The 2019 Annual Council of Japan Union Conference (JUC) was held from November 24 to 26, 2019, at the JUC office in Tokyo, Japan. From the Northern Asia-Pacific Division (NSD), president Kim SiYoung, secretary Yutaka Inada, treasurer Joel Tompkins, and several other leaders came to attend the JUC Annual Council. The NSD leaders delivered God’s message for the morning worships during the council, asking the Holy Spirit to lead in all the meetings. During the council, evangelism reports were given from the Union departments, local Conferences in Japan, and the institutions, reflecting upon how God has worked through them during this past year.
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All Japan 19 Maranatha
Going along with the NSD’s Total Member Involvement Evangelism 2019 initiative, the JUC held 117 evangelistic series throughout the country. Since October 2019 was the emphasis month for evangelistic series, not all the detailed reports of the results had been gathered. However, it is certain that a considerable number of baptisms and Bible interests were as a result of All Japan 19 Maranatha.
Since 2018, holding evangelistic series in Japan has been encouraged. At the time, many people were doubtful and even opposed to the idea of having evangelistic series that is longer than one week. However, after two years of continued emphasis on having evangelistic series, most of the people now accept this method of evangelism. The JUC led the initiative of having evangelistic series in 2018, and the local Conferences led the initiative in 2019. In 2020, local churches will take the responsibility of leading the evangelistic series at their local churches.
Going along with the NSD’s Total Member Involvement Evangelism 2019 initiative, the JUC held 117 evangelistic series throughout the country. Since October 2019 was the emphasis month for evangelistic series, not all the detailed reports of the results had been gathered. However, it is certain that a considerable number of baptisms and Bible interests were as a result of All Japan 19 Maranatha.
Since 2018, holding evangelistic series in Japan has been encouraged. At the time, many people were doubtful and even opposed to the idea of having evangelistic series that is longer than one week. However, after two years of continued emphasis on having evangelistic series, most of the people now accept this method of evangelism. The JUC led the initiative of having evangelistic series in 2018, and the local Conferences led the initiative in 2019. In 2020, local churches will take the responsibility of leading the evangelistic series at their local churches.
Looking Ahead to 2020
1. Kitaura Saniku Middle School Relocation
Kitaura Saniku, one of the three Adventist middle schools in Japan, will be having their 50th year anniversary in 2020. Because the buildings are getting old, in April 2020, the school will relocate from Ibaragi prefecture to Chiba prefecture where the Saniku College campus is located. At the new middle school, the JUC plans to make the school internationally friendly, attracting many students from overseas.
Kitaura Saniku, one of the three Adventist middle schools in Japan, will be having their 50th year anniversary in 2020. Because the buildings are getting old, in April 2020, the school will relocate from Ibaragi prefecture to Chiba prefecture where the Saniku College campus is located. At the new middle school, the JUC plans to make the school internationally friendly, attracting many students from overseas.
2. Master’s Degree Program at Saniku Nursing School
Saniku Nursing School received official permission form the Education Department of the Japanese government to offer a master’s degree program, starting in April 2020. Going along with the Seventh-day Adventist mission and educational philosophy, it will be the first and only school in Japan that offers spiritual care at the graduate school level.
Saniku Nursing School received official permission form the Education Department of the Japanese government to offer a master’s degree program, starting in April 2020. Going along with the Seventh-day Adventist mission and educational philosophy, it will be the first and only school in Japan that offers spiritual care at the graduate school level.
3. Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics
In the summer of 2020, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Japan. The Tokyo Central Adventist Church is only 20 minutes walking distance from the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic games will be held. The JUC plans to conduct special health expos and have various booths to introduce the Adventist Church.
In the summer of 2020, the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics will be held in Japan. The Tokyo Central Adventist Church is only 20 minutes walking distance from the stadium where the opening and closing ceremonies of the Olympic games will be held. The JUC plans to conduct special health expos and have various booths to introduce the Adventist Church.
4. Mission Unusual Tokyo Project
Because of the generous financial support and ideas from the General Conference, Mission Unusual Tokyo, which is a church-planting project, is moving forward. By 2025, the JUC aims to have at least 300 small groups and 30 house churches in the city of Tokyo.
Because of the generous financial support and ideas from the General Conference, Mission Unusual Tokyo, which is a church-planting project, is moving forward. By 2025, the JUC aims to have at least 300 small groups and 30 house churches in the city of Tokyo.
With less than 1% Christian population in Japan, many challenges exist in regards to evangelism work. However, with renewed commitment to the work, we concluded the JUC Annual Council.