Japan Union Conference Annual Council was held on November 22 to November 23, 2015. Churches, schools, and institutions that participated in the “All Japan 2015” project gave their evangelistic reports. Based on the reports given, we have proposed the following evangelistic motto and policy for the next 5 years from 2016 to 2020.
Motto: “Arise! Shine! Jesus is Coming!”
Basic Evangelistic Policy: “Relationship with Heaven, Relationship within the Church, Relationship with the Community.”
In order to fulfill the great commission in Japan, each individual church members are encouraged to develop the following three relationships: “Relationship with Heaven (Reach Up),” “Relationship within the Church (Reach In),” and “Relationship with the Community (Reach Out).” Relationship with Heaven means for each church member to become a vessel for the Holy Spirit and grow in their identity as a Seventh-day Adventist.
As the Relationship within the Church strengthens and unites through the love of Christ, the mission first spirit will be awakened as a result. The Relationship with the Community means for every Seventh-day Adventist to become witnesses for Christ and let Christ`s light shine upon the community through their lives. By upholding these three relationships, we will prepare the people for the Second Coming of Christ as we fulfill the Great Commission.
In order to strengthen the three relationships, Reach Up, Reach In, and Reach Out, and develop every church member to become an evangelist, we listed total of 15 items that must be emphasized, 5 items for each relationship. One of the items that must be emphasized will be the media ministry. In order to strengthen the media ministry, we have decided to combine the Publishing House and the Media Center as one department naming the new department as the “Media Publishing Department.”
In order to overcome the intense winter season, the drying up of the retirement fund and the extremely financially difficult situations, Japan Union Conference committee members have all agreed to adapt to a new financial policy. We concluded the Annual Council meeting as we reaffirmed each of our commitment.
Japan Union Conference General Session will be held from January 13~15, 2016. The following Sabbath day on the 16th, we will be having the special 120th year anniversary worship program. Please pray for a new beginning for the Japan Union Conference mission endeavors.