Weekend 2: Church

So, we went to our first church in Japan on Sunday.  After the game Saturday night, we were glad the service started at noon.  We chose to attend a church a few train stops away - a $20 train fare for all of us (this is just a piece of information, I'm not complaining). 

Upon our arrival we were greeted and welcomed by a lot of people (when I say a lot, I mean like just about every person in the 50+ person service).  Everyone was very nice and extremely welcoming.  It was a bilingual service (Japanese/English) which I thought was very, very neat.  Singing praise songs in English and Japanese, listening to a message in both languages - it was nice and, surprisingly, not difficult.  Jim and I were the oldest people in the room.  Very different from our experience in Missouri when everyone knew we were the "new people" because we were the youngest people there...haha!  What a difference nine years and the other side of the world makes!!

The pastor was from Australia and his wife (a native of Japan that grew up in Australia) are here as part of an effort to introduce Christianity to Japan.  There are several branches of this Christian Church throughout Japan and it is growing.  It was inspiring to be in a room of new believers, excited for Jesus.

From wikipedia:  Christianity in Japan is among the nation's minority religions; reports of adherent differ, ranging from around one percent to six percent of the population claiming Christian belief or affiliation.  Nearly all traditional denominations of Christianity, including Roman Catholicism, Protestantism and Orthodox Christianity, are represented in Japan today.  A recent poll conduct by the Gallup organization found Christianity to be the fastest growing religion among Japanese youth.

While we had a pleasant time at this church, Jim and I are not sure this is the place to make a church home for our family this summer...we are in such a different place in our faith. We were impressed by the excitement everyone had in this church and overjoyed that the effort to bring Christianity to Japan is going well for this non-denominational Christian church.  For me, it's an interesting perspective to be in a place that being a Christian is a minority belief - especially a place where the people are kind, polite and would do anything for anyone even if it means going out of their way - right at this moment.  To me, the two things always kind of were connected.  And yet, they are not.

So...we are not done looking for a church, but that happens any new place you live.  We have a couple more churches we found online to possibly visit.  But, what I've realized this week is that anywhere we go to church here is going to be an experience where the church is supported by churches from other parts of the world and led by missionaries having been sent here to spread the knowledge, understanding and love of Christ to a nation who just doesn't hold these beliefs in their heart...yet.  A very different view from the pew in the United States.  And, an eye-opening perspective to actually participate in (rather than just hear about). 

As we continue looking for a place that calls to our hearts this summer, please join with us and pray that we find that place soon, because the sooner we find it the longer we can be part of it before we come home.