MEDIA MINISTRY:
This week we working overtime to finish up the latest video for Kishiwada Bible Church.
Pray with us that this video will help draw local residents and welcome many more into the Lord’s house. We will post the finished video in the coming weeks.
For more info on media ministry:
https://japanmission.org/ministries/media-ministry/
LAST 2 WEEKS!
Pray with us for churches and missionaries as we are approaching the last couple weeks of English outreach before summer break!
We will soon be saying summer goodbyes to students, packing up, and gearing up to travel. Thank you for sustaining us and the ministry here with your faithful prayers.
Please Pray with us to finish strong, for safe travels, and quality time back home. May the lord fully refresh each one for further service in September!
NEW MISSIONARY
Last week the immigration authorities granted VISAs for the latest missionary family scheduled to come out to join us in August 2025!
Please pray with us for the Wright family from Tennessee, U.S.A. as they prepare to make this transition to Japan. May the Lord go before them and prepare the ministry waiting ahead as they walk with Him in each step.
Read here for more about their calling and how to further pray and support them as they begin their journey to Japan!
www.thenationswillknow.com
HOMESTAY
CAYA Homestays have begun here in our home in Ikoma, Nara. In our own wisdom, we could have never planned for this act of service to the Lord to be as rewarding as it has proven to be thus far - we are both thrilled and excited!
By the grace of God, under our roof we’ve been able to share our lives, our hearts, and the love of God with folks from every walk of Japanese society: elementary, middle and high school students, young recent college graduates, a mom in our own age group and a longtime friend of Japan Mission who is called “Ojii” (grandpa) by his grandchildren. Slow-paced time spent preparing & breaking bread together, playing games and trading cultural experiences has facilitated deep personal connections.
We give thanks to the Lord for using this new ministry to build deeper relationships with the precious souls He has connected us with, each uniquely created in the image of God.
PASTORS MEETING
This Monday many of the pastors we partner with in English outreach will come together for our annual gathering. It’s always a great time of fellowship and a time to hear from each one about what God is doing in their communities.
Pray with us for the leaders of these churches as they press on to scatter seeds of the gospel. May the lord bless them and give us a listening ear to understand how best to better support them in their communities.
MR. BIG HOUSE
While planning a visual for the next church video the inspiration came… “what if while church members shared about their community, pieces of stain-glass were placed together to form the church building!?”
Knowing nothing about stain-glass, we began to order pieces on amazon and build. Cutting and sanding bits of glass, we soon realized we were in over our head! :)
It just so happens that a local stain-glass craftsman who goes by the name “Mr. Big House” runs a workshop across the way, so we decided to pop in for advice. This veteran of the trade looked at our tools and laughed out loud! He generously talked us through a game-plan, showed us his machinery and offered to help us with this project at a discount.
Despite living very close, we never had a real relationship with Mr. Big House, but through this random idea the Lord has brought us into his world. Now we are consciously aware that the Lord may have bigger plans than a church video and are treading carefully on this “holy ground”…
Please pray with us for this video project, but also that the Lord would bless and work in the heart of Mr. Big House as we move forward with this project.
https://video.nostr.build/329c38de653254427711e1c597cb1bdd69d0300122bf15cd314e05ca0b5c01ed.mp4
CAYA HOMESTAY
We appreciate your continued prayers as the Thomas couple are in the beginning stages of the homestay ministry. The local community has embraced it with enthusiasm, and the news continues to ripple out into companies and schools beyond our friends here in Ikoma.
Through word of mouth and past relationships the Lord has already stirred in the hearts of leaders at two global Japanese companies and they will be sharing the program for employees and families interested in “English immersion”. Last month a local cram school also visited and asked if they could share the CAYA homestay information to their students studying English.
This month we will also be sharing about this new program with the many churches we partner with for English outreach in the Kansai region. (about 15 churches)
Please pray with us as things are just getting started and we can sense that the Lord is doing a great new thing! May the Lord use this program to bless all who come.
Previous post:
https://www.facebook.com/share/p/18qgCCFwJp/?mibextid=wwXIfr
MEDIA MINISTRY:
Last week we went on a filming shoot for a another church video. Special thanks to the sponsorship of asialink.org who made this video possible!
Now editing begins…
There are many in Japan who are hesitant to come to church for fear that they might be shamed by those around them or that they may not be welcomed if they are not a christian.
We pray that this video would help draw local residents and clearly show that all are welcome to the Father’s house.
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THE MEDIA GAP:
There is a media gap between the Japanese church and society, where great work is being done in the church but it is not shared effectively online.
CHURCH- 70% of pastors approaching retirement age, average church at only 30 members, lacking the funding or talent needed to effectively use media in engaging the next generation for Christ.
SOCIETY- +94% of Japanese are connected to the internet, +90% of users actively browsing through mobile devices.
HELP US CLOSE THE GAP
There are churches that would like to create a promotional video for their church but don't have the funds to get the project rolling.
If you feel led to partner with us in this mission to close the media gap with the Japanese church, please contact us!
For more information:
https://japanmission.org/ministries/media-ministry/
https://video.nostr.build/acb534cf8a2921c5809236090bf1fd58ba97f21c5568593cc54d922fde8f20e7.mp4
HOMESTAY MINISTRY
"English immersion" programs are very popular with the Japanese, and many spend a small fortune to travel overseas to just live with an English-speaking family for a time. Through the Thomas couple, the Lord has opened a door to serve the community in this way through a local “mini-homestay” program right here in Ikoma, Japan!
A couple months ago, Ed and Toby Thomas began opening their house to friends in the community to give them a taste of Texas without having to leave Japan.
Through doing life together over several days, the Thomas couple has the opportunity to invite their guests into their daily walk with the Lord. This happens in simple ways through visits to church together on a Sunday or prayer before meals, but also in more intimate ways as they share their lives with each other in deeper conversation.
Pray with us for Ed and Toby as they have finished their fourth homestay in just two months and begin plans for the next one! Please also pray that the Lord would soften the hearts of future “homestayers” and that He would use the time together to truly transform lives here in Ikoma.
CHILDREN
Many children are being introduced to the teachings of Christ through childcare and English outreach programs in partnership with local churches. Pray with us that seeds planted will bear fruit in the fullness of God’s time.
Matthew 19:14
Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.
https://japanmission.org/ministries/english-outreach/
GOLDEN WEEK
Last week was one of the most festive times of the year in Japan known as Golden Week. The period includes four national holidays and stretched from 29 April to May 6th.
It was one of the busiest times of year for travel as millions of people made the most of the extended time off and beautiful spring weather. Traffic all over the country was INCREDIBLE! After a week of hard play it’s back to work for Japan.
https://publicholidays.jp/golden-week/
