Earlier this year, a longtime friend approached me with an idea: what if we could get Western media ministry leaders with Asian business leaders in the same room to talk together? At the end of May, we're hosting a strategic three-day Media Forum in Tokyo to do just that: connecting to accelerate gospel impact in Japan and beyond.
Senior representatives from eight ministry organizations including The Chosen, Finishing the Task and YouVersion will meet with 50 influential Asian business, ministry, and community leaders. It’s a tremendous opportunity for collaboration. Western organizations bring scale and resources that many local networks simply can't match, while Asian business leaders provide the cultural understanding and know-how needed to actually make new initiatives effective.
This may lead to an annual or bi-annual event, a platform for these worlds to connect, potentially unlocking new pathways for the gospel in nations where traditional approaches have struggled to gain traction. Wildbranch is partnering with 7Media in creating and hosting this event. Please pray with us for divine connections and strategies to emerge from these gatherings.
These partnerships open significant networking opportunities while allowing us to share our core message—the "One Thing" of Psalm 27:4. Once we complete our move, we'll accelerate our content creation. We are planning on launching a new podcast and developing other English resources, while continuing our inspirational videos and devotionals for Japanese believers. Thanks to the support of our friends and partners, and a friend of ours who is an influencer in the media space, we've recently upgraded some of our equipment which will help make this possible.
Prayer Room Vision
We have been prayer walking in Shibuya and other areas in Tokyo in the past 3 years, and this year we are envisioning a physical place of prayer in Shibuya. Our aim is to have something in place by September 1st to participate in the Global Week of Prayer with 24/7 Prayer International. Kumi is going to translate some of their resources to make them available to hungry hearts in Japan who may be looking for something similar. What form this takes will unfold as we follow the Lord's leading. It might be a simple start, or something more expansive than we anticipate.
Falling in love with Jesus through his Word
Another joy in my recent months has been teaching the Word of God to a new Christian and watching him fall in love with the Word of God for himself. At the moment he has time, being in between jobs, and he has been diligently reading through the Bible and watching the Chosen (he has watched through all the seasons three times!) It is the Holy Spirit working with and through the Word of God in us that transforms us—you wouldn’t even recognize him as the same person if you had met him three months ago! The more he reads, the hungrier he is to know Him more.
Upcoming Trip to the States
I am planning a trip to the States in June and will be traveling to Washington, Kansas, Iowa, Colorado, and Oklahoma. I’m still making arrangements, so if you would like more information on where I will be, or if you would like me to come visit to meet someone or speak in your church, let me know. I would love to come see you if at all possible.
-J