missionaries

[Mr. Rogers]

Does anyone know of any missionaries who have gone to Japan? I'd like to find some biographies I can read about that.

[kirakira]

No, actually, although it's been on my heart to pray for Japanese missionaries for a while now.

[Straylight]

Google is great:

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=christian+missionaries+japan+history&btnG=Google+Search

[Technomancer]

Depends on the period. St. Francis Xavier and the Jesuits were the first ones that we have any record of, although some have suggested they were pre-dated by the Nestorians. When Japan was closed to foreigners they were driven out, although in Nagasaki and other parts of southern Japan the faith was driven underground until the 19th century.

Endo's novels "Silence", and "The Samurai" are excellent fictions of this time period.

[plutogrl03]

There is a missionary in Japan now named Joyce Kitano. I heard her speak at an evangelism conference in December. Her group is still small, but she has been getting a following and has led many college students in Japan to Christ. I have this web address for her. It should have her biography. I'll also give you her e-mail address. Hope this helps.

http://chialphajapan.org
joyce.kitano@agmd.org

[Fsiphskilm]

Hmmm. I'd personally

[redkorn]

well there is a big mission conference at my church every year this year there is a missionary from japan coming!

[Bobtheduck]

I know of LOTS of missionaries in Japan in the Missions group I was a part of for a while. Of course, Missionary is a vague term... It could mean stereotypical missionary (I.E. A third-world missionary) which no longer applies to Japan, or it could be street evangelism, service (such as cleaning, medical care, feeding) or any number of things... The group I was part of runs a coffee house ministry and has planted churches in the Greater Tokyo Area, and try to work with the churches that allready exist in Japan and help them with anything they need help for.

I don't know if anyone there has written an Autobiography, but personally, I think that the Christian Church's fear of Japan has been the reason you don't see many outstanding biographies... The people who have openly doubted God's ability to change that nation, and spoken that doubt into anyone willing to follow God into Japan has created a plug (blockage). I think that will change, and you will see some good testimonies soon.

(though, the group I was a part of, some of them in Japan on a short term trip in the 70's or the 80's actually got on TV and talked to the Emporer's advisors. It was quite an amazing true story. I'll have to find the whole story to tell you)

[Bobtheduck]

Hmmm. I'd personally focus more on China, where people are Spiritually hungry and starving. Rather than Japan. Just my opinion though. Every place needs spiritual food, but my heart's saying feed the starving before the hungry. If Japan is hungry at all.

I could not disagree with you more. You don't go where the need is, you go where God sends you... Also, there is a much bigger percentage of Christians in China than in Japan. Less than 1 percent of Japan is Christian, but in China, strengthened by persecution from the Communist regime (which is getting toned down), the percentage is in the double digits. People have been blasting Japan for a long time. It's wrong and it needs to stop. Go into ALL the world, not just where you feel it will be accepted more. So Japan's a hard nut to crack? God's a great nut cracker.

[Fsiphskilm]

[quote="Bobtheduck"]You don't go wh

[Azier the Swordsman]

This is just speculation, but I believe that the reason for Japan being a hard nut to crack is BECAUSE they have everything. China, in contrast, has very little. Japan is the second richest country in the world. The bible says it's tough for a rich man to enter heaven. Couldn't the same apply to a country? A poor person has much more reason to depend on God, whereas a rich man believes he has no need for God because of his wealth.

[Bobtheduck]

the immediately following verses say, "'If that is true, then who can enter the kingdom of Heaven?' and Jesus said 'What is impossible with man is possible with God'"

[Kisa]

We are having a missons emphasis week at my school, and I was just thinking of missions in Japan. I think it'd be awesome! I really would go!

[Fsiphskilm]

Well all in all it's one big paradox.