In the Church Planting series of the Serve Asia Podcast, we’re unpacking what it takes to establish local communities of believers in East Asia.

Our guests are from different backgrounds and serve today in very different contexts, each seeking to make disciples of Jesus. They share how they got involved, the highs and lows of this long-term ministry, and what they’ve learned along the way.

In this episode, host Chris Watts is joined by John, an OMF worker serving in Japan. Continuing the series on church planting, they discuss the importance of establishing groups of followers of Jesus all over the world. John shares his experience in church planting ministry in Sapporo, a city with a population of two million people. He also talks about his love for spending quality time with his family in parks, climbing trees, and telling stories. Tune in to hear more about the impact of church planting and the joy of creating a loving community.

Find out more about John and Izumi Church:

⁠https://johnnewtonwebb.blogspot.com⁠ ⁠https://hiragishiizumi.com⁠

The Church Planting Season

In the Church Planting series, we’re unpacking what it takes to establish local communities of believers in East Asia. Our guests are from different backgrounds and serve today in very different contexts, each seeking to make disciples of Jesus. They share how they got involved, the highs and lows of this long-term ministry, and what they’ve learned along the way.

Get in touch, we love hearing from our listeners:

Follow us on Instagram ⁠@serveasiapodcast⁠

Send us email ⁠uk.podcast@omfmail.com⁠

Timestamps

[00:01:49] Family storytelling in the park.

[00:04:01] Understanding the gospel at a young age.

[00:09:48] Churchlessness in Japan.

[00:13:01] Learning Japanese language and culture.

[00:19:22] Investing in relationships in Japan.

[00:23:32] Christianity involves meeting together as a church.

[00:25:09] The internet and outreach.

[00:29:36] Reimagining the term “church plant.”

[00:34:23] Easter guest services.

[00:37:26] Difficulty reaching younger generations.

[00:41:20] Personal evangelism and outreach.

[00:45:00] Building trust through community involvement.

[00:49:20] Trusting God’s Promises.

[00:52:42] Building relationships through small interactions.

[00:56:05] Perseverance and small acts.

[01:00:37] Being too cautious?

[01:04:44] Short-term opportunities in Japan.