Japan is home to many of the world’s most respected and influential corporations. Japan is a nation of 130 million people, the 9th largest country in the world living in an area smaller than the size of California. However, Japan is the now the 2nd largest unreached (less than 2% Christian) people group in the world. (Source: Joshua Project). Less than 1% of the population consider themselves Christian, with some studies claiming that the actual number of church goers is 0.21%. It is one of the least Christian nations in the world. With nearly 80% of Japanese pastors in their 50’s, 60’s, and 70’s, a crisis is looming. In 10-15 years, most Japanese churches will need new pastors. In addition, many churches today do not have pastors, and church planting efforts will be threatened because of a lack of younger pastors who are trained for Gospel ministry.

Joe and his wife, Juliet, are missionaries with Mission to the World (MTW). Joe is working with Christ Bible Seminary to train young Japanese seminary students preparing to enter pastoral ministry.  He has also been asked to lead the launch of Nagoya International University, an international English-language university that offers degrees in Christian ministry and Business/English communication in training and equipping both Japanese Christian and non-Christian undergraduates. Juliet serves as the Candidate Coordinator of Christ Bible Institute.  They have two sons, Isaiah and Evan. God has called him and his family to serve as career missionaries to Japan along with their Japanese brothers and sisters in Christ.

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray for Joe as he continues to lead ANF along with his colleague Michael Oh. Please pray for much wisdom in training and equipping the 5 intern staff for current and future ministry in Japan.

2. Please pray for Juliet and her involvement with Isaiah's yochien. Please pray that she will be able to continue to build relationships with teachers and the mothers of Isaiah's friends, even with her limited Japanese.

3. Please pray for Isaiah as he is making new friends every day. We have taught Isaiah to pray for his Japanese friends, and remind him that he is here as a missionary to share the gospel and show the love of Jesus Christ to his Japanese friends who do not know Jesus.