Japan

In 2015, Church of the Beloved had the opportunity to reach out to international students from Japan. The Japanese Seeker Small Group was formed within a few weeks of meeting them. The Small Group Leaders sent prayer emails to Church leaders, to pray for every student that arrived. One of them was a Buddhist, who came to our Small Group to convert people to Buddhism. Others came to learn English for free, or to find community in foreign lands, and some were open to Christianity.One particular student, Yuya, was open to our Church community and to the Gospel. There was a specific date that he had to leave Chicago, so we used that date as a prayer request.

God was already moving in Yuya’s heart. This was evident, as we continued to pray. Yuya’s last Small Group, before he had to leave for Japan, he listened to a conversation between the Buddhist and our Pastor. When he was asked for his thoughts, he began to share about how people from the Small Group and from the Church, shared about God’s love to him. As he explained what he learned of God’s love from others, he suddenly began to be moved. He was moved in such a way that was different from before. Tears began to form and he struggled to get the words out. The Pastor and the Small Group Leaders took part in inviting him to believe. He prayed in Japanese, accepting Christ. And God saved him that night. That following Sunday, he went on the stage and the congregation of Church of the Beloved prayed over him. After service, many people lined up to speak to him and hug him. And then he left for Osaka, Japan as a Christian. Ever since that year, God has been sending more international students from Japan, to our city. We continued the Japanese Seeker Small Group and our Church eventually launched an International Service. As God moves our Church, this has created our beginning steps of ministering to international seekers, and developing Japan Mission.