For more than 125 years, Advent Christians in North America have partnered with Japanese pastors and ministry leaders to plant the gospel and grow churches across Japan. In recent decades, however, communication between us and our Japanese churches has diminished, and both sides long for a closer connection.
So I was grateful when Rev. Julius Equipado, president of the Japan Advent Christian Conference, our Asia/Pacific Area Director and I made plans to personally visit all the Advent Christian churches in Japan. It was an ambitious schedule for the three of us. Our itinerary for Thursday, October 30, included four churches located in rural areas of Tottori Prefecture.
I woke early that morning, refreshed from a good night’s sleep. After daybreak, I stepped outside the hotel for a brisk walk through downtown Tottori City near the train station. It was a crisp, clear autumn day, and I felt eager for what lay ahead. After breakfast, I joined my three traveling companions, and we drove to our first stop.
Tottori Resurrection Church
The morning sun was bright as we arrived at Tottori Resurrection Church, where Pastor Katsunori Sato warmly greeted us. This is one of two congregations he shepherds, and he has served faithfully in this region for decades. Rev. Sato explained that Tottori Resurrection Church is the only church located south of the main train station, a reflection of the spiritual realities of the region. Tottori Prefecture has the fewest churches of any prefecture in Japan. Still, five of them are Advent Christian. Ministry here is not about numbers; it is about steady, long-term gospel faithfulness in both word and deed.
Kurayoshi Advent Christian Church
I was still absorbing this sobering information when we reached our next stop: Kurayoshi Advent Christian Church. Again we encountered steadfast ministry in “hard soil.” Pastor Shouichi Yamasaki, now eighty years old, has devoted his life to serving Christ and the people of Kurayoshi. Few churches exist in this part of Japan, and less than one percent of the entire nation identifies as Christian.
Kurayoshi is also the birthplace of Advent Christian work in Japan. Over 125 years ago, a young man from Kurayoshi named Masador Iwagoye traveled to California, where he came to faith in Jesus, encountered the Advent Christian church, and was ordained by a local conference. Returning to Japan in 1898, Rev. Iwagoye planted the first Advent Christian church in Kurayoshi.
Fellowship in Yura
Our third stop was, delightfully, a local restaurant for lunch. A group of women from nearby Yura Christ Church joined us and treated us to a wonderful meal. Afterward, we visited their church, where Pastor Kawaguchi and his wife welcomed us. Because of his declining health, he had been unable to join us at the restaurant.
The Kawaguchis shared about their congregation, which includes Japanese members as well as Filipinos and other English-speaking residents. They handed me a small stack of papers. They were translations of Pastor Kawaguchi’s latest sermon. Each week, he writes the sermon in Japanese, and then it is translated into Tagalog and English so that everyone can understand it in their own language. I was deeply impressed by their commitment.
Akasaki Advent Christian Church
As evening approached, we arrived at the final stop of the day: Akasaki Advent Christian Church. Here, Pastor Yamasaki, who also pastors the Kurayoshi church, cares lovingly for this small congregation. Though the membership is small, the church facility is beautiful and includes a well-kept, modern parsonage. As conference president, Rev. Julius found himself inspired with ideas about how this facility might serve future ministry efforts.
Reflections
That night, I reflected with gratitude on the day’s experiences. God had given us an honest picture of ministry in one of Japan’s most rural regions. I felt especially thankful for the devoted pastors we had met. In Tottori Prefecture, people are cautious of change — spiritually and otherwise. It truly is “hard soil.” Yet these pastors continue faithfully sowing the seeds of God’s Word, just as Jesus described: “A sower went out to sow” (Matthew 13:3).
I invite you to join me in praying that our visit will spark renewed connection between Advent Christians in North America and Japan. The Japanese remain one of the world’s largest unreached peoples. Please pray for new opportunities to partner in ministry, for God to call new missionaries to this beautiful nation, and for the pastors in rural Tottori as they continue serving the Lord with steadfast hearts.
