Global Partners (Wesleyan Senkyodan)

Global Partners is all about “amplifying local church mission for global transformation.” As the international missions department of The Wesleyan Church of North America, we minister in more than 80 nations, focusing on unreached people groups, assisting existing international churches to strengthen ministry capacity, and helping North American churches know the joy of global ministry.

Global Partners, formerly known as Wesleyan World Missions, first sent missionaries to Japan in 1919. In 1952, a partnership began with the newly formed Japanese holiness denomination, Immanuel General Mission.

Today, Global Partners continues to work alongside the Immanuel General Mission, as well World Gospel Mission, an interdenominational missions agency. This three-way partnership is known as the Immanuel Wesleyan Federation, and is a positive example of western missionaries and national churches working together to spread the gospel in Japan. It has also opened up the opportunity for Japanese missionaries to work in Wesleyan and WGM mission fields in other parts of the world, including Bolivia, Cambodia, Jamaica, Kenya, the Philippines and Zambia, strengthening the work of all three organizations throughout the world.

Global Partners currently has a small but active ministry in Japan. We work to encourage and help build the local church by building spiritual bridges within communities.

GP missionary Andrea Swarthout’s ministry is centered in Kyoto. She helps in a local church, teaches cooking classes, hosts special events in her home, and leads English worship services and Bible studies. She also guest-preaches at Immanuel churches throughout Japan, and has taught at the Immanuel Bible Training College in Yokohama.

Meanwhile, Robin White is our missionary in Nagoya, where he leads a growing English ministry. Through weekly English classes, monthly English conversation cafes, and special events, over 40 non-Christian students, as well as their families, are now connected with Nagoya Immanuel Church and are getting the opportunity to hear about Jesus. Several students have begun studying the Bible as well, and there is a sense of growing interest and openness. In addition to this English ministry, Robin is also involved in music, preaching and youth ministry. His long-term vision to is minister through the creative arts, especially comics/manga.

Global Partners is thankful for the partnerships and ministries God has given in Japan over the years, and we continue to pray that God will expand our team and our vision in the years to come.