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The Road to Japan

My calling

My journey to Japan began after several years of praying to God to have my passions and talents used in a greater and bigger way than I could possibly imagine. I was then introduced to the Perspectives on the World Christian Movement course, which dramatically changed my life and challenged me to pursue the task of glorifying God in Japan. Thus, though I had been a Christian my whole life, this is how my passion for making God known was born.

Japan
I've had a passion for Japan since my teenage years, where my junior and senior years of high school I was compelled to learn Japanese on my own due to the beauty of Chinese characters (kanji) and my desire to learn how to read and write them. Once in college, I continued my study of Japanese by enrolling in courses my sophomore and junior years. Sophomore year, I hosted Japanese students as part of an exchange program. The following year I lived in Japan for five months on an overseas studies program, which was a great experience of living with a homestay family and working at a Japanese company, which were great real-life studies on the complexity of Japanese culture. My interest continues to this day through Japanese friends, continuing to study Japanese on my own, and reading about Japanese culture.

Technology
I've always had a passion for technology and the internet. In high school I made a website for myself and taught myself basic programming. I earned my B.S. in computer science in 2001 from Stanford University, and since then have worked at Symantec, Palm, and Apple. I maintain my own web site and enjoy keeping abreast of the latest technology news and trends.

The Vision
God has given me a vision that combines all three of these passions: Making God known, Japan, and Technology. I serve in Japan as a long-term missionary with WorldVenture with the goal of reaching the Japanese with the gospel message through internet and mobile phone outreach. I have served in Japan since August 1, 2008, and God willing, plan to serve for many years more.

The need

About 54 million Japanese use the internet daily at home or work, and about 54 million use their mobile phones daily for email, SMS, web browsing, blogging, and even writing novels! Imagine what might happen if the Christian community plugged into these massively popular mediums? That possibility is the motivation for this vision. I'm praying that God will open up doors and ways for the knowledge of Himself to reach the Japanese people, using the internet and mobile phones as the initial catalyst.

The work

  • Meeting with Japanese pastors and ministry leaders, explaining the motivation and potential for using the web and mobile to reach a new generation, then training them how to create and maintain their own content, such as blogs, photos, calendars, and audio and video of sermons
  • Allowing each church or ministry to have a mobile phone formatted version of it's website
  • Creating a Christian mobile phone portal that includes content from Japanese lay Christians and pastors, tailored towards non-Christian Japanese. It will be interactive, so users can ask questions and have them answered by Japanese Christians. The portal will contain such information as: Is there a God?, What is God like? Can a person be both Japanese and Christian?, and will include forums, videos, and blogs
  • Engaging American Christian tech professionals who will volunteer their skills to make Christian apps for the Japanese market
  • Building relationships, showing the love of Christ in everyday situations, adjusting and re-working the vision as experience leads, learning Japanese, and all other lessons yet unknown that God has planned!

All of that sounds technical, but the goal is simple: to reach thousands of Japanese with the good news!

Details and experience

  • I've been serving in Japan since August 1, 2008.
  • I'll be living in central Tokyo, close to my church, and close to the not-yet-believers I am working with.
  • God willing, I will be serving in Japan for many years to come

How to Partner

I hope you will pray about being a part of this effort to reach Japan. I also hope that you will pray for this vision and for myself as I prepare to go.

If you feel called to partner with me financially, you may do so the following ways (all funds go directly to WorldVenture, and are 100% tax-deductible):

Internet (via WorldVenture website)

Mail

  • Mail a check, payable to WorldVenture, to the following address:

    • WorldVenture
    1501 W. Mineral Ave
    Littleton, CO 80120

    To make sure the funds are designated to me, please attach a separate note with the check, with my name on it and include the designitation GIBBS-119.