Bringing Friends to Church

In front of Tokyo Station!

I have several college friends (who are currently living in Japan) whom I got to visit this summer! They have come to church with me in the US, but never in Japan, until this year!

All summer, I have been begging Koki * to come to church, and he is always busy on Sundays. He has come to RUF groups and other events, but never to church. Finally, on our final Sunday in Tokyo, he came.

It just so happened that my friend Kanade * was visiting me that same weekend, and she also came with me to church for the first time that day. It was fun to connect them with each-other, former UA Students now in Japan, at church together on a Sunday morning. For both of them, it was their first time at a Christian church in Japan. It was neat to watch them experience that time together.

At Grace City Church

To give you a little backstory, Koki went to church in America fairly often. He would go to Korean church or church in Tuscaloosa, not because he was a Christian, but because he was interested in experiencing or learning about what we Americans do on Sunday mornings. Every few weeks, I would take some friends to Japanese church at Briarwood in Birmingham, and he came often. On the other hand, Kanade and I have been talking about Christianity for years. She came to my Bible studies (all the way back in freshman year), and we talked a lot about Psalm 23 together when she returned to the US for a visit on her graduation trip.

It might seem weird to them that we talk about Christianity so much. But for me, this is the most central part of my identity. If I didn't talk about God around them, it would be even weirder. It would mean I was hiding or lying about who I was in front of them.

Returning to Sunday morning....

Kanade* Kanako and I at Church!

They were surprised that we worshipped all in Japanese, and that we “had fun” on a Sunday morning. I guess the feel of Church is so different from Buddhism or Shintoism. Before she left, Kanade told everyone, “see you next year!” before she left to fly home. I’m not sure what they thought of church, but I’m so grateful that they came - and on the same day!

It is common here for Japanese to become Christians elsewhere, and be convicted to return to Japan. While I desire to do long-term ministry here in Japan, that feels like a long way down the road. I'm returning for my senior year of college at the University of Alabama in just three short weeks. I suppose God might be reminding me that the mission field is around you everywhere. Pray with me for their continued curiosity in God. May God reveal himself to them! I long to see these dear friends in heaven one day, that we can be eternal friends.

* Name changed for privacy.