Global Missions Hub Established in Tokyo
The Land of the Rising Sun” is one of the world’s most advanced societies. Japan has it all—including the world’s third strongest economy, a literacy rate near 100 percent, the world’s highest longevity, an incredibly low crime rate, a global reputation for technology and science, the honor system, and an unparalleled work ethic and commitment to excellence. Courtesy, organization, quality control, and sanitation are evident in every detail of life. Japan represents what some may call Buddhism’s best example of utopia.
But not all is well. Known as “the graveyard of missionaries,” the perception of harmony is valued more than truth. Because of the fast-paced, performance-driven lifestyle, some researchers claim depression impacts 20 percent of Japan’s population, which explains its global infamy for suicide.
With 127 million people, there is an almost invisible 0.6 percent evangelical Christian community making the Japanese language block one of the world’s largest unreached people groups. Each day millions of people fill the busy trains, streets, shopping malls, and workplaces in an atmosphere of spiritual emptiness that cannot be filled by syncretism, traditional religion, or secular humanism. Especially among the youth and elderly, a growing sense of meaninglessness has invaded this “perfect world.”
The Spirit of God is moving through the prayer and worship movement in Asia, and believers are coming together to confront the oppressive powers of darkness. Pastor Eriya Yatsuzuka, local pastor of Tokyo Lighthouse and national overseer for Church of God in Japan, has established an on-going emphasis on prayer, intimate worship, the spiritual disciplines, and global missions.
Pastor Yatsuzuka and the churches under his care nationwide have been invited to participate with Billion Soul Network in establishing a Global Hub of Christianity in Tokyo, the largest metropolitan area in the world. Careful planning and intercession have begun for a Hub opening in 2016. This Hub will also serve our Church of God UPG efforts as a missions base for this region. Tokyo is a strategic location for facilitating more communication, more coordination, and more mobilization of missionary resources to the unreached in East and North Asia.
This great nation is in the eye and heart of God, and an outpouring of the Spirit of Truth is on its way to bring light not only to this country, but also to other unreached people groups of the region. The global hub will become a major missionary-sending agency, turning a missions field into a missions force. Though small in number, believers in Japan are responding to the call to make disciples of all nations, establishing the Church where no church exists. A great missions movement has begun!
(Source: Church of God World Missions. By Brian Raff.)
