Connecting Japanese men with their heart

I have been involved in mentoring for 50 years, ever since my late teenage years in Sydney, Australia. A Christian housemaster at a church boarding school showed me the love of Christ through thoughtful questions, caring, and listening. I responded, following the Christ the housemaster showed me with everything I had. My life was never the same. He not only introduced me to Christ, but he also showed me the power of being seen and of helping others be seen. Thus began a lifetime of mentoring.

A second mentor helped me to discover what I knew intuitively but couldn’t articulate—how to hear my spirit. Paul reminds us we are body, soul, and spirit and we are to bring all three under the reign of Christ (1 Thess. 5:23). Jesus said, “The spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14:38 NIV). In Romans, Paul writes that as we “greet God with a childlike ‘What’s next, Papa?’ God’s Spirit touches our spirits and confirms who we really are” (Rom. 8:15b–16 MSG).

My mentor, as well as helping me hear my spirit, would say, “Tell me what you don’t want to tell me.” At first, I was resistant, yet my willing spirit knew it was worth the risk. I chose to push back against my desire to keep everything secret (my flesh), and I told my mentor what was really going on inside. I experienced a life-changing liberty. In turn, I was able to help hundreds of Christian men to not only hear their spirit but to make their spirit an integrated part of their lives as they took on their flesh. Many are now disciples multiplying disciples.

When I came to Japan for sports ministry in 2018, I was amazed at how helping young Japanese Christian men to hear their spirit grew them into disciples who made disciples. I observed them becoming free from both their flesh and cultural “noise.” Alongside a group of men, we run “Welcome to Manhood” weekends, initiating young Japanese guys into manhood.

My Japanese pastor told me, “I don’t know what you do, but keep going!” He sees the changes in young men’s lives in our church. I’m privileged to be mentoring 25 Japanese men, as well as a number of missionaries. Some are now mentoring others, including pre-believers growing closer to the Kingdom. Below are stories from Japanese brothers I have connected with—describing their journey, their involvement in the freeing of other Japanese men, and the role of mentoring. Each wanted to pass on a word of encouragement to missionaries in Japan.

Minori, 39
Aircraft engineer, Fukuoka

I grew up as a pastor’s son, but for about 15 years from when I was a teen, I lived separated from Jesus in the culture of the world. About 10 years ago, I was led back to Jesus and my relationship with God began again.

About five years ago, I joined SkateMinJapan, a skateboarding ministry. As part of the ministry, I enjoyed skateboarding and teaching, but now my main focus is always fellowship and building relationships. The setting varies; some I meet in person, and others I talk to on the phone.

While building relationships, I would often encounter a wall that needed to be lowered before the other person opened their heart and showed their real self. To create a safe place, I simply shared my own story as honestly as I could. I watched how it created a space where they were invited to be vulnerable and have permission to share their weaknesses, bitternesses, shame, and guilt. Then we would pray together.

I keep building on all I am learning. I use affirmation—even Jesus needed to be affirmed by his Father as he began his earthly ministry. Recently, Takeshi and Akiko (pseudonyms), the parents of an 11-year-old boy I mentor, affirmed and encouraged me for my birthday. They had previously seen this modelled when we celebrated Akiko on her birthday. Their affirmations were authentic. It had such an impact on the whole family to see everyone affirming one another. Takeshi, a successful salaryman, told me he wants to be more like me and grow in kindness. During our time together, we experienced the Kingdom coming to earth.

I’m now mentoring eleven Japanese guys from age 11 to late 30s. I help each one to explore and find their true self, identity, and masculinity as the man that God designed them to be. Interestingly, when we have an honest man-to-man conversation in a safe space, listening to their true heart (I believe it’s their spirit), it helps them discover their true masculinity and reveals the noise and distractions that hold them back. This is true regardless of whether they are Christian or not.

In our life, we unconsciously create self-limiting agreements that hinder us from achieving our goals. They may be “I’m never good enough,” “I’m not worthy of love” or “It’s just too hard to give up porn.” We break these negative agreements in Jesus’s name. This helps them to leave the past and move forward with a new way of seeing themselves. We live this new freedom together. We are accountable to each other, pray, ask hard questions, learn from mistakes, cheer one another on, and celebrate victories.

Many Japanese men need someone to walk alongside them, to do life together, and to grow together—not superficially but with authority and commitment. They need to be called out as the men God designed them to be, set free, and to help free others in their own communities. I encourage you to be that person within your community in Japan.

Masashi, 39
Paramedic, Osaka

My wife and I were both raised in Christian homes. We have been blessed with five children of our own.

As part of a men’s discipleship and mentoring program, I attended a “Welcome to Manhood” weekend in 2020. This was the key to begin my relationship with the Holy Spirit and live as a disciple of Christ.

I got more involved in prayer walking and street evangelism. Currently God has led me to be part of an apostolic church, and I’m learning to better understand discipleship and training. My dream is to build a Christian community where Christian families can live and do life together as a new style of church.

I believe men have a God-given authority to lead their families. However, the enemy has warped that identity with many deceptions and made them feel powerless so that they cannot exercise their authority in the right way. But the Lord calls us to be strong and courageous. He promises to be with us and protect us. We are free to believe this or not—we can decide for ourselves—and I’ve chosen to believe it.

I am convinced that there is no other truth but this way. Therefore, I have committed my life to bring the good news to the poor, heal the brokenhearted, and work to release the captives.

I believe that many men who are prisoners to sin need a relationship with other men to help lead them to freedom and deliverance.

I would like to encourage missionaries in Japan—as those who are often the first to wake up and stand up—to be brave and take the first steps to be vulnerable with your Japanese brothers and sisters.

Hideyan, 65
Special-needs teacher, Mie

I came into contact with the Bible when I was at university, and I was baptised at 25. My wife is also a believer, and we have two grown children.

For 20 years now, I have helped run Bible-reading groups with coworkers. These are usually monthly, held at family restaurants or online via Zoom. Our aim is to have participants meet Jesus; some are gradually becoming more and more soft-hearted.

For about three years, I have been using YouVersion Bible reading plans with small groups of men. Every day, we share our insights and decisions with each other on LINE and also have fellowship once or twice a week via Zoom. Right now, I am using the Freedom40 men’s challenge.

I want to continue to work with my Christians brothers to develop and improve what we are already doing in men’s ministry. I would love to see much fruit as we continue this pattern, and I pray that each one of us will be able to reach out and make new disciples of Jesus, fired by the Spirit.

I simply want to faithfully do what the Lord has planned for me and one day hear him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant.” Missionary friends, the harvest is about to come to Japan! Please be patient and persevere. Thank you for everything you do.

Makoto (Bob), 49
Businessman, Hyogo

I was raised in a non-Christian family, and my life was changed through a homestay in New Zealand at age 20. I am now married and have two university-aged children.

These days, I am passionate about seeing men set free, especially through using tools like the 33 Minute Warrior and Freedom40.

I simply encourage each brother that I walk with to receive a revelation from God about their true identity as a man in Christ. They can then be reborn and let go of sinful habits. Even if it is difficult to battle against the flesh, they can fight together with other men.

I am in the process of learning to daily abide in God’s truth and reject the lies of the enemy, but I still have a lot of fighting to do myself.

The healing process begins as we talk openly to each other about our sin struggles—including sexual temptations, which men often battle with—and bring each issue to God: “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective” (James 5:16 NIV).

When we confess our sins before God, they are completely forgiven. But in order to receive true healing from the Lord, we must confess our sins to one another “so that you may be healed.” It does not mean telling everyone in the church community about our sins; rather it is important to find and share with Christian brothers we can trust.

A movement is already happening. I pray that missionaries can serve Japanese men by helping them find their true identity in God and put aside sin, pride, shame, and fear!

The cost—the joy

My friend and co-labourer in the men’s ministry, Jef Linscott, developed tools like Freedom40 and The 33 Minute Warrior—as well as other Bible-based plans—as means to help men connect.¹ The tools can be helpful, but nothing can replace the costly but rewarding labour of spending quality time with a brother on a regular basis.

Many Japanese men live in fear behind superficial masks, where they feel invisible to the outside world. Coming alongside them—in the Holy Spirit and with the Word of God—can be one of the most profound, life-changing endeavours we could be involved in.

It’s costly and time-consuming, but what joy! When we hear the words, “I’ve never told anyone this before, but…”, we know that deliverance and transformation are near!

Learning to mentor

I have published a book entitled A Willing Spirit. It’s available for free in different formats on the website awillingspirit.com, or you can purchase it through Amazon Japan. In early 2024, a Japanese translation will be released. We will be running mentoring training throughout Japan during 2024. Jef and I would be happy to connect with you at mart.woods@gmail.com or jeflinscott@icloud.com.

1. You can find these tools at https://onfire.jp/freedom40/ and http://www.33minute.com/. On the YouVersion Bible app, you can search for “Freedom40” or “33.”