a common goal to support the mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church in reaching the world with the good news of God’s love by “Sharing Christ in the Marketplace.” In getting to know other members at local and national conventions and conferences, you’ll develop a deepening love for both the ASI family and the worldwide church family.
Sharing Christ’s Love Through Every Step of Life
Committed to supporting the Seventh-day Adventist Church, ASI unites businesses, professionals, and ministries in living and spreading a Christ-centered mission.
About ASI
ASI’s philosophy promotes a Christ-centered lifestyle, manifested by a commitment to be in daily partnership with God. ASI members seek to experience God’s love in their own lives and share that love with the people they encounter in their everyday work and activities—hence ASI’s motto, Sharing Christ in the Marketplace.
ASI is committed to supporting the Seventh-day Adventist Church and its various outreach programs, including health, education, evangelism, community services, family concerns, and special projects. This unique and diverse group of members ranges from business owners to individual professionals to supporting ministries. In short, ASI members are Adventists from every walk of life.
Sharing Christ in the Marketplace
8
Number of Countries
Total Population
Number of Churches
Adventist Penetration Index
As of the end of 2024
Northern Asia-Pacific Division ASi
The Northern Asia-Pacific Division Adventist Laymen’s Services and Industries (NSD ASi) is a unique and dynamic part of the global ASi movement. NSD ASi brings together committed Seventh-day Adventist professionals, entrepreneurs, and lay members from eight diverse countries: Bangladesh, Japan, Korea, Mongolia, Nepal, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, and Taiwan.
Unlike other ASi regions, NSD spans nations that do not share borders, yet are united in faith and mission. These countries represent a wide array of languages, political systems, religions, and cultures—from majority Buddhist and Muslim populations to secularized industrial economies. This remarkable diversity creates both unique challenges and powerful opportunities for witnessing in the marketplace.
One particularly distinct feature of NSD is that it includes North Korea, one of the last great unreached mission territories in the world. While direct mission efforts there remain highly restricted, NSD ASi upholds the vision of preparing the way for the Gospel to enter every corner of the division—including the most spiritually closed regions.
Through this extraordinary mix of geography and context, NSD ASi continues to develop innovative ways to share Christ in everyday life, work, and business.
Global Mission, Local Impact
NSD ASi is part of a worldwide network of ASi organizations operating under various world divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. Each division—including NSD—hosts its own conventions and gatherings, supports region-specific initiatives, and engages members in life-transforming projects across both local and international fields.
Wherever they go, ASi members proclaim Christ in the marketplace—bringing their faith into boardrooms, clinics, classrooms, and communities. Through service, innovation, and personal testimony, they model what it means to live a mission-driven life.
More About Global ASi
Many other world divisions of the Seventh-day Adventist Church have their own ASi organizations, often with local chapters across various nations. These organizations function similarly to ASi in North America, organizing conventions, mobilizing members, and supporting regional and global projects.
For more information about ASi activities around the world, including news articles and regional links, please refer to the following resources. If your region is not listed or you’d like to learn more, we encourage you to contact the ASi office within your world church division.
NSD ASi remains committed to fostering collaboration, sharing Christ boldly in all sectors of society, and advancing the mission wherever God opens the way.
"Business is a mission. Service is a calling. Every believer is a minister." — the spirit that drives ASi.
Our History
-
1904
Origins and Foundation
ASI’s history is rooted in Madison College, an Adventist self-supporting institution established in 1904 near Nashville, Tennessee by E.A. Sutherland and Percy Magan. As Madison expanded it began to plant satellite schools and institutions around the country. In 1947 these self-supporting entities formed the Association of Seventh-day Adventist Self-Supporting Institutions, or ASI. At the time, ASI members were educational or health outfits.
-
1979
Name Change to Reflect Broader Membership
Over the years however, ASI membership began to include businesses and Adventist entrepreneurs and professionals. Thus in 1979, to better reflect ASI’s diverse membership, the organization’s name was changed to Adventist-laymen’s Services & Industries.
-
1997
Formation of NSD ASi
The origins of the Northern Asia-Pacific Division Laymen’s Association (NSD ASI) trace back to the establishment of the Far Eastern Division (FED) in 1919. The FED served as the coordinating body for Seventh-day Adventist mission and activities across East Asia and the Pacific, maintaining this role for many decades[#]. In 1997, the FED was restructured and split into two divisions: the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD) and the Southern Asia-Pacific Division (SSD). As part of this reorganization, the NSD Laymen’s Association (NSD ASI) was newly constituted, marking the beginning of a more formalized network of lay members, entrepreneurs, and professionals within the NSD territory.
-
2024
Reorganization and Expansion
In 2024, the North Asia-Pacific Division expanded to include Bangladesh, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka in addition to Japan, Korea, Mongolia, and Taiwan. As a result, the NSD ASI was reorganized to reflect this new structure, now encompassing a broader geographic and cultural diversity.