Aloha, I’m Christian: Why I Serve the Next Generation in Japan
Aloha e Ohana, I’m Christian.
If you’re new here, welcome. This is the best place to start.
Whether you found me through a friend, a camp, a conference, or a search for missionaries in Japan, I want to share who I am, why I’m here, and what I believe God is doing among the next generation.
I’m a missionary in Tokyo, originally from Hawaii, as well as a photographer and filmmaker. I serve with New Hope Tokyo and its young adults ministry, Collective, discipling and equipping young people to become the next generation of pastors and leaders in Japan’s church.
I also helped launch UNITE, a monthly gathering that brings together more than 250 young people, and I serve at New Hope Japan Youth Camp. Much of my ministry happens through creativity: media, worship, storytelling, and events that help young people encounter Jesus.
Why I Moved to Japan
From 2017 to 2022, I first participated, then co-led mission teams from Hawaii to Japan. Those trips gave me a front-row seat to both the joy and the need within the Japanese church.
I met faithful pastors who had served for decades. I saw small churches doing everything they could to share the Gospel and care for their communities. But I also saw that there were too few young leaders preparing to carry that work forward.
When I saw that reality firsthand, God called me to respond. So I moved from Hawaii to Tokyo.
For six years, my answer to Japan was no. Here’s how God changed it: Why I Moved to Japan: The Prayer That Changed My No to Yes
Japan’s church is facing a critical moment:
About 70% of pastors in Japan are over the age of 65.
Only about 1% of the country identifies as Christian.
The average church has around 30 people.
Japan needs thousands of young pastors and ministry leaders to carry the Gospel forward.
By 2030, many pastors and leaders are expected to retire. Without younger leaders ready to step in, churches could close and communities could lose their local Gospel witness.
But I don’t see only a crisis. I also see a historic opportunity.
God is moving among young people in Japan. Many are hungry for community, purpose, and a faith that is real. My calling is to walk alongside them as they discover who Jesus is and who He has created them to become.
Raising Leaders Who Raise Leaders
My personal goal is to disciple 100 leaders who will each go on to raise 100 more.
The way I think about this is simple: leaders are discovered, developed, and deployed.
We help young people discover their calling. We walk with them as they grow in faith, character, and leadership. Then we send them out to serve, disciple others, and build what God has placed in their hearts.
I saw a glimpse of this at youth camp.
After leading our media team, I eventually handed its leadership to the next generation. They didn’t simply repeat what we had done before. They made it their own and carried it forward.
That is the goal. I don’t want to create people who depend on me. I want to help raise leaders who multiply.
What My Ministry Looks Like
My work falls into five connected areas:
Evangelism: Reaching young adults with the Gospel through creative outreach.
Discipleship: Walking with young believers as they grow in faith and learn to lead others.
Community: Creating places of belonging through gatherings, meals, fellowship, and an open ministry home.
Creativity: Using media, worship, and storytelling to communicate the Gospel to Gen Z.
Partnership: Helping churches in Japan and around the world work together to strengthen the Japanese church.
In the 90 days leading up to September 2026, content I helped create for UNITE’s Instagram, @unite_japan, received more than 1.5 million views. Behind every view is a person, and another opportunity to help someone discover Christian community and encounter Jesus.
When Love Speaks Across Languages
At New Hope Japan Youth Camp, there were two boys in my cabin who I believed were not Christians.
They didn’t speak much English, and my Japanese was (and still is) a work in progress. Communication was not exactly smooth.
Throughout the week, I prayed that I wouldn’t need perfect Japanese or the perfect words. I simply wanted the students to feel loved, feel safe, and have space to encounter Jesus.
On the final day of camp, one of those boys decided to receive Jesus.
God had already been working in his heart long before I knew what to say. That experience reminded me that ministry is not about having a flawless presentation. It is about showing up faithfully, loving people well, and trusting God with what we cannot do ourselves.
A Generation Worshiping Together
In September 2026, the UNITE Conference sold out after receiving more than 1,200 applications.
Then a typhoon hit. Fifteen train lines closed, highways shut down, and getting around the Tokyo area became incredibly difficult.
Around 800 young people still came.
I served as the conference’s creative director, and watching people continue to walk through those doors is something I will never forget. A generation gathered, not around a personality or a brand, but around Jesus.
Creativity as Ministry
Before becoming a missionary, I was (and still am) a photographer and filmmaker.
My photographs on Unsplash have received more than 9 million views and 63,000 downloads. They have appeared in publications, universities, sports organizations, and websites around the world.
One of my favorite examples is a tennis photograph used by David Platt’s ministry, Radical, for an article about using sports to share the Gospel.
I don’t share those numbers to brag. They remind me that God wastes nothing.
The creativity I once used primarily behind a camera has become part of how I reach young people in Japan. Photography, filmmaking, design, worship, and storytelling can all become tools that point people toward Jesus.
A Few Things You Should Know About Me
My name creates a lot of confusion at church in Japan. The Japanese word kurisuchan can mean both “Christian” and “a Christian.” When I introduce myself by saying, “Christian desu,” visitors sometimes respond, “Oh, I’m not.”
It’s a surprisingly good conversation starter.
A few other facts:
My most popular photographs are tennis photos, but I don’t actually play tennis.
I’m a JR Chuo-Sobu and Toei Mita Line person.
I’m a big fan of Manchiken, a duck ramen shop in Kinshicho.
Ikura nigiri is basically the popping boba of the sea.
I grew up in Hawaii, which is why I still open my emails with “Aloha e Ohana.”
I would do almost anything for Trader Joe’s, Reese’s Peanut Butter Cups, or li hing mui gummies from Hawaii.
How You Can Be Part of the Story
You don’t have to move to Japan to take part in what God is doing here.
Pray. Pray for young leaders to rise up, for friends who don’t yet know Jesus to keep coming back, and for greater unity among churches in Japan.
Stay connected. Join my newsletter for stories, ministry updates, and prayer requests from Japan.
Come, or send a team. If your church is considering a mission trip to Japan, begin with Partnership Over Projects. I would love to help you think about a trip that strengthens the local church and contributes to long-term ministry.
Partner financially. Monthly and one-time gifts are tax-deductible through EquipNet, and 100% goes directly to ministry in Japan.
If you would like to learn more about serving in Japan, these resources are a good place to begin:
Thank you for reading, praying, and caring about Japan. I’m really glad you’re here.
Mahalo,
Christian Tenguan
Frequently asked questions
Who is Christian Tenguan?
Christian Tenguan is a missionary in Tokyo, Japan, originally from Hawaii. He disciples and equips young adults to become the next generation of pastors and leaders in Japan’s church, through evangelism, discipleship, community, creativity, and partnership.
What church does Christian serve with?
Christian serves as a missionary in Tokyo with New Hope Tokyo and its young adults ministry, Collective. He helped launch UNITE, a monthly young adult gathering of more than 250 young people, and serves at New Hope Japan Youth Camp.
Is giving to Christian’s ministry tax-deductible?
Yes. Gifts are tax-deductible through EquipNet, and 100% of donations go directly to ministry in Japan. You can give monthly or make a one-time gift on the Giving page.
Can my church send a mission team to Japan?
Yes. Christian helps churches think through short-term mission trips to Japan with a focus on long-term partnership with local churches. His guides cover partnership, preparation, costs, and timing.
How can I pray for Japan?
Pray for young leaders to rise up in Japan’s church, for young people who don’t yet know Jesus to keep coming back and asking questions, and for unity among churches across Japan.
Christian Tenguan is a missionary and creative ministry leader in Tokyo, serving Japan’s next generation through evangelism, discipleship, community, and leadership development.
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