—Supporting “Support Groups for Those in Need”—
Every year the Kyodan Committee on Social Concerns supports social welfare organizations related to each district. COVID-19 gave us a new perspective, and we consulted about what to do in the new situation facing all the districts and churches as they tried to cope with this pandemic. As restrictions due to the pandemic greatly affected economic a……
Memorandum of Understanding, Japan-North America Mission Forum 2007
In response to the commitment made to one another at the final meeting of JNAC in January 2005, we, the representatives of churches in Japan and North America, held the Japan-North America Mission Forum under the theme of “Mission in Japan – Perspectives on Cooperation in Mission,” from March 27 to 29, 2007 at Aoyama Gakuin Unive……
The Life and Faith of Dr. Nakamura Tetsu
by Numa Shinji, Cooperating Pastor
Futsukaichi Eiko Christ Church
Peshawar-Society director
I first met Dr. Nakamura Tetsu during my college days, while he was a middle school student at Seinan Gakuin. Charlie Fenner, the missionary serving at Kashii Church (now Kasumigaoka Baptist Church), took six or seven middle school students, including Nakamura Te……
With Gratitude to the United Church of Canada and the Kyodan
by Rob Witmer, principal Theological Seminary for Rural Mission
In March of 2021, the Theological Seminary for Rural Mission received support from the United Church of Canada through the Kyodan. This support did not come directly from Canada but from funding that the United Church of Canada holds in the Interboard Shadan in Japan. The……
A Christmas Message
by Kondo Makoto, pastor
Sendai Kita Church, Tohoku District
Two months ago, at the church board meeting of Sendai Kita Church where I am serving, we talked about how to celebrate Christmas this year. Usually we invited people in our neighboring area to hold a Christmas service together. However, due to the spread of the Covid 19 virus, we had to suspend various meetings and ……
Ai no Izumi’s Legacy of Creative Social Work
in Saitama Prefecture
by Hanae Ushioda, president
Social Welfare Corporation Ai no Izumi
The history of the Social Welfare Corporation Ai no Izumi (Fountain of Love) began in autumn 1945. Gertrud Elizabeth Kuecklich, a missionary from Germany, was sent to Japan through the Evangelical Association and worked as a missionary teacher before and during……
Executive Council Sets Date of 2022 General Assembly
—Kato Makoto, executive secretary
Four Executive Council meetings were held, including two special meetings, since the last KNL issue of December 2020. So this report omits details of the 12-14th meetings of the 41st General Assembly Period and covers only two main issues discussed there, which were on the agenda of the 42nd General Assembly o……
Ainu Scholarships to Benefit from The United Church of Canada’s Support
by Miura Tadao, manager of Ainu Peoples Resource Center
Secretariat of Christian Cooperative Commission on Ainu Scholarships
The Christian Cooperative Commission on Ainu Scholarships has received precious, loving support from the United Church of Canada. It will be used for scholarships and also for the exchange program of ……
From the General Secretary's Desk
How Kyodan Churches are Handling the Covid-19 Pandemic
—Akiyama Toru, general secretary
The Kyodan’s 2020 Annual Report tells how Kyodan churches have been struggling because of the Covid-19 Pandemic.
As the pandemic deepened, many countries declared lockdowns and other severe restrictions. Thus churches faced a time of trial. The Japanese Government declared ……
Ecumenical Groups Meet Unique Challenges of Tokyo Olympic Games
by Kato Makoto, executive director Multi-Faith Center of Tokyo 2020
In December 2019, the Japanese Olympic Committee (JOC) and the Japanese Paralympic Committee (JPC) requested the Metropolitan Association of Religious Organizations, of which Yoshimura Masanori was chief director, to undertake management of the Multi-Faith Center of……
