Dear Supporters,
As we come to the close of 2026, we are once again overwhelmed with gratitude — for what God has done across our fields this year, and for you, whose prayers, gifts, and hands-on service made every bit of it possible. This year's letter carries more than our usual look back. It also carries an announcement about the future of ASON International — one we share with full hearts and great excitement. But first, let us tell you what your partnership accomplished this year.
This past year, God moved in remarkable ways in the Dominican Republic. In just over a year, the T-shirt factory in Los Guaricanos went from laying brick to a working business: we completed construction, procured machinery, trained a staff of local believers, celebrated the grand opening of Adonai Textile, and this summer recorded the factory's first profitable month — a milestone on the road to a ministry that sustains itself. And in July, we took a team of thirteen to the northwest of the Dominican Republic to break ground on a brand-new church alongside a brand-new national partner for ASON.
In Ghana, we completed construction of the final building of the Senior High School, which is now fully accredited by the Ghana Education Service and the Ministry of Education.
In Asia, we completed pastor housing for one of our recent church plants, and we are kicking off our biggest project in the region to date: the ministry building for the mother church and pastor housing for our National and lead pastor.
We are grateful for what God has done, allowing us to make such tremendous progress in the field over the last year. None of it would have been possible without you.
When Ellen Abramson founded ASON International in 1997, she set out to help national Christian leaders accomplish their God-given visions. For nearly thirty years, she has carried that calling by doing what few people could: serving simultaneously as visionary, fundraiser, administrator, trip leader, and shepherd of every field we serve — many full-time jobs, held together by one faithful servant.
It is with deep gratitude for her leadership, and great excitement for what comes next, that we announce a transition: effective October 16, 2026, Martin Beringer has taken over as President of ASON International. Martin has served with ASON since 2023, first as Director of Development and, since October 2025, as Vice President.
Let us be clear about what this does — and does not — mean. Ellen is not going anywhere. Quite the opposite. She is handing the day-to-day administration to Martin and will gradually reduce her hours in the seasons ahead, pouring herself into the work that brings her the greatest joy. And when the day comes that she steps back from her staff role, she will join the Board of Directors — so her voice and vision will guide ASON for many years to come.
Thank you for your continued partnership in this journey of faith. May you be richly blessed this season and in the year ahead.
In His Service,
Martin Beringer - President
A Word from Ellen
ASON has been the focus of my life since July 1997. It has been a great privilege to serve the Lord by assisting visionary nationals in Russia, Latvia, Ghana, Asia and the Dominican Republic.
I have always hoped and prayed that ASON would outlive me. And because God has provided Martin, it will. There are great needs to meet and this work must continue. My board of directors and I have been working on succession plans for several years now. It is not easy to find someone willing to take on this huge task; someone with the variety of skills needed. Yet I have never been worried about it. I always felt that at the right time, if God wanted ASON to continue, He would provide the right person to continue the work. Then, by clear divine orchestration, Martin Beringer entered the picture. I always move slowly to test nationals, and we also moved slowly to get to know and trust Martin with this position. In the last three years he has visited all our fields and we have gotten to know each other well. With Martin as President of ASON our values and mission will not change. We are not planning on contracting, rather expanding!
I will be on deck for a long while to come; ¾ time from Oct-Feb and half time from then on. God willing, I will be serving as a consultant for Martin, completing his training, investigating new projects, teaching and evangelizing. Please keep my God-given dream going. Please give very generously this year because we are expanding, and because we want very much to alleviate the stress on our nationals and to meet the worthy needs presented to us.
In His Service,
Ellen Abramson - Founder
