Protestants have been laboring in Japan for over 150 years, proclaiming the gospel and discipling new believers. Yet despite the many years of ministry the population of Japan is still less than 1% Christian. I have often been asked why Japan seems so resistant to the Gospel. I can give no simple answer, however in talking with Japanese believers, pastors and missionaries I’ve been told of a number of challenges facing both evangelism and church growth.
This is to be the first of a series of blog posts discussing some of those challenges. I hope to bring to your attention one of these challenges each week, in no particular order. I have a number of reasons for doing this, but for now I’ll start with just mentioning one. I want to get your take on how to overcome these challenges. Lord willing Tomo and I will be moving to Japan this Summer, and before long we will begin to encounter these challenges and have to find ways where, by the grace of God, we can overcome them. I’d love to hear your Biblical and creative ideas on how to over come each of these challenges I will no doubt face in the future. Each Saturday please check back here, read up on the challenge, and comment with ideas on how it can be overcome.
Challenge to Evangelism #1 – People are Insanely Busy
The Japanese are hard workers. They appear to be far more committed to their careers, working much longer hours on average than we do in America. This is especially true in Tokyo. Men will commonly leave for work early in the morning to commute to their office and often work late into the night. On days when they do get off at a reasonable time, office culture encourages them to spend the evening hours drinking with their co-workers. Furthermore many Japanese men keep up this schedule six days a week, leaving only one day to rest and spend time with family. That day is of course Sunday.
It is no small thing to ask someone to spend their only day off once again commuting, this time to a church, and spend hours there rather than relaxing at home and just having some family time. To make matter’s worse, since Sunday is the typical day off, it is also the day that many events and celebrations are held, making it even more difficult to commit every Sunday to attending Church. To do so very likely means to miss out on watching children’s school performances and many holiday events.
Pray
That God would be seen to be so real, so worthy and lovely that men would powerfully drawn to Christ and joyously be compelled to rearrange their schedules to spend time worshiping Him, growing closer to Him and fellowshipping with His people.
Comment
How can Christians in Japan more effectively reach out to non-believers with such hectic schedules?
We hope that you can return here to Japan as soon as you can. The need is great here.