What is our story?

This is not really new information, but I reworked it today for a trip to Seattle I will make tomorrow. If you can pray for us, we will be at a conference called "Hope for the Japanese Community" led by a network called Reaching Japanese for Christ (www.rjcnetwork.org). We are hoping to meet alot of new people and learn from them. Thank you to my friend Rev. David Bowen for his help on the wording of this. 

What is our calling?
We are excited that God is calling us to take the gospel message to the heart of Japanese people in Tokyo. Three events have helped convince us and our home church in Durham, N.C., The Church of the Good Shepherd (PCA), (where Sean served as an assistant minister), that this idea is from God.

Why Tokyo, Japan?  
1) I found that Japan was approaching me, years after I approached Japan on a summer-long college missions trip. As students at Covenant Seminary, a Japanese classmate from Tokyo named Seima approached me about returning with him to help with church-planting one day. This was from ‘04-‘10. Like Barnabas approaching Saul in Tarsus for ministry to the Gentiles, Seima was convinced that my background, mix of gifts, and personality would be a good fit.

2) I knew that this shift in ministry would require Lisa’s full support, so we went on a scouting trip there in 2010. After she experienced the culture up close, she came away with tears aching for Japanese to know Jesus, and a desire to use her counseling gifts there. She has continued to minister to Japanese moms in our city now.

3) We decided to go through our denomination’s assessment center at Mission to the World. We were given rigorous testing and evaluation by experienced missionaries there. This helped us, our church community, and leadership sense that the timing is right for us. We were sent out in the fall of 2011.

Many Japanese are still hurting from the 3/11 “triple disaster.” We are moved by compassion for Tokyo, the world’s largest city today of 37 million, and where one in four Japanese people live! It is the very heart of Japan: politically, economically, and culturally. It is still a pre-Christian society, where less that 0.22% of the people are evangelical worshippers of Christ. The major religion is a mix of secularism, polytheistic Buddhism, and Shintoism. We pray that in our generation, we will finally see Japan experience a powerful work of the Holy Spirit, when the word of God “may speed ahead” (2 Thess. 3:1) from the fast-paced city culture of Tokyo. Jesus said, “I tell you, many will come from east and west and recline at table with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven,” (Matt. 8:11).

How can you partner with us? 

Along with prayer, we must find partnering churches and individuals to support us for the remaining 20% of our budget - in monthly, quarterly, or annual pledges for four years. We have made a long-term commitment. We are hoping to move our family there by July 2013 in time to help with the Grace Harbor kids’ camp in late July.

Some ways to learn more: 

 

www.graceharborproject.jp

 

endorsement video: https://vimeo.com/52514716  

 

for donations: www.mtw.org (account #16663)