As fall has now moved into full swing, I thought you might enjoy a few glimpses of the last few months in ministry (especially for our work in Japan)...

It’s been a vibrant summer for us at Asian Access and we celebrate the fruit of our relationships as well as the fruit of the ministry.

Mission Family BBQ

In Los Angeles, our Asian Access family gathered at one of the largest gatherings of our mission (this side of the Pacific) in years. Everyone enjoyed the summer BBQ with LA office staff, missionaries on home assignments, former missionaries and staff, and future missionaries too. It was a great time of fun and relaxation as well as a time to renew our spirits as co-workers in Christ’s kingdom for Japan!

So. Cal. Summer Gathering

Vision Discussions for Japan

It’s also been a rewarding summer as we’ve spent a great deal of time discussing our vision for Japan and how we can be more effective in ministry. Here we are with several of our team leaders from Kansai, Okinawa, and Hokkaido. What a joy to collaborate on ministry and hear one another’s hearts for seeing Japan reached for Jesus! You would be so impressed with our mission families as they are the best. I’ve been serving in mission leadership for some 20 years of full-time ministry and these folks are some of the brightest and most dedicated folks I’ve ever met and worked with. What a blessing to serve alongside of them in ministry!

Eric and Sue Takamoto’s hosted our ministry discussions

Pastor’s Vision Tour of the Pacific North West

Last week I was with several pastors from Japan as we toured innovative churches in the Pacific North West of the USA.  It was part of the bi-ennial pastor's vision tour sponsored by our A2 leadership development ministry in Japan. We were in Portland, Seattle, and Vancouver, B.C. and had a very fruitful time. Together we gleaned fresh ideas for ministry which I believe will prove quite productive for the future of ministry in Japan.

Japanese pastor’s praying for me

I asked Pastor Terada, pictured with me below, about the fruit of the ministry and he told me what a blessing it was to graduate from the Japanese Church Growth Institute. He learned about cell group outreach and began implementing it in his church. Over the years, he’s seen between 200-300 people come to Christ after implementing this strategy and he’s so blessed to have taken part in the leadership development ministry and to see such great fruit.

In addition, he’s excited about the future of ministry in Japan. Like much of the world, post-modernity is impacting the church in Japan and Pastor Terada was pleased to see new forms of church work in the Pacific North West to help inform future generations of church life in Japan.

Pastor Fumio Terada & Me

Between my time with our missionary families and many Japanese pastors, it is clear there is a hunger for a fresh new movement for church life in Japan. Let’s pray for a fresh new move of the Spirit in Japan and for new forms of church expression to develop so that the younger generations of Japan will come to know and love Jesus!

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