Bring a Team to Japan

Short-term mission trips that strengthen the local church long after your team flies home.

Start a conversation: email me about your trip

 

Why Japan, why now

About 1% of Japan is Christian, most churches are small, and nearly half of Japan's pastors were over 70 as of 2017. Churches here need partners who will stand with them over years, not just visit once. At the same time, young people in Japan are hungry for community and faith. UNITE, a monthly gathering I helped launch, now draws more than 250 young people.

 

How I can help your church

I led mission teams from Hawaii to Japan from 2017 to 2022. Now I live in Tokyo and serve on the receiving side with New Hope Tokyo, New Hope Japan Youth and UNITE. I've seen what helps local churches, and what makes things harder.

• Talk through your idea: who you want to bring, when, and what your church hopes for

• Plan around local goals: build your trip around what the host church is already doing

• Prepare your team: culture, testimonies, working through translation, and photo guidelines

• Stay connected after: plan follow-up and a return visit before you leave

 

What teams do

It depends on your host church, but teams have helped at youth camp, supported events and worship, led games and activities, hosted culture nights and English conversation, and simply built friendships. At New Hope Japan Youth Camp this summer, 94 students came, including 10 who were not Christians.

 

A partnership that grew

Nexus Church in Brisbane started by helping set up youth camp. The next year they were leading small groups and supporting worship. By year three it felt like family: leaders visited each other's homes in Japan and Australia and kept in touch between trips. That's what we mean by partnership over projects.

 

Is Japan a fit for your team?

• Your church is ready to invest in a relationship, not just one trip.

• Your team is teachable and willing to follow local leaders.

• You'll measure success by faithfulness, not numbers.

• You can start planning 6 to 12 months ahead.

 

What it costs

A simple, well-planned 10-day trip from Hawaii often lands around ¥240,000 to ¥400,000 ($1,500 to $2,500) per person, including airfare, lodging, food and local transportation. Flights from the mainland add more. Every trip is different, so treat this as a starting point.

 

Trip guides

• Partnership Over Projects

• How to Prepare for a Short-Term Mission Trip to Japan

• Serving Japanese Churches Well: 10 Do's and Don'ts

• How Much Does a Mission Trip to Japan Cost?

• When Is the Best Time for a Mission Trip to Japan?

• Do You Need to Speak Japanese?

• Is Japan a Good First Mission Trip for a Youth Group?

 

Start a conversation

Tell me about your church, who you'd like to bring, rough dates, and what you're hoping for. I'll get back to you within a week.

Email me about a mission trip

 

Not ready to come yet?

• Pray: get prayer requests and stories from Japan. Join the newsletter

• Give: help raise young leaders for Japan's church. Become a partner

• Invite me to speak: bring Japan's story to your church. See speaking topics