16 Opportunities

Japan

Japan is a culturally and technologically advanced nation that appears to be upwardly evolving, but remains a land of spiritual darkness. The hopelessness of the polytheistic religion of Shinto and the non-theistic philosophies of Buddhism have consistently resisted the light of the Gospel. It has instead created an atmosphere of despair evidenced by one of the highest suicide rates in the developed world, an alarming level of teen sexual activity, and an epidemic of social withdrawal syndrome. TEAM is preaching the Gospel alongside our Japanese brothers and sisters in Christ to build up the church.

View Opportunities

Japan is a land of spiritual darkness. We often forget that a modern, technologically advanced, well-educated society can be steeped in spiritual darkness, living day after day without hope. Yet this is the case for the vast majority of Japanese, actually 99.57%! Whether worshiping in the cultural tradition of Shintoism where nature, numerous gods and ancestors are worshiped or adhering to the empty philosophies of Buddhism, the Japanese are not finding answers of hope. Turning to materialism and humanism hasn’t provided answers either.

Evidence of their despair is everywhere:

Suicide rate – is one of the highest in the world with more suicides each year (over 30,000) than the total number of lives lost in the earthquake and tsunami of 2011 (around 16,000).
Sexual promiscuity – almost half of high school students and 80% of college students have been sexually active prior to graduation, and the number of persons struggling with homosexual and transgender issues is rising dramatically.
Social withdrawal syndrome epidemic – an estimated 700,000 young adults, generally between 20 and 40, isolate themselves in their own room, never venturing out into society.
Stagnant economy – Japan’s economy seems to have stabilized from the downturn of the last 20 years, but recovery and growth are a long way away.

Our Response

Our desire is to face the realities of the complexities of Japanese culture and barriers to the gospel in Japan. Through disciples making disciples, we have the vision of Japanese believers passing on the gospel in a culturally relevant way to future generations. Learn more through reading our Core Elements for Ministry.

Opportunity Tracks

Short-term status applies to missionaries who intend to serve from 2 weeks to 8 months. During this time they are assigned to an existing ministry initiative to support and work towards achieving that ministry initiative’s vision, under the supervision of the ministry initiative leader.

Mid-term status applies to missionaries who intend to serve from 9 months up to 3 years. During this time they are assigned to an existing ministry initiative to support and work towards achieving that ministry initiative’s vision, under the supervision of the ministry initiative leader. Language and culture study requirements are a minimum of 10 hours per week, 3 of which are with a tutor. Other ministry opportunities which do not interfere with the primary assignment may be pursued by the mid0term missionary after approval by the ministry initiative leader.

Long-term applies to missionaries who intend to serve 3 or more years. The initial assignment is typically to the TEAM Japan’s Onboarding Program (Wakaba Phase) for intensive language and culture study. During this time they will consider what further training they should obtain during their Onboarding Program (Internship Phase) for effective ministry in conjunction with TEAM Japan’s leadership, the potential ministry initiative team, and the sending church.

Only 0.43 percent are Protestant Christians
Religion does not play a big role in the lives of most Japanese, with many not understanding the main two religions of Shintoism and Buddhism.
Japan is smaller than the state of California, but less than 20 percent of the land is habitable for its 127 million residents
On average, there is a suicide in Japan every 15 minutes
The birth rate is just 1.35 children per woman, well below the replacement rate of 2.1

Opportunity Name

Area

Length

Ministry

Japan

Our Response

Opportunity Tracks

MDM Kansai (Making Disciple-Makers Kansai)

The Shalom House: Arts and Community Center

Immanuel Christ Church in Kobe (ICCK)

Asaka Bible Church Partnership

Christ Bible Institute(CBI) Partnership

Family Forum Japan (FFJ) Partnership

Word of Life Press Ministries (WLPM) Partnership

Pacific Broadcasting Association (PBA) Partnership

BJapan Partnership

Onboarding Program

Ministry Area Support (MA Support)

TEAM Center

Shinshu Community Church

Japanese Christian Fellowship Network (JCFN) Partnership

Karuizawa Retreat Center (KRC)

Evangelism and Discipleship Ministries

Christian Academy in Japan (CAJ)

Abundant Life Christ Church Partnership (ALCC)

Michelle Reynolds

Xinqi Elisa Chin

Scott and Stephanie Smith

David McClanahan

Jim and Eileen Nielsen

Chad and Noriko Snow

Roberta Peabody

Scott and Kyoko Nelson

Tim and Jenny Martin

Ray and Georgia Landis

Nicholas and Erin Petkoff

Jeff and Kelly Pagaragan

Katie Cole

Don and Martha Regier

Jon and Tammy Junker

Chris and Megumi Risden

Burton and Kathryn Sue

Stephen and Satomi Sakamoto

Dan and Linda Rudd

Tim and Aileen Selander

Luke Standridge

Steve and Kelly Baughn

John Lyver

Murray and Kathy Trim

Steven and Kyehee Taylor

Gordon and Julie Hengeveld

Chris and Tracy Pousseur

Matt and Tori Jansson

Isaac Madison

Jordan and Trisha

Andrew Buchanan

Gerald and Deborah May

Rob and Yoko Taylor

Steven and Sandra Parsons