Relearning faithfulness: lessons from a church plant in Japan

By Hanna Rose | Japan in East Asia

I know there are many things I have to learn since arriving in Japan, and I didn't expect that my first lesson would be about faithfulness. Coming from a different country and worldview, I thought I understood faithfulness until I saw what it looked like here in Japan.

As a first-term cross-cultural worker, I was partnered with Yamagata-Megumi Christ Church, a church plant with 20 people. It is one of the 20 churches in Yamagata City, which has a population of 250,000. It was surprising to learn that the Christian population of this city is less than the number of people in my church in Abu Dhabi. Yet, as I stay longer, I'm relearning faithfulness from a Japanese perspective.

During my first week at the church, my pastor, Tsukusu, and his wife, Yukari, were busy preparing for Megumi Kids, a Sunday School program. That week, we were also celebrating their daughter Ko-chan's 5th birthday. A few days before, they were busy buying treats for the program, and Yukari-san even baked cupcakes. My pastor prepared early for Megumi Kids and practiced songs to sing with them. I somewhat expected to see several kids, given the level of preparation.

Yukari-san sharing Bible story.

We started the program, but only two kids showed up—my pastor's daughter and the church leader's son, Yu-kun. I was greatly surprised and checked the attendance, thinking others might still be coming. Another surprise: there have been only two kids in attendance for several months! I checked with my pastor and his wife, and they said that since 2018, they have only had two kids. It became three when they gave birth to their daughter, and went back to two when the other church leader's son, K-kun, moved from Megumi Kids to Youth.

This was mind-blowing to me! I came from a church culture where numbers are highly valued. Yet, I witnessed their joy and excitement as they ministered to and loved the kids who were present. I asked my pastor what he thought about the number, and he said, "Japanese churches have fewer and fewer children, and some churches even have no children. My father's church in Osaka is a big church with 180 people, yet the children are only 20. So having two children in a small church is good."

Yu-kun helping Ko-chan designing the cupcake.

I also asked him what he thought about faithfulness, and he replied with Ecclesiastes 11:1: "Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days." He said, "Casting the bread on the water seems like a waste in our eyes, but for God, it is not a waste because God has a plan for His work here in Japan. Even though my eyes see that it is a waste, I trust that God has a plan. So even if our church has few children, I am working hard to prepare the future of these children because God's plan is bigger!"

What a faith! Remaining faithful even when it seems like casting bread upon the waters. This taught me faithfulness on a deeper level—that faithfulness to God means pursuing Him, even if the world thinks it is a waste, and trusting that Jesus is worthy. I pray that I will have this kind of faith, a faith that is faithful to God, not to what I desire to see, but trusting that God has a bigger plan than what I see.

Prayer:

• Please pray that as we pursue God's kingdom here in Japan, we will see the harvest from the seeds that were planted. May the churches be encouraged that God is moving, even when we can't see it.