Japan Team 2026
Newsletter

Arrival

Our trip began in Melbourne with prayer, committing ourselves and the journey to God. We prayed especially for safety, unity, and opportunities to share the hope of Christ. It was also a lovely opportunity to share testimonies together and begin the trip encouraged by the ways God has already been at work in our lives.

After a long and tiring night travelling through Hong Kong, we arrived safely in Japan. We settled into our hotel smoothly, full of excitement but also very ready for rest!

Our first evening in Japan included a fun shared meal at a sushi restaurant. It was a joyful beginning to our time here, with lots of laughter and excitement as we took in the fact that the trip had truly begun.

We are thankful to God for safe travel, a good beginning as a team, and the joy of arriving in Japan together. Please continue to pray that the Lord would keep us united, strengthen us after a tiring journey, and prepare us for the opportunities ahead.

The Shrine

Praying for Tokyo and Sharing Life Together

Our second day in Tokyo gave us a deeper glimpse into both the beauty of Japan and its profound spiritual need.

We began the day by visiting Meiji Jingu, one of Tokyo’s most significant Shinto shrines. Surrounded by beautiful gardens and impressive buildings, we watched many people entering the shrine precinct and taking part in acts of devotion. It was a confronting reminder that Japan is not simply a place of fascinating culture, order, and beauty, but a country where so many people are seeking blessing, peace, meaning, and hope apart from the living God.

As we walked through the shrine grounds, we were reminded of the spiritual lostness bound up in Shintoism and Buddhism, and of the great need for the good news of Jesus Christ in Japan. Rather than simply observing the site as tourists, we took time to pray for the people around us: that God would open blind eyes, turn hearts from idols, and make known the true hope and forgiveness found in Christ.

From there, we travelled to Harajuku and walked through the crowded and energetic Takeshita Street. It was a very different setting from the quiet shrine grounds, filled with shops, colour, young people, and crowds moving in every direction. Yet the need was the same. In the middle of such a busy and vibrant part of Tokyo, we stopped again to pray for the people of this city. We prayed that the gospel would take root here, and that God would be pleased to grow his church in a city where so few know Jesus.

The team is doing well and enjoying being together, although the amount of walking has certainly been felt by everyone! There are plenty of sore feet and tired legs, but we are thankful for good spirits, good health, and the joy of sharing this experience together.

That evening was a particularly encouraging part of the day. We were invited to a traditional tea ceremony hosted by a non-Christian friend of the Pastor (name withheld). It was a beautiful opportunity to experience Japanese hospitality and culture, but even more importantly, to begin building genuine friendship. This is someone the Pastor has already been getting to know and witnessing to, and it was a privilege for us to be welcomed into that friendship.

After the tea ceremony, we shared dinner with several non-Christian friends connected with Pastor and the Church. Much of the evening was simply about spending time together, laughing, listening, and sharing about our lives in Melbourne. Yet within those conversations, there were also some opportunities to speak naturally about our Christian faith and experience.

It was a reminder to us that mission is not always made up of dramatic moments. Often, it involves patience, hospitality, ordinary conversation, and praying that God will use each small opportunity to draw people closer to himself. We are thankful for Pastor’s faithful witness among his friends, and we count it a privilege to support and encourage the relationships he has already been building.

Grace Harbour

On Sunday, we had the joy of worshipping with Grace Harbour Presbyterian Church for the first time. Grace Harbour is a vibrant and healthy church, and it was deeply encouraging to see how God is building his church in Japan.

The service was especially focused on children and families. The pastor preached a child-friendly sermon in both Japanese and English, helping the children to engage with God’s word across both languages. It was a wonderful reminder that the good news of Jesus is for children, families, and people from every culture.

After the service, our team led an English kids program with the support of the Grace Harbour kids ministry team. The program was designed to make English fun and accessible for Japanese children through games, songs, and interactive activities. We were also able to share a Bible story and speak clearly about the gospel in both English and Japanese, with help from the local team in communicating with the children.

The children were enthusiastic and engaged, and it was especially encouraging that some children were present who do not normally attend Grace Harbour. The program provided a natural opportunity for non-Christian children and their families to connect with the church community in a warm and welcoming setting. It was a real privilege for our team to serve alongside Grace Harbour and to have meaningful interactions with children and parents.

The kids program was followed by an Australian BBQ, which was very well attended. Families stayed, conversations continued, and we had opportunities to speak naturally about our lives in Melbourne while also sharing how our Christian faith shapes us. One thing we are learning is that friendship evangelism is an important way of sharing the gospel in Japan, where trust and genuine relationships can open doors for people to hear about Jesus.

A particularly wonderful encouragement was meeting a woman who has recently become a Christian and is preparing to be baptised soon. She brought along a friend who does not yet know Christ. Please praise God for her new faith and pray for her as she prepares for baptism. Please also pray that her friend, and the children and families who attended, would continue to be welcomed into the Grace Harbour community and come to know Jesus.

At the end of a full day, we gathered by the harbour to debrief and reflect on all that God had allowed us to be part of. It was a meaningful way to finish the day together—though one less glorious contribution from me was burning an entire tray of sausages at the BBQ!

Please pray for Grace Harbour Presbyterian Church, that God would continue to strengthen them in their faithful witness and bring lasting gospel fruit among the many children, families, and friends they are reaching.

Christian School

Today began with an early start and a long train journey out to the outskirts of Tokyo, where we visited a Christian school. Travelling across such a large city gave us another sense of the scale of Tokyo, and of the many communities spread throughout it. Our purpose for visiting the school was to help with a practical work project, setting up for their upcoming graduation ceremony.

When we arrived, we got straight into the work of preparing for graduation. It was simple, practical work, but a meaningful way to support the school community. Sometimes partnership means helping prepare a room, arranging what is needed, and easing the load for Christians who are faithfully serving in Japan year after year. We were thankful to be able to contribute in this small way.

After the set-up, we had the great privilege of joining the school for chapel. Students led the worship and shared their own testimonies of faith. This was a particularly moving and encouraging part of the day. Much of our time in Japan so far has made us increasingly aware of the small number of Christians here and the deep spiritual need in the wider community. It was a great joy to sit among young Christians worshipping Jesus and speaking openly about God’s work in their lives.

There was a real vibrancy in the Christian community at the school. It was encouraging to see students being nurtured in their faith and to witness a place where Christ is spoken of and worshipped in the everyday life of the school community. In a context where following Jesus can feel very uncommon and isolating, the school was a reminder that God has his people here in Japan and that he continues to preserve and grow his church.

After chapel, we enjoyed lunch together at the school, with bento boxes provided for us. Sharing a meal was a lovely part of the visit and gave us time to enjoy the hospitality of the school community after serving alongside them and joining them in worship.

We were also shown around the school, which gave us a better understanding of what Christian education and ministry can look like in Japan.

After our visit, we made the long journey back into Tokyo and turned our attention to the evening ahead. Grace Harbour Church hosted an evangelistic event built around board games and conversation, with a number of non-Christian friends who attended. Our task during the afternoon was to shop for what was needed for the evening. This proved to be a little chaotic as we attempted to navigate shops and locate supplies in a different language.

For many people in Japan, relationships and trust are an important part of being able to speak openly about deeper matters of life and faith. We are thankful to be able to support Grace Harbour Church in this ministry and to come alongside relationships that are already being built here.

Yamanote Line

Praying for Tokyo and Encouraged by Gospel Relationships

Praise God for the wonderful opportunity we had this morning to join Pray Yamanote, praying alongside Japanese and foreign Christians from many different churches and mission organisations.

Twenty-nine of us attended in person, with a few others joining online. Together we rode the Yamanote Line, which circles the city of Tokyo, interceding for the people of this vast city as we travelled. It was deeply encouraging to see so many others with a heart for Japan, and a comforting reminder that we are part of a much bigger global church. Although Christians are few in Japan, God has his people here, faithfully praying and longing to see Christ known.

Please pray that God would be pleased to use these prayers for his purposes, and that he would bring kingdom growth among the people of Japan.

We also thank God for the opportunity to give out evangelistic tracts at Osaki Station. This was a first experience for some members of our team. Many people declined to take one, but we were encouraged that 169 people received a tract. Please pray that those who accepted them would take the time to read them, and that God would prepare their hearts to receive the good news of Jesus Christ.

As we prayed around Tokyo today, we were especially conscious of the many different people who live and work in this city:

Office workers
Please pray that they would not seek their ultimate purpose in career, wealth, or success, but would discover true value, rest, and fulfilment in Jesus Christ.

Young people
Please pray that they would not seek their identity in trends, outward appearance, or the approval of others, but would come to know their true identity and lasting hope in God.

Those connected with the entertainment industry and red-light districts
Please pray for those caught in complex and painful circumstances, especially where economic hardship leaves people feeling trapped or without choices. Pray for protection and freedom, for healing for those who have been wounded, and that many would turn to Christ as their hope and ultimate source of security.

We also met Michaela, an American serving on a short-term mission trip in Tokyo, and were able to pray with her this morning. Two days ago, she approached an American student on a university campus and shared the gospel with her. The student has agreed to meet with Michaela again on Friday. Please pray that this student would be willing to explore Christianity further, that Michaela would have wisdom and courage as she speaks with her, and ultimately that God would graciously bring her to saving faith in Christ.

Praise God also for the wonderful opportunity Stacey, Talitha and Rachelle had yesterday afternoon to attend a Bible study and afternoon tea at the home of Karin, an American missionary in Japan with Campus Crusade for Christ.

Also at the Bible study was Yumiko, who came to faith after several years of Karin sharing the gospel with her. This was a precious encouragement and reminder that God is able to use faithful, patient witness over many years to bring people to himself.

Karin’s mother-in-law, Michiko, who is 84 and a committed Buddhist, was also present. Thank God that she has been willing to attend monthly Bible studies with Karin. Please pray that God would soften her heart, that his word would take root in her life, and that she would come to know the hope and salvation found in Jesus Christ.