Cooperating with foreign churches to reach the Japanese
As Japan prepares for the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics, the number of foreign visitors is rising. Last year, churches of various ethnic groups across Japan formed a new network called Ethnic Ministries Network Japan (EMNJ) with a view to reaching out to the Japanese. On November 3, 2018, there was an EMNJ thanksgiving celebration at JECA Senkyo Church.
Different nationalities, including people from the Philippines, Brazil, Bolivia, China, Nepal, and Japan, participated in the meeting. Everyone joined in heartfelt worship, and there was Bible teaching, an introduction to each network, and a time of prayer. The common languages were Japanese and English.
EMNJ has been having times of prayer every three months since 2017. “At the third meeting, the idea to do something together came up,” says Takashi Fukuda, who is spiritual ambassador of the Wycliffe Global Alliance. So they decided to meet for worship together. The Filipino church network has been gathering for thanksgiving for the last five years.
In 2016, a Cross-Cultural Mission Network was established within the JEA Mission Commission. Networks are also being built with overseas Japanese fellowships, as well as with foreign churches within Japan. General secretary of JEA, Kenichi Shinagawa, spoke of the “importance of global and local connections. According to the data book of the sixth Japan Congress on Evangelism, there is almost the same number of foreign Christians in Japan as Japanese Christians. I believe God wants Japanese churches to cooperate with Japanese returnees who became Christians overseas and with foreign churches within Japan.”
“The percentage of Christians in Japan is said to be less than 1%, but when the estimated number of foreign Christians in Japan is added, that number exceeds 1%. Thanks to the foreign Christians, we now have greater strength for reaching out to the Japanese,” said Masahiro Nakanishi, head of the JEA Mission Commission.
Paul Suzuki of SEND International said that, “Even though we come from different countries and cultures, as residents of Japan we have a major role as bridge-builders. It is my prayer that we become the salt of the earth and the light of the world no matter where we are.” He emphasized the importance of not rushing into things, but rather to be Christ-centered in our actions. He quoted Isaiah 6:1–8 and explained that “there is a reality that God will reveal, and there are steps we should take before we start a mission. We should establish a proper relationship with God and then be sent out.”
From Christian Shimbun, November 18, 2018
Translated by Grace Koshino