In 1968, OMF began church planting in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, the second-largest city in Hokkaido. Sarah is currently working in the city and has consulted Japanese materials to give us insight into the history of OMF’s work in this regional center.
The first church OMF planted was Toyōka Evangelical Christ Church (renamed Asahikawa Megumi [Grace] Christ Church in 1981). OMF missionaries Bill and Sheila Fearnehough began planting this church in 1968 in central Asahikawa. Ayako Miura, a now-famous Christian Japanese author, lived nearby. After learning, in 1971, that the missionaries were looking for a new place to meet, the Miura family decided to donate their old house (where Ayako wrote Freezing Point, her debut novel) to OMF. The Fearnehoughs moved in, using it as a home and church. In 1973, OMF Australian missionaries David and Roslyn Hay took over the work at the church. In April 1980, the church was handed over to a Japanese pastor.
The second church OMF planted is Nagayama Evangelical Christ Church, where I serve. In 1978 OMF sent the Hays to start this church in northern Asahikawa with some members from Megumi Church who lived nearby. They initially met in a rented building, but as the number of church members increased, they prayed for a church building and then saw an ad in the newspaper for a large house for sale. They purchased it in 1985. The church was handed over to a Japanese pastor in 1989.
The third church, Midorigaoka (Green Hill) Evangelical Christ Church, is in south Asahikawa. This was started in 1979 by OMF missionaries Barry and Jan Potter. The missionary work was later taken over by the Greetes, the Schnabels, and Ruth Dueck. In 1998, Ruth was ordained as the church’s first pastor and served for 18 years. Then, in 2016, when Ruth retired, the church invited a Japanese pastor to take over the ministry.
Each of these churches were planted according to God’s plan and providence for all people to be saved. He is still working, even though he is invisible. God wants to work through you too.
Please pray for Midorigaoka and Megumi churches, neither currently have a pastor.
By Sarah K, an OMF missionary
