VISION FOR JAPAN

“That your way may be known on earth,

While oceans separate those in the West from the East, the love of God has once again erased both distance and borders, creating a divine kinship. The laughter and a relaxed atmosphere between the visiting American Calvary Chapel pastors and their Japanese counterparts bears witness to these ties. These relationships are the result of a growing number of Calvary Chapels catching, and sharing in the vision of God’s work in Japan.

While the Lord initially opened doors for Calvary Chapel La Habra, and their mission entity Limitless Boundaries, to minister in Japan, CCLH Pastor Lance Cook soon realized that, “the Harvest was indeed ripe, yet mammoth. The task was too big for just one church to do alone.”

“From the very beginning the Lord told me this wouldn’t be a venture we’d take alone since so much of the country was unreached,” says Pastor Cook. So to reach the nation, God has raised up like-minded pastors from the West with a common goal of developing relationships with nationals already ministering in Japan, and presenting themselves and their churches as a resource.

One of these pastors has been Stan Mitchell of Calvary Chapel Lighthouse in Surrey, B.C. “The movement has spread quickly because Lance has duplicated himself. He’s passed the vision for Japan along in a very wise way. He didn’t just dispense it to his church, but he gave it to other pastors, and that has led to us dispensing this vision to our bodies.” The sharing of this vision has according to Mitchell, led to, “our church in Canada having a vision for Japan.”

But Canada is not the only nation to share in the privilege, as pastors and fellow believers from Calvary Chapels in Korea, Colombia and throughout the US including Missouri, Ohio, Hawaii, and California have made the trek overseas. The participation of California churches has grown to include Costa Mesa, Visalia, Diamond Bar, Montebello, La Habra and Chino Valley.

“I knew that exposing different Calvary’s to the work that God was doing in Japan would advance the work that much more quickly,” Pastor Cook explained. “That was our heart behind getting others involved.”

Upon seeing the movement in Japan first hand, Calvary Chapel veteran pastor Bob Grenier of CC Visalia was reminded of the early work that God did at Costa Mesa Calvary Chapel. “I have run into so many younger Japanese pastors who are just excited about knowing Jesus, and are really interested in God working in their lives. They are very open to being taught and equipped for ministry work.”

This excitement became apparent to Pastor Jim Stewart of Calvary Chapel Kansas City as well, who observed that, “What is happening in Japan parallels the Book of Acts. God is establishing a work through various people who have opened up their lives to be used by God.”

Grenier also found comparisons between the two movements in the area of music. “It’s exciting to see young people responding to the Holy Spirit in the areas of worship, and music ministries being raised up by the Lord.”

While the movement in Japan started in Tokyo, it has spread over the past eight years to ten cities throughout Japan. “While we have been involved in church planting in Japan, God has also brought along Japanese pastors who already have established works, and God is uniting them with us. Our goal is to come beside these guys as a resource.” Says Pastor Cook.

Pastor Mitchell goes on to further explain these relationships by stating, “We want to be a scaffolding to the Japanese church, not a crutch. Scaffolding is there to assist during the construction, but is removed once the foundation is finished and the work is complete.”

These resources include first hand fellowship as frequently as possible with the various Japanese churches. Every two months, either a team from the U.S. visits Japan, or a Japanese group comes to the States. “We’re focusing on building relationships with them.”  Says Pastor Cook. “Through these guys and their families coming out, God has really connected our hearts in regards to Japan.”  Says Cook. “Their churches have come alongside and adopted Japan as their mission endeavor.”

This connection has developed new opportunities here in the States as well as a team from Japan will be coming here this summer to minister to the local Japanese communities in California.

This eternal investment is showing earthly dividends as unique relationships are currently developing between churches here in the States and fellowships throughout Japan. Pastor Grenier expresses his church's role in Japan by stating that, “We have a serious commitment and love for the Japanese people, and we are committed to supporting the work that God has begun.”