Japanese Ministry

When the devastating earthquake and tsunami hit northern Japan in March 2011 46-year-old Nobuhiro and many of his neighbors lost so much. “Some of my friends from childhood were killed by the tsunami,” he recalls. “My house was located in Natori, a city by the coast, and we were evacuated with every aftershock. Sometimes we had to spend time in our car. It was very hard, but thankfully, my family was all safe.” Still, the emotional toll on Nobuhiro and the people of northern Japan was almost overwhelming. Six months after the earthquake, Nobuhiro, who is working for a temporary employment agency, visited the nearby town where he had grown up. “Everything was destroyed and gone. Most of the people who survived moved out. They lost jobs and don’t know what to do now. Someone told me it will take 20 to 30 years for that town to be completely…[Read More]

Miyoko used to start every day by listening to Morning Word, Back to God Ministries International Japanese audio devotional. “The program encouraged me,” she told Rev. Masao Yamashita at a recent annual open house for listeners. Twice each year—in December and in the Spring—the Japanese media team welcomes listeners to the ministry center in Tokyo for the purpose of encouraging isolated believers. Miyoko’s husband is not a Christian and is opposed to any involvement with a church, so her main spiritual nourishment comes through Back to God Ministries International Japanese media outreach. The 40-year-old woman from Tokyo said that her only source for getting to know the Bible is our Japanese radio program, Morning Word. Miyoko continues to listen to our program and writes to our Japanese staff frequently.  “She has written us more than fifty letters since 2004 when she attended our summer camp,” said Rev. Yamashita. “She requests…[Read More]

When the March 11 earthquake and tsunami hit Japan, Mr. Minoru Y. witnessed the destruction of everything in his coastal city of Kamaishi in northern Japan. He spent two days at an evacuee shelter, and was unable to contact his parents and other relatives for a week. Soon after the disaster, Rev. Masao Yamashita, Japanese leader for Back to God Ministries International (BTGMI) sent letters to all listeners on the ministry’s mailing list, expressing concern for all they had lost, inquiring about their welfare, and assuring them of the prayers of God’s people. Letters of response made it clear that listeners were trusting God to provide, even as they looked for more words of hope as they face long term recovery. “Thank you for your letter,” Mr. Minoru told Rev. Yamashita. “Now I know [my family] are all safe. I have never experienced such a big earthquake before. We are…[Read More]

Back to God Ministries International Japanese ministry leader Rev. Masao Yamashita sent an update on the situation in Japan following the earthquake on March 11, 2011. Here is a report in his own words:  “When the earthquake occurred, [staff member] Ms. Kaori Shimada and I were at the office on the fifth floor of the building in Tokyo, which is about 200 miles from the epicenter. The quake started with a small shake and gradually became bigger. At that time we optimistically thought it would stop soon, since earthquakes are not uncommon in Japan. But just in case we left the room and went into the hallway. “The shaking continued for more than two minutes and then it seemed to stop. But right after that, the strongest tremors hit and we were able to do nothing but sit down on the floor. The quake seemed to continue forever and I…[Read More]

The Japanese people are experiencing first-hand what the author of Psalm 46 wrote: “…though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging.” Rev. Takashi Yoshida is pastor of Sendai Reformed Church (the city closest to the epicenter of the earthquake that struck on March 11, 2011) and moderator of the Reformed Church in Japan, a ministry partner with Back to God Ministries International. In a letter dated March 14, 2011 Rev. Yoshida wrote, “[Psalm 46] almost seems to be describing what we have experienced. And even though [the Psalmist] could not have imagined the additional emergency situation we now face due to the spreading of radioactive material in the environment, we still find his words most appropriate: God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. Therefore we will…[Read More]

Japanese ministry leader for Back to God Ministries International, Rev. Masao Yamashita, was working in the Tokyo broadcast office when the massive earthquake hit at 2:46 local time March 11, 2011. “This was the most powerful earthquake I’ve ever experienced,” he told Rev. Bob Heerspink, BTGMI director. “Everything dropped from the shelves.” “It was midnight in Japan when I was able to connect with him to learn that all of our Japanese staff are safe,” reports Rev. Heerspink. Another staff person was also in the Tokyo office at the time the earthquake hit.  “We are all right and I’ve talked with my family--they are safe at home,” Rev. Yamashita informed Heerspink. “But we can’t go home because all the trains are stopped.” Even as Rev. Yamashita was writing another email update, he reported feeling the tremors of an aftershock. “Tokyo is not so much damaged, but in the north area…[Read More]

Many North Americans have heard of Japan’s Shogun regime, made famous by James Clavell’s novel which was made into a TV miniseries in the 1980s. Less familiar to North Americans, but highly celebrated in Japan’s Kochi Prefecture is Ry?ma Sakamoto, who played an important role in bringing down the Shogun regime, opening a new era of freedom for the people of Japan. Capitalizing on the interest of a public TV drama aired in December 2010 about Ry?ma’s life, Back to God Ministries International Japanese ministry produced an audio program featuring an interview with Mr. Shozo Sato, whose great-grandfather personally knew the visionary leader.  In the interview Rev. Masao Yamashita, our Japanese ministry leader, invites Mr. Sato to tell about his great-grandfather’s perspective as an employee in Ry?ma’s home. “My mother personally knew Ry?ma’s adopted son and what many people don’t know,” said Mr. Sato, “is that this son became a…[Read More]

Kochi Prefecture is one of the poorest provinces in Japan. The rural areas of Japan are also the most difficult regions to share the Gospel. Evangelists and missionaries have tried for years to plant churches, with little success. People in these areas—who are deeply rooted in ancient religions—tend to oppose the Christian faith, but most have never heard the whole redemption story. Three years ago Back to God Ministries International increased broadcast into Kochi, praying that the all-embracing message of the Gospel would soften people’s hearts and lead them to salvation. Rev. Masao Yamashita was encouraged when he met for prayer with a group of believers in Kochi. The believers in this area told him that our Japanese programs encourage the Christians who face strong anti-Christian sentiment. The broadcasts also reach out to seekers who are looking for a message of hope. Rev. Yamashita also had an opportunity to show…[Read More]

Shigenori M., a sixty-five year-old tenant farmer lives, in rural Japan, where the social pressures against Christians are great. Still, two years ago when he was going through a difficult time, he found comfort in God's Word through Back to God Ministries International Japanese radio broadcasts. And in December 2009, Shigenori publicly professed his faith in Christ and was baptized! "Shigenori has never been married and, as the second son of the family, he is free from any family religious ties," explains Rev. Masao Yamashita, who had the privilege of baptizing Shigenori.  Rev. Yamashita, BTGMI's Japanese ministry leader is host of the program that God used to bring Mr. Murakami to faith. The Japanese follow-up team referred Shigenori to the local church, a small congregation in the country where Rev. Yamashita frequently preaches. The Japanese ministry leader had the opportunity to personally disciple his listener in the basic doctrines of…[Read More]