Japanese church thrust into digital space

This year, 2020, has not been the year of promise we had hoped. COVID-19 has exposed our dependency on in-person interactions, our technological anxieties, and a variety of interpretations by Christians on how to faithfully minister in the turmoil of it all. A major challenge facing Christians has been how to continue Christian activities via online fellowship and ministry. There was little time to find and set up substantial alternatives to in-person engagement. Encouragingly, the church has responded, adapted, and entered into what I believe is a new realm for Christian ministry that has been largely untapped until now, uncovering new strengths and potential.

In Japan, you may have observed the perceived technological powerlessness felt by both the missionary and the local believer. To both, in-person activity is a critical component to ministry; this seems especially true in the Japanese context. The closeness created by any mode of communication outside of meeting in-person will never match that of sharing a table. This is a legitimate and appreciable reason why fellowship and engagement in the digital space has not been explored more fully until now. Along with that, technological literacy (largely influenced by demographic factors) has led to the preference for non-digital practices.

A growth moment for the gospel in Japan?

As the church found itself with no option to physically meet together to fulfill what God has designed the church to do in form and function, there were only two feasible options: wait until we could meet again or find an alternative. The overwhelming alternative has been to use video chat, livestream, online giving, and other online-based avenues to function. What was a typically distrusted and avoided ministry space became a lifeline.

COVID-19 has also had constricting effects on other aspects of life. Work life, parenthood, and schooling are just not the same as they were. Families have spent unprecedented time together. Individuals have been given more margin in regard to work expectations. For a period, students were unable to overcommit to clubs and cram schools. The generally negative social rhythms that Japan is infamous for were scaled back overnight, freeing up mental and spiritual capacity for individuals to more clearly consider their heart and spirit.

This situation has carved out new missional opportunities that I will summarize in one word: accessibility. The freeing up of schedules and release from social obligation means unprecedented access to gaps in Japanese societal rhythms for believers and nonbelievers alike. Online communications also mean personal accessibility is even higher. Most everyone has access to some form of communication tools (i.e., phones and computers with Wi-Fi), so excuses are technically decreased.

There have been interesting results as a consequence of this new accessibility. For some churches, increased accessibility has led to increased demand for new small groups and Bible studies. Forced downtime has also led to an increase of new and more regular online video chat-based prayer meetings. People are getting creative with gospel engagement as well. Since video chat can be done from anywhere, people are developing ways to incorporate other believers from across Japan and around the world into their conversations with nonbelievers, thus globalizing the evangelistic task.

Lasting effects of the COVID-19 crisis

We have experienced firsthand how the digital space fits in the cracks of demanding Japanese life patterns. It has exhibited our availability and accessibility to others in times of crisis. It has shown us that we have fewer reasons to “neglect meeting” (Heb. 10:25 TPT).

We believers have been given a unique time to cultivate the digital side to ministry. Whether by force or joyful embrace, the concessions made to COVID-19 have had us looking to the digital space to express our Christian faithfulness. We now have ways to be engaged in the church or ministry even when we can’t be physically present. This is true for many unreached segments of society we engage with, such as the isolated elderly, the overworked salaryman, and the inundated student. When many of those we are trying to engage are overwhelmed themselves, the accessibility and consistency supported through digital platforms is a viable option—in moderation.

Having been plunged into the digital communication world, we have been introduced to new tools. The digital space will continue to be an ever-increasing viable platform for the church expand into. We also now have a great option to pivot towards when events like this happen again.