If I were to ask you to tell me your image of 'missions', chances are you would conjure up an image of serving the poor and needy in a destitute part of the world. Or maybe you would think about spreading the Gospel in a nation where political and religious persecution is rife and missionaries need to go under the radar to do their work.
I'm pretty certain that for many of you, your mind would not wonder towards a nation with the world's third-largest economy based on GDP; or a nation which is the fourth largest exporter and the fourth largest importer; or a nation with an unemployment rate of just 4%. Nor, I suggest, would you immediately think of a nation with the lowest murder rate in the world, the longest life expectancy rate and with relatively high religious tolerance.
No, I suspect you wouldn't think about Japan as a likely destination for missions. Japan...the land of the rising sun; of bullet trains, sushi, geisha and samurai. A cultural melting pot with an incredibly rich history. A nation where people are renowned for their warmth as much as they are for their politeness. Why on earth would anyone bother doing missions in Japan? Things would have to be pretty good in Japan...right?
Well, from a physical well-being point of view, perhaps. But consider this:
* Japan has the highest suicide rate in the developed world (OECD countries). In 2009, more than 30,000 Japanese committed suicide, most of which were professional men in their 30's. The cause of many of these suicides were work-related stress amidst the feeling that to be less than perfect is unbearable. A number of these suicides are also a result of internet suicide pacts (particularly among young Japanese), who are "too lonely to die alone".
* Many Japanese women who remain single into their thirties often feel stigmatised and marginalised from society. These women are often referred to as 'makeinu' (which means loser, or more literally, 'losing dog'). This can often lead to dissociation from friendship groups and result in loneliness.
* Conversely, however, there is also an increasing number of Japanese (most notably, women) who are choosing not to get married and have children. But the reason for this is more to do with the negative perception of marriage amongst Japanese. Without meaning to be crass, a recent Japanese Ministry of Health survey found that as many as 1 in 3 marriages are sexless (or, to put it another way, lacking intimacy). A reason for this problem may be due to the abundance of ways in which a man can satisfy his sexual appetite in Japan; from porn vending machines to sensual bathing houses to prostitution. And this overt sexualisation isn't frowned upon by Japanese society; in fact, it's accepted as a part of everyday life.
* There are many young people who continue to live at home well beyond what would be considered to be a reasonable age to leave home. They are referred to as 'parasite singles'. They are often painfully shy and lack the social skills needed to survive independently. Many will rarely or ever leave the house or even the bedroom for extended periods (they are called 'hikikomori', or, roughly, 'pull inside'). It is suggested that there may be as many as 1 million hikikomori in Japan.
The most heartbreaking statistic of all is that the percentage of Christians in Japan is widely believed to be less than 1% (some say the rate is less than 0.5%), making Japan one of the largest unreached people groups in the world of one ethnicity and language.
Now, don't get me wrong...Japan is an amazing place!!! The positives of Japan definitely outweigh the negatives! But the reality is that an overwhelming majority of Japanese do not know about God and don't have a relationship with Jesus Christ.
So, that is why I am here. To bring the message of hope to a lost people. To share with people the extent of God's love and acceptance. To tell the Japanese people that Jesus came so "that they may have life, and have it to the full" (John 10:10).
But, of course, Japan is not the only part of the world where this message of hope needs to be shared. It needs to be shared EVERYWHERE. Even in India. Even in Africa. Even in London. Even in Brisbane. No matter where you, there is something that you can do to bring hope to the people of your community...right where you are!
But, for me (and at least for this season)....I'm bringing HOPE to the people of Japan.
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Being called...
So, I'll start by answering the first question...how did I end up here in the first place?
I will resist the urge of inserting a childish joke about reproductive biology, and instead insert below an excerpt from my application for this missions trip, which tells the story as to why I decided to do missions in Japan. It's quite long, but I think it's important for you, the reader, (as well as myself) to get some context as to why I decided to do a short-term missions trip...and particularly in Japan:
...
Admittedly, I have not always specifically had a heart for the nation of Japan. While I have been involved in learning the Japanese language and Japanese culture throughout high school and at university, and also having travelled to Japan on three prior occasions, there was never really any strong burden or calling to minister to the Japanese or go on missions to Japan.
That changed after a 2 week trip I made to Japan in May 2008. It all started almost immediately after I returning - the first Sunday back in church, a visiting pastor spent 10 minutes talking about his recent trip to Japan visiting a church and two powerful testimonies he heard. I vividly remember driving home from church, somewhat amazed by how I had been so powerfully impacted by the message, and praying out loud (again, quite unexpectedly), "Lord, if you want me to go to Japan, I will!". This was all quite unusual, given that I had never had never really thought about doing missions, nor had I ever had a heart for doing missions.
Without going into more detail, there were also a number of other things which occurred following this which appeared to be more than a coincidence.
So, I started making enquiries about doing missions in Japan. I also looked at other alternatives, such as working full time as an English teacher and being involved with a church outside of work hours. But nothing seemed to be right (or, more specifically, nothing seemed to be happening according to my own timing!).
While this may seem quite strange, I made the decision not to go to Japan. Instead, I came up with the "great idea" to instead move to London for a working holiday (just call me Jonah if you like!). While it wasn't obvious to me at the time, it was clear that I was running away - I wasn't enjoying my job and I felt that God wasn't moving quickly enough with the whole "Japan thing".
My time in London was (perhaps not surprisingly) relatively short...only 5 months in fact. Of course, arriving in London in November 2008 at the height of the GFC certainly didn't help, and so I returned to Australia in April 2009.
In the period following my return, Japan was not completely 'out of mind'. In fact, my mind would sometimes wonder "what was all that about?". I thought maybe I wasn't going to travel to Japan, but rather I would somehow be involved in ministry to Japanese people in Australia.
Fast forward to June 2010. I remember being at church on a Sunday morning and, after the service, I picked up a copy of a magazine in the foyer of church and saw a short article about a church in Japan. My heart was stirred again reading it, but I walked away and, honestly, did not give it much more thought during the afternoon. That evening, I was back in church, and our senior pastor was preaching on the 'Lordship of Christ'. Throughout the service, I felt stirred again about Japan...in a way that I had not been in about 2 years.
Then, at the end of the service, our senior pastor had a word of knowledge along the lines of, 'There is someone here tonight who knows what it is that they are being called by God to do, but they have been running from it." Now, usually when there is a word of knowledge for someone, I am tempted to try and 'fit within it' and see if it somehow applies to me. But I just knew that the word was for me.
I was very cautious not to just go straight away and make enquiries about going Japan. After all, I had done that before but not followed through. But after speaking with people who I trust to speak into my life, I knew that I had to follow through this time. I couldn't ignore the call of God a second time (insert another Johan reference here...).
...
And so...here I am! Not knowing exactly what I am doing. Not being able to speak the Japanese language fluently. And certainly not with any particular outstanding talents for teaching, preaching or playing music. But despite all of this, God still called me here!!
So let me encourage you today...particularly if you are someone who is wondering what the will of God is for your life and you are getting frustrated because you can't find it. God CAN and DOES speak to people in creative ways...perhaps in ways you will least expect.
But also, don't discount what's in your hand NOW! There are so many ways that you can serve God...it doesn't need to be doing missions. It can be as simple as serving in your local church, perhaps as an usher, a carpark attendant or on the sound team. But also believe that God has an AMAZING journey ahead for you, and God can change things when you least expect it...and I can vouch for that!
Urban Missionary
I will resist the urge of inserting a childish joke about reproductive biology, and instead insert below an excerpt from my application for this missions trip, which tells the story as to why I decided to do missions in Japan. It's quite long, but I think it's important for you, the reader, (as well as myself) to get some context as to why I decided to do a short-term missions trip...and particularly in Japan:
...
Admittedly, I have not always specifically had a heart for the nation of Japan. While I have been involved in learning the Japanese language and Japanese culture throughout high school and at university, and also having travelled to Japan on three prior occasions, there was never really any strong burden or calling to minister to the Japanese or go on missions to Japan.
That changed after a 2 week trip I made to Japan in May 2008. It all started almost immediately after I returning - the first Sunday back in church, a visiting pastor spent 10 minutes talking about his recent trip to Japan visiting a church and two powerful testimonies he heard. I vividly remember driving home from church, somewhat amazed by how I had been so powerfully impacted by the message, and praying out loud (again, quite unexpectedly), "Lord, if you want me to go to Japan, I will!". This was all quite unusual, given that I had never had never really thought about doing missions, nor had I ever had a heart for doing missions.
Without going into more detail, there were also a number of other things which occurred following this which appeared to be more than a coincidence.
So, I started making enquiries about doing missions in Japan. I also looked at other alternatives, such as working full time as an English teacher and being involved with a church outside of work hours. But nothing seemed to be right (or, more specifically, nothing seemed to be happening according to my own timing!).
While this may seem quite strange, I made the decision not to go to Japan. Instead, I came up with the "great idea" to instead move to London for a working holiday (just call me Jonah if you like!). While it wasn't obvious to me at the time, it was clear that I was running away - I wasn't enjoying my job and I felt that God wasn't moving quickly enough with the whole "Japan thing".
My time in London was (perhaps not surprisingly) relatively short...only 5 months in fact. Of course, arriving in London in November 2008 at the height of the GFC certainly didn't help, and so I returned to Australia in April 2009.
In the period following my return, Japan was not completely 'out of mind'. In fact, my mind would sometimes wonder "what was all that about?". I thought maybe I wasn't going to travel to Japan, but rather I would somehow be involved in ministry to Japanese people in Australia.
Fast forward to June 2010. I remember being at church on a Sunday morning and, after the service, I picked up a copy of a magazine in the foyer of church and saw a short article about a church in Japan. My heart was stirred again reading it, but I walked away and, honestly, did not give it much more thought during the afternoon. That evening, I was back in church, and our senior pastor was preaching on the 'Lordship of Christ'. Throughout the service, I felt stirred again about Japan...in a way that I had not been in about 2 years.
Then, at the end of the service, our senior pastor had a word of knowledge along the lines of, 'There is someone here tonight who knows what it is that they are being called by God to do, but they have been running from it." Now, usually when there is a word of knowledge for someone, I am tempted to try and 'fit within it' and see if it somehow applies to me. But I just knew that the word was for me.
I was very cautious not to just go straight away and make enquiries about going Japan. After all, I had done that before but not followed through. But after speaking with people who I trust to speak into my life, I knew that I had to follow through this time. I couldn't ignore the call of God a second time (insert another Johan reference here...).
...
And so...here I am! Not knowing exactly what I am doing. Not being able to speak the Japanese language fluently. And certainly not with any particular outstanding talents for teaching, preaching or playing music. But despite all of this, God still called me here!!
So let me encourage you today...particularly if you are someone who is wondering what the will of God is for your life and you are getting frustrated because you can't find it. God CAN and DOES speak to people in creative ways...perhaps in ways you will least expect.
But also, don't discount what's in your hand NOW! There are so many ways that you can serve God...it doesn't need to be doing missions. It can be as simple as serving in your local church, perhaps as an usher, a carpark attendant or on the sound team. But also believe that God has an AMAZING journey ahead for you, and God can change things when you least expect it...and I can vouch for that!
Urban Missionary
Welcome to my blog!
Hello cyber-friends!
Welcome to Urban Missionary!
Before heading off to Japan in January this year, many people asked me whether I would be keeping a blog. Usually, I am very resistant to the written form (people who know me well will say I am much more of a talker than a writer...!).
However, upon reflecting on what has been happening here in Sapporo over the past several months, I felt it was important for me to start this blog...not only to update you on what is happening here in Japan and to perhaps even encourage you in your own walk with God, but also for me to reflect further on my time so far in Japan (and as it continues into the future).
Hence the creation of this blog.
It will provide information regarding the planting of a modern, relevant and fun church here in Sapporo, Japan. It will express the thoughts and feelings of an Australian twenty-something male, with no previous ministry experience, as he goes about doing missions in the nation with the largest single unreached people group in the world. And it will hopefully encourage you, the reader, to engage further in what is popularly known as "the Great Commission"...namely, to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)...whether that occurs "down the road or around the world".
But I don't want this blog to just be a 'one-way street'...I also want it to be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and feelings regarding missions. Perhaps I and other readers will be encouraged by your experiences ("that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:12)). In that respect, if you have any friends who you feel will be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to share it with them also.
Here we go....!
Urban Missionary
Welcome to Urban Missionary!
Before heading off to Japan in January this year, many people asked me whether I would be keeping a blog. Usually, I am very resistant to the written form (people who know me well will say I am much more of a talker than a writer...!).
However, upon reflecting on what has been happening here in Sapporo over the past several months, I felt it was important for me to start this blog...not only to update you on what is happening here in Japan and to perhaps even encourage you in your own walk with God, but also for me to reflect further on my time so far in Japan (and as it continues into the future).
Hence the creation of this blog.
It will provide information regarding the planting of a modern, relevant and fun church here in Sapporo, Japan. It will express the thoughts and feelings of an Australian twenty-something male, with no previous ministry experience, as he goes about doing missions in the nation with the largest single unreached people group in the world. And it will hopefully encourage you, the reader, to engage further in what is popularly known as "the Great Commission"...namely, to "go and make disciples of all nations" (Matthew 28:19)...whether that occurs "down the road or around the world".
But I don't want this blog to just be a 'one-way street'...I also want it to be an opportunity for you to share your thoughts and feelings regarding missions. Perhaps I and other readers will be encouraged by your experiences ("that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other's faith" (Romans 1:12)). In that respect, if you have any friends who you feel will be encouraged by this blog, please feel free to share it with them also.
Here we go....!
Urban Missionary
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