Many of you have been asking about our support journey, and we're excited to share that we've crossed a critical threshold.
Throughout this year, we've seen God's faithful provision—our move (five months' rent up front), our May events, extensive summer travel, and the Global Week of Prayer space. All paid for.
But beyond those special projects, we had a must-meet amount for 2025: an extra $2,000 per month that we needed to be viable as a family of five in Tokyo, let alone as a ministry.
This month, we crossed that line.
We're not at our fully funded goal—still about $4,400 in monthly support to build toward—but we moved from survival to having a foundation.
It feels like an Ebenezer moment (1 Samuel 7:12):
“Thus far the Lord has helped us.”
And He did it through you—your faith, your prayers, your financial partnership. We couldn't have reached this point without you.
This means we can focus on how we build, not just whether we'll survive to build at all. And we sense the Lord saying, “Stretch out. Put out into the deep.”
What’s Next?
Now that we have a foundation, we can think differently.
The Week of Prayer in September gave us a taste of a fresh approach to ministry. We were leading, but people were proactive in the way they participated. The environment felt open and safe—people were free in worship and prayer. They could try things, and even if something fell flat, it was okay.
People volunteered without being asked. It was easy. And it was fun.
It reminded us that the Lord is well able to lead people in the way He wants to, without us managing every detail—and we saw Him do it.
It encouraged us to dream about building differently, where ministry emerges from the collaboration and creativity of a community.
We believe the Lord has positioned us to model this kind of paradigm, and that it’s a key to seeing the gospel go forward in this nation.
Next month, we are starting weekly gatherings, and planning workshops and retreats for next year.
We’re also exploring, with friends and allies, ways to develop a permanent creative hub—a sustainable space that can serve as a base for this kind of collaborative work, including a home for Shibuya Prayer Room.
A Picture of Partnership
I've had this picture in my mind recently of Jesus in the boat with Peter and his crew. It’s from Luke 5:1–11.
Their nets are filled with so many fish the boat is beginning to sink, and they’re calling out to their partners in the other boat to come help them.
What struck me is that Jesus was in the boat with Peter this whole time. He asked to borrow Peter's boat, then told him to launch into the deep and let down the nets.
The entire conversation between Jesus and Peter after that happens in the boat. Jesus, Peter, and their big haul of fish don't arrive back at shore until verse 11.
We feel the Lord with us in the boat right now.
We sense His favor and new momentum. We hear Him saying to put out into the deep, to cast for a catch.
And like Peter, we're calling for our partners to come help us gather what the Lord is about to do.
Will You Help Us Cast the Nets?
We're looking for partners who want to be part of this next chapter—whether through monthly support, special offerings, or faith-filled prayer.
Reaching our baseline isn’t the end of the journey—it’s the starting line of a new season.
And we are excited for what the future holds.
If you're already partnering with us, thank you. Your faithfulness brought us to this threshold.
If you've been considering joining us, this is the moment we're stretching out.
We would love to have you in the boat with us.
Thank you for journeying with us.
-J