A friend of mine here in Tokyo recently asked me a question: “What are some of the biggest challenges you face in ministry in Tokyo?” He was surprised at what I told him and responded, “I had no idea. You guys always seem so generous.”
We talk a lot about the broader challenge of spreading the gospel here in Japan, but we don’t often zoom in on what that looks like for us day to day. When I told Kumi about the conversation with my friend, we thought it was worth sharing with you too, to give you a boots-on-the-ground view as you pray and stand with us in faith. And maybe encourage you in whatever you are facing too.
Bento-box Relationships
Connecting with the larger Japanese church world is hard. Something about the way people connect tends toward smaller, more insulated groups, and the church is no exception. The bento lunch box is often used as an analogy, and it fits. Have you ever seen one? It has a small compartment for every food item, everything clean and separate. Relationships can feel like that, too. Japanese society tends toward smaller and more intimate connections—and you don’t mix them up. Some of it is cultural. Much of it is just human nature—the instinct to protect your own space rather than risk it on something shared. It’s the dynamic in most churches, and it makes connecting as an independent ministry challenging.
But our posture is one of intentional openness.
This journey started in 2020 when the Lord said to us, “Come deeper into my heart.” He is open to anyone who would draw near. How can we close our hearts to others and expect to reflect the Father’s heart to the world?
So we keep our hearts open. We risk building relationships. It means sometimes getting hurt along the way. But we know that what the Lord wants to do in Tokyo and Japan is bigger than just our ministry. It will take all of us, and it requires this kind of heart posture.
Out Beyond My Ability
During the pandemic lockdown, things were tight financially, and I took a short-term job driving a dump truck in a quarry. God met me in the cab of that truck one day and made it very clear: He didn’t want me driving a dump truck. He wanted my time. I told Him He could have it. He said, “Go to the center of Tokyo and pray.”
That’s what we did. And we can't do anything else now. We have beheld the beauty of the Lord, and that's all we want. It's all or nothing. He led us here, and either it will work because He makes it work, or it doesn't. Either way, it's all on the line.
This kind of simplicity makes people uncomfortable. But we can't keep doing things the way they have been done. We need to come together in a new way—not just for a conference or an initiative, but to seek God and pray. Without ranking each other or jockeying for position. In humility, on our knees, hearts united as brothers and sisters in Christ.
Everyone agrees with the idea—until you do something different from what they think you should do. A new way requires trying new things. It means risking failure. The alternative is playing it safe, staying with what is familiar. It would be easier. But it's not what He asked for.
Being a Foolish Foreigner
I had a conversation recently with a man from the city office about a tax bill. He didn't understand what our job was or how our income worked. "Why don't you get work with health insurance and benefits?" he asked.
I do have a job, I explained. And what we do here, we don't charge money for, because people are already suspicious of religion. We have partners who support us because they believe in what we are doing and they care about Japan.
"A normal job with a fixed income and benefits would lower your tax burden," he explained to this foolish foreigner.
I've noticed that when I start playing it safe and hedging, things slow down. The Lord continually brings us back to the edge—the place where we must fully trust, where He invites us to step out on the water. When I let God lead me out beyond my ability, that is the safest place to be.
This is what the journey looks like for us here. But the invitation isn't just to us. The Lord is inviting everyone who has ears to hear to come deeper into His heart, to lay it all on the line and walk with Him. Wherever the Lord has placed you, we want to encourage you: keep your heart open. Risk vulnerability with people. Don’t play it safe. Lean into your frontier. Be generous. Offer the best of who you are. Press in, and let's walk with Him. He is faithful.
-J