Japan, Christianity and mission work

[Dracula Girl]

I am looking for resources about these. Does anyone know of any good sites to follow up on news about them?

Thanks,

[Dracula Girl]

I meant Japan.

[Xavier]

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[Dracula Girl]

Thank you Xavier.

[learning]

Here are a couple of links, with a biology link at the bottom. It is not the full picture of course. I understand, if you wish to look at the history of Japan, that they were very isolated on purpose. But today, there are still Christian churches there, started by these two men, I believe, and others. I have read of a history of a Christian Japanese man who worked in the slums of some Japanese city, because he believed that was what Jesus would do if He were there. It was back in the 1800's I think.

www.family.org/fofmag/cl/a0023936.cfm

http://www.christianitytoday.com/his...001/jun01.html

[Rusty T]

The Orthodox Church has a presence in Japan (my sponsor into Orthodoxy was baptised in Japan, and I wear a Japanese Orthodox cross). Though not the best website, here's some info on the Japanese Orthodox Church:
http://www2.gol.com/users/ocj/TheOrt...rchinJapan.htm

rusty

[learning]

I found the name of the Japanese Christian. His name is Toyohiko Kagawa, he was born in the Japanese port of Kobe, July 10, 1888. He followed Christ's example and served in the slums of Kobe, and he said 'If Christ were here, he would help them, and so must I.'

[Dracula Girl]

I'm doing an article on Christianity in Japan, if it helps explain why I am asking. Thanks for the links. let me know if you have any others.

[kaji]

I'm doing an article on Christianity in Japan, if it helps explain why I am asking. Thanks for the links. let me know if you have any others.

Hey JoA,



Here is the address to OMF International. They only do missions work in East Asia and have some good resources for each country (including Japan, and the history of Christianity there). Just head over to the ‘East Asia Insight’ in the top right menu, then pick your country from the next menu on the left.

I hope this helps. ^_~



-kaji

[learnin]

Oh, please! If you have time, please read the book Silence by the Japanese author Shusako Endo. This is a heartwrenching account of the early missionary work that was done in Japan. This book is not for the faint of heart.

Yoroshiku,
Learnin

[michan]

I know all these people. They're awesome!

http://www.pioneersjapan.org

http://www.missionjapan.com

[Debp]

Oh, please! If you have time, please read the book Silence by the Japanese author Shusako Endo. This is a heartwrenching account of the early missionary work that was done in Japan. This book is not for the faint of heart.

Yoroshiku,
Learnin

I have a friend with Team who has lived as a missionary in Japan for over 33 years. She does evangelism in the mountain towns and says hearts are opening more to the Gospel in Japan.

[kyleisnotdead]

Right now I'm in northern, non-urban Japan on a mission trip (with the aforementioned OMF International) that's lasting from June 23-August 4th. I realize that this thread is kind of old, but in the interest of education readers on the present situation for Christianity in Japan, I felt like writing a little bit.

Christianity is still very, very small in Japan. In fact, if I remember right the Japanese are the least-reached people group in the world. Despite the boom for missions work in East Asian countries such as China and elsewhere, Japan is virtually ignored. I'm reminded of Jesus' parable of the seeds; trying to spread Christianity in Japan isn't like spreading seeds on fertile soil, or a briar patch, or even rocks; it's like trying to plant seeds in a parking lot. You have to sweat and suffer under the blazing sun trying to break the concrete with a chisel and hammer, and once you do you have to dig the garbage underneath out of the way, and stuff your seeds in the dead, dry ground. And maybe if you haul some water from miles and miles away and protect your puny plant from the sun, you *might* grow something. That's what it's like in Japan.

Unlike most Western countries, Japanese people are not hostile towards the Gospel or even atheistic; rather, it is rules of social conduct that prevent them from coming to salvation. Whereas we place a high value on the truth, to many Japanese truth is far less important than meeting social obligations, and to become a Christian in Japan means that you abandon your family and traditions to become an outsider in your own country.

But society in Japan is literally falling apart at the seams. The traditional, ordered family structure is on the verge of breakdown, as children with no clear father figure defy social conventions and pursue selfish interests instead. Women are now entitled to a far larger share of their husbands' property in the event of a divorce, which means the once-low divorce rate will skyrocket. According to a number of surveys, Japan is the least sexually satisfied country in the world, the fruit of long work hours for men, the proliferation of pornography and affairs, and other factors, one reason for the alarmingly low birth rate. But as society changes, the social customs and expected behavior that once served as an "invisible wall" preventing Japanese from become Christians will collapse.

The biggest problem is that Japanese society is very different from ours - moreso than most westerners realize. Christianity in Japan is based off the western model, and there is little of the unique Japanese sensibility to be found in western-looking churches. Ministries modeled after American ones bring in very little results; instead, radical new approaches are needed if any progress is ever to be made in spreading Christianity in Japan. I think there's a ton of potential in ministries such as psychological counseling and ministries to social outcasts and marginalized groups; there's a big demand for it here, and some Christians, such as Marre Ishii, have had an encouraging amount of success with such approaches.

But more than anything else, we need PEOPLE to work in missions in Japan. This nation is ripe for the harvest, in my opinion, but there are few to bring the gospel to the 125 million or so people of Japan. Most Christians have virtually no awareness nor interests in Christianity in Japan, and it's amazingly difficult to find ANY sort of written information on the subject. So if you are interested in missions or know somebody else who is, PLEASE come to Japan. It's not easy, it's not fun (well, actually, it can be very fun) and it may not seem very rewarding in your lifetime, but there's a huge need here.

[Matt the Bat]

I understand what you're saying. Japan also has one of the highest suicide rates in the world. One of the best selling japanese books in the early-mid 90s was a manual on comitting suicide, and its author even said, "It's not like we have any religion keeping us from doing this."

I admit that I, like many people, was initially drawn to the japanese culture because of the typical nerd interests like games, etc. But eventually I came to see that there was more to it than that, including its downsides, which many of these kinds of people tend to ignore or miss for a more idealized Japan.

It would be nice to go over there and teach people about Christianity and help people. I always like to ask some of the japanese I meet (online) what their feelings are or level of understanding is with Christianity, as I like to know how other cultures percieve it.

That's not to say there aren't any good things about Japan and the japanese: I'm glad that they're becoming more open to the gospel.

[kyleisnotdead]

Ouch, I totally forgot to even mention the freakishly high suicide rate (though it's not the absolute highest in the world.)

Most people in America do have a very inaccurate picture of Japan, but if Christians get interested in serving in Japan through comics, games, anime, etc., that's fine by me. Doesn't seem to happen a lot, though.