Every year during April, May and June, all 17 Kyodan districts hold their annual assemblies. The four executive officers of the Kyodan, including Moderator Ishibashi Hideo, share the task of being present at each district annual assembly, where the one attending gives presentations on the issues facing the Kyodan as a whole, while also listening to the various concerns of each district. As this is……
The 2017-18 Mission Planning Conference was held at Fujimicho Church, March 5-6, 2018, with the theme “How to Proceed with Evangelism in Japan.” There were 84 attendants. Greeting the gathering, Rev. Yonekura Misao, chair of the Commission on Mission, said: “We have various problems within the Kyodan, but I am hoping it becomes a church founded on its confession of faith and the church constituti……
The "Reformation for Youth 500 Conference" was held in Tokyo on March 21, preceded by a pre-conference rally the evening before, which was held at Tokyo District’s Yamate Church from 6 to 8 p.m. The audience of 323 enjoyed a live performance of the "Night de Light" (Night of Light) band. The March 21 conference itself was held at Aoyama Gakuin’s Goucher Hall from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Although an exact ……
by Kato Makoto, executive secretary
From March 5 to 7, 2018, I participated in the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK)’s International Conference in Celebration of the 30th Anniversary of the 1988 Declaration, which was held at the Ramada Hotel in the Dongdaemun area of Seoul. The theme of the conference was “Cultivating Peace, Proclaiming Hope” and was attended by 48 foreign guests and……
by Kawashima Naomichi, pastor
Kumamoto Nishikigaoka Church, Kyushu District
Two years have passed since the Kumamoto-Oita Earthquake. Although not always apparent on the surface, the effects of the earthquake are still strongly felt. At the end of 2017, there were still nearly 45,000 people who were living in temporary shelters. Although the original limit for occupancy was two years, the gover……
by Kato Makoto, executive secretary
In response to the Kumamoto Earthquake, which occurred on April 14, 2016, Kyodan Moderator Ishibashi Hideo convened an emergency meeting at the Kyodan general office in Tokyo. As a result, I was sent as the executive secretary of the Commission on Ecumenical Ministries to Kumamoto to participate in an on-site inspection and to deliver relief funds. After arriv……
by Akiyama Toru, general secretary
The 18th Korea-Japan-Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ) International Symposium was held April 23-25 at the Christian Center in Seoul, Korea. This international symposium began in the 1980s, when a movement had arisen to protest the fingerprinting of foreigners under Japan's Alien Registration Act to make this an issue for common engagement among Japanese ……
"Proceeding Together As We Follow the Directives of the Lord of the Cross"; "Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me." (Matt. 16:24)
It is with these words that the National Christian Council in Japan (NCCJ) closed out its 39th three-year General Assembly Period (April 2015–March 2018). During this period, the NCCJ's activities were focused th……
by Nishinosono Michiko, chair
Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
The 2018 Missionary Conference was held March 14-16 at Hiroshima Church, with 35 missionaries gathering from sending bodies in various countries and areas, such as the USA, Holland, Canada, Ghana, South Africa, South Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong. The conference began with the opening worship service, held in the sanctuary of Hiro……
by Hironaka Yoshimi, staff
Commission on Ecumenical Ministries
The Conference on World Mission and Evangelism of the World Council of Churches (WCC) was held March 8-13, 2018 in Arusha, Tanzania. The theme was “Moving in the Spirit: Called to Transforming Discipleship.” Among the over 1,000 participants were 10 persons from Japan, including Ms. Nogawa Inori (Kunitachi Church) and Mr. Miura Hiro……
