Our History

ARISE & SHINE EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION began in the Philippines in 1987. Its formation came about after Dirk Wood and his family had spent almost one year working in that country as missionaries. In the Philippines, they found a nation torn by war and strife and flooded with poverty and sickness. The task seemed overwhelming. Dirk was an evangelist, but the crusades he preached for several months did not seem to be enough. God had the answer and He led Dirk to teach the nationals to be founded in the Bible and train them to evangelize their own country. Dirk became associated with several Filipino ministers and pastors who had the same desire to be more effective reaching their country. These Filipino ministers joined together with Dirk. ARISE & SHINE EVANGELISTIC ASSOCIATION (ASEA) was formed and registered with the Filipino government as a non-profit, religious organization in February of 1987.

The original goal of ASEA was to educate men and women in God’s Word and train them in evangelism for the purpose of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This is accomplished with a commitment to the Bible, believing it is the infallible Word of God and is as such trustworthy, authoritative, and all-sufficient.

It is the desire of ASEA to produce, provide, and promote men and women who share this commitment to the Word of God and are effective ministers of it. ASEA is independent of any denomination and desires to work with any person, church or group which believes in the Word of God as authoritative and infallible. It is the goal of ASEA to assist the Body of Christ in any way we can to make it strong and effective in the world today. There is a sense of urgency in the air today. It can be felt throughout the world. We must work with all our might to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ. ASEA has that vision.

In 1991, God placed another burden in the heart of Dirk Wood. This burden was for the city of London, England, but ASEA was growing rapidly in the Philippines and Dirk was committed to work there until it was a stable, effective ministry. The burden in his heart continued and grew. In 1993, he left the Philippines for six months of “outreach” work in London to see what God had in mind. God had blessed ASEA with several solid, hard-working missionaries who were also committed to God’s Word. Dirk asked Steve Same, who had been with ASEA since 1988 and was serving as vice-president, to join the London outreach.

The outreach to London, England continues! In 1996, God led ASEA to purchase a building that had been formerly used as a “pub”. Renovation work began and in October of that year, the doors of THE LONDON OUTREACH CENTER opened to the public. The renovation work continued for the next year. Now the Center houses the base of evangelism operations for London; ASEA’s Distance Study program; a Home School Resource Library; housing for missionaries and staff; and accommodations for those attending one of the ASEA training programs.

In 1993, ASEA began its registration in the USA as a non-profit, religious organization. Dr. Bob Thomas now serves as an International Assistant Director working out of the United States. Dirk Wood continues to work as the Director of the ministry, spending time in each location. In 1998, an “outreach” trip was made to Cape Town, South Africa. The Wood Family returned in 2002 to establish a permanent ASEA base in there in Muizenberg.

In addition to Bible training, evangelistic outreach, ministry in poverty areas and work with those with addictions, ASEA South Africa began Surfside Christian Fellowship in 2005. After 12 years of renting facilities, the ministry was able to obtain property and begin construction on a new building located on Main Road in Muizenberg. The church group finally began to gather in their own building in March 2018. Ongoing renovations are expected to continue as funding and operations grow. The building serves as a home for Surfside Christian Fellowship, a base for evangelism operations in Cape Town, housing for staff, and soon-to-be center for ministry training, free to the public counseling, and general community outreach for Muizenberg and the greater Cape Town area.

ABOUT THE FOUNDER

Dirk Wood was born-again in 1975. By 1977, God began to place within him the burning desire to be an evangelist. He obtained a Bachelor and Master of Theology Degree from Liberty Bible College in Florida, and a Doctor of Theology Degree from International Seminary in Florida. In 1985, God spoke to Dirk to leave his hometown and take His Word to other nations. The message came loud and clear to Dirk through Isaiah 60, “Arise, shine, for the light has come … and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.” Thus came the theme and name of the ministry — Arise & Shine Evangelistic Association.

Dirk’s original vision to evangelize the Philippines grew into a vision to train Filipinos to evangelize. His commitment to daily Bible reading on a consecutive basis has become a burden to challenge Christians to commit themselves to Bible reading. Using the Schools of Bibliology and Arise Shine Christian Theological Seminary, the vision is being fulfilled. Because of the growth in this area of the ministry, Dirk pursued his education further to provide a high quality of education in the Arise & Shine Schools. He returned to school and obtained his Doctor of Philosophy Degree in Theology in December 1991 from International Seminary in Florida.