March 18, 2009
Alliance churches in Japan are gearing up to celebrate 150 years of Christian ministry in that country. “Churches from all over Japan are joining together to praise the Lord for bringing the good news to Japan and to carry out evangelistic ministries,” says field director Harry Landaw.
A Rich History
The Alliance has a rich history in Japan, dating back to 1893, and has played a key role in advancing the gospel there. “Through early Alliance missionary efforts, many souls were won and many churches were planted in western Japan,” says Harry, writing in Alliance Life.
Miss Mabel Francis, an Alliance pioneer missionary to Japan, received the country’s highest civilian award, the medal of the Fifth Order of the Sacred Treasure. The governor of Ehime Prefecture had requested that the government and the emperor honor Miss Francis for her contribution “to the welfare of the Japanese people in their distress and confusion at the time of their defeat [in World War II] and for the long years spent in leading hundreds of Japanese to the knowledge of God.”
“She was the first person in Japan’s history to receive [the medal] while still alive,” says Harry.
Full-Circle Missions
Today, the Alliance national church in Japan is sending cross-cultural workers to other parts of the world. A recent graduate of the Japan Alliance School of Theology will serve as a missionary to Brazil. “Please pray for this young woman who has committed her life to serving the Lord cross culturally,” says Harry.
What You Can Do
Pray for Alliance churches and believers as they participate in reaching out to share the gospel in their communities during the anniversary celebration. Pray that this will be a year of revival in Japan.