Born on June 7, 1943 in Corvallis, Oregon USA.  

EARLY YEARS (1943-1957)

During John’s early years, there was no interest in religion among any member of the family.  But when he was eleven years old, his mother passed away and his relatives felt John and his brother “needed religion.”  For the next three years the two brothers attended the Episcopal Church.  John recalls that he was “involved” but knew nothing about the Bible or Jesus.  A major change occurred at the age of fourteen when his dad married again and his “new mom” was a practicing Seventh-day Adventist

HIGH SCHOOL YEARS (1958-1961) 

When John was sixteen, his stepmother had so established her position in the family, that she insisted that the two brothers attend Laurelwood Academy, a Seventh-day Adventist boarding high school.  The following three years were critically decisive for at Laurelwood John learned to appreciate and practice conservative Adventism.  During two of these years his future wife Connie also attended.

COLLEGE AND UNIVERSITY (1961-1967, 1978-1982)

·     Walla Walla University, BA, 1965.  Double Major: Biblical Languages, Theology

·     Andrews University, MA, M Div, 1967.  Systematic Theology

·     Azusa Pacific University, M Ed. 1982.  Education

EARLY WORK EXPERIENCE (1965-1982)

·     1965 - Hired by Upper Columbia Conference of Seventh-day Adventists and sent to Andrews University for graduate school at the Adventist Seminary.

·     1967 – Ministerial intern, Upper Columbia Conference.

·     1968 – High school teacher, Upper Columbia Academy.  Spent a summer working with the GC Bible Textbook Revision Committee.

·     1970 – Sent by the General Conference of Seventh-day Adventists to Taiwan to study Chinese and subsequently to work on the fringes of China until it should open up to missionary activity.

·     1972 – High school teacher, dormitory dean, and principal, Taiwan Adventist Academy.

·     1979 – Departmental Director for Taiwan Mission (SS Department)

·     1980 – First principal of the newly built Taiwan Adventist Academy at Yu Chih, Nantou, Taiwan.

·     1981 – Resumed work as Departmental Director for Taiwan Mission (SS Department)

FOUR YEAR INTERLUDE IN USA (1982-1986)

·     Finished Masters Degree in education.

·     Junior high school teacher and principal, northern Idaho (Lake City Junior Academy, Coeur d’Alene, Idaho)

·     Principal of Weimar Academy, California

BACK TO WORK AMONG THE CHINESE (1987-2007)

·     1986 – Returned to the Orient as self-supporting English teacher at Chung Shan Hot Spring Resort (south China)

·     1987 – Radio broadcaster for East Asia Committee and coordinated tentmakers teaching English in China.  (Lived in Hong Kong)

·     2000 – Executive Secretary for Chinese Union Mission of Seventh-day Adventists including dealing with Mainland China affairs.

·     2005 – President of Taiwan Conference.

RETIREMENT YEARS (2008 ---   )

2008 – Chinese Union Mission Associate Executive Secretary, as well as chairman of the project to set up Adventist Chinese Hope Channel.

FAMILY

·     Wife - Connie Marthelle Ash, BA and MA in music education

·     Son - John W Ash IV, BS & MS degrees in engineering & AI – working as a software engineer.

Son - James Edwin Ash, BA and MDiv, also USA certified flight instructor – working as a self-supporting missionary and airplane pilot in the jungles of Guyana, South America.