Why Japan from Oliver Banyard on Vimeo.
Many people ask, Why Japan? That is a fair question. It is one we wrestled with for quite a while when the LORD first began to put ministry in Japan on our hearts. So why are we moving to Japan to engage in a long-term (possibly a life-time of) Christian ministry? The answer is: we are moved by Japan's great beauty and brokenness. We are ministering in Japan because...
... Japan is beautiful. The Japanese people are beautiful. They are unique image bearers of the Triune God. There is much to affirm, praise and delight in among the Japanese: their sense of tradition, sacrifice, honor, diligence, ingenuity, simplicity, community, harmony, etc. But also...
... Japan is broken. Outside of Christ the Japanese people are lost, hopeless and being crushed under the weight of sin, pride, idolatry and despair. This is evident in the high instances of depression, isolation, broken marriages, fatherless families, suicide, etc.
We are moving to Japan because we want to dignify Japan's unique beauty in Christ and because we long to see healing of Japan's brokenness in Christ. We want to partner with the LORD in bringing gospel hope, in establishing communities of faith in Tokyo. The YWAM video above captures well both the beauty and brokenness when answering the question: Why Japan?
NEXT POST: WHY TOKYO?
... Japan is beautiful. The Japanese people are beautiful. They are unique image bearers of the Triune God. There is much to affirm, praise and delight in among the Japanese: their sense of tradition, sacrifice, honor, diligence, ingenuity, simplicity, community, harmony, etc. But also...
... Japan is broken. Outside of Christ the Japanese people are lost, hopeless and being crushed under the weight of sin, pride, idolatry and despair. This is evident in the high instances of depression, isolation, broken marriages, fatherless families, suicide, etc.
We are moving to Japan because we want to dignify Japan's unique beauty in Christ and because we long to see healing of Japan's brokenness in Christ. We want to partner with the LORD in bringing gospel hope, in establishing communities of faith in Tokyo. The YWAM video above captures well both the beauty and brokenness when answering the question: Why Japan?
NEXT POST: WHY TOKYO?