JapanJapanJapanJapan

OMF International (UK)

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GeographyGeographyGeographyGeography

233,600 sq. km

Honshu

Hokkaido

Aomori

Tokyo

Sendai

Sapporo

Osaka

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Population: 126,549,976– (UK: 59,511,464)

Density: 340/sq. km– (UK: 243/sq. km)

PopulationPopulationPopulationPopulation

Japan

UK

Japan

UK

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ReligionReligionReligionReligion Buddhist & Shinto

84% New religions/other

13% Christian 1%

Evangelical 0.32% Most follow mixture

of Shinto and Buddhist customs

Buddhist & Shinto

New religions/Other -

- Christian- Evangelical Christian

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HistoryHistoryHistoryHistory Ancient civilisation Closed to outsiders Late-1800s: Expansion Defeated at end of World War II Occupied by UN/US Post-war economic growth 1990s: Economic slow-down

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History of ChristianityHistory of ChristianityHistory of ChristianityHistory of Christianity 1549: Francis Xavier 1612: Persecution; country closed Late-1800s: Doors re-opened Pre-war: Little growth Post-war: US/Korean activity 1990s: Some larger churches 100 sects/new religions per year

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What is OMF doing?What is OMF doing?What is OMF doing?What is OMF doing? Church planting and evangelism Unreached: rural and urban Student work Japanese missions and missionaries:

– Training, developing and equipping OMF 120 adults, 90 children

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OMF OpportunitiesOMF OpportunitiesOMF OpportunitiesOMF Opportunities

Church planters and evangelists Student evangelists Teaching English Teaching missionaries’ children Short-term [4 weeks-3 years] Support ministries

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Pray: CountryPray: CountryPray: CountryPray: Country People are too busy Little concept of personal sin Corruption/scandals in business

and government Cultural pressures to conform Shinto resurgence New religions sprouting

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Pray: ChurchPray: ChurchPray: ChurchPray: Church Tiny minority

– Society values consensus– Too few families– Lack of men in the church– 70% churches with fewer than 30 people

Young people leaving for cities Training of leaders Many cities/towns with no church

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Pray: EvangelismPray: EvangelismPray: EvangelismPray: Evangelism Pray for breakthrough Japanese unresponsive Recession gives opportunities Student witness strategic Media evangelism effective

– Literature – Radio/TV

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The ThomasesThe ThomasesThe ThomasesThe Thomases Church Planting

– Pastor of Sendai Evangelical Church

30 adults, 10 children

growth of church Came to Japan in 1987 Church work in Hachinohe, Izumi

and Tokyo

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Thomases - FutureThomases - FutureThomases - FutureThomases - Future Return to Japan 12 Aug Esther and Christine go to Hebron Support

– Prayer– Finance , about £50K (last year 53%)