Called to Japan: Life, Faith, and Church Planting in Tokyo

Devotional

Day 1: When a Stern Face Finally Smiles

The story of bowed heads and daily greetings to a guarded neighbor reveals the slow work of love. For weeks, intentional kindness met silent resistance until one morning’s breakthrough: a smile cracking through cultural walls. This mirrors the patient persistence God calls us to in sowing seeds of connection, even when results seem distant. Faithfulness in small acts—like a routine “good morning”—can soften hearts hardened by isolation or tradition. [15:45]

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” (Galatians 6:9, NIV)

Reflection: Where has discouragement tempted you to withdraw from consistent kindness? What “small greeting” might God be asking you to keep offering this week?

Day 2: Washing Machines and the Presence That Anchors

Life in a foreign land amplifies mundane struggles—decoding appliance buttons, missing familiar foods, aching for home. Yet Psalm 23’s “you are with me” transforms daily disorientation into holy ground. God’s nearness turns frustration into trust, isolation into intimacy. The challenge isn’t to escape the valley but to recognize the Shepherd walking through it with you. [21:16]

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” (Psalm 23:4, NIV)

Reflection: What current “washing machine moment” feels overwhelming? How might acknowledging God’s presence shift your perspective today?

Day 3: When Calling Outlasts the Honeymoon

A 16-year journey from initial burden to active mission proves true calling isn’t fleeting excitement but enduring conviction. Like a marriage weathering seasons, divine purpose deepens through waiting, testing, and timing. Japan’s pull persisted beyond novelty, revealing the difference between spiritual tourism and lifelong surrender. [24:13]

“Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I. Send me!’” (Isaiah 6:8, NIV)

Reflection: What initial prompt from God have you wrestled with over years? How has it matured beyond first emotions into steadfast obedience?

Day 4: Bowing Low to Reach High

Cultural barriers in Japan—like valuing social harmony over vulnerability—mirror our own walls against gospel disruption. The missionaries’ repeated bows modeled Christ’s downward mobility: humbling oneself to lift others. True connection starts not with demanding entry but kneeling at the door. [15:22]

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” (Romans 12:18, NIV)

Reflection: Where are you tempted to force spiritual conversations rather than earn trust through humble presence?

Day 5: Trading Scissors for Surrender

Natasha releasing her hairdressing career—a 15-year identity—exposes the cost of obedience. Sacrifice isn’t romantic when it means releasing tangible security for unseen fruit. Yet empty hands become vessels for greater filling. Every calling demands leaving to receive, dying to bear life. [04:25]

“Then Jesus said to his disciples, ‘Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will find it.’” (Matthew 16:24-25, NIV)

Reflection: What “scissors”—familiar comforts or achievements—is God asking you to lay down to grasp His greater purpose?

Sermon Summary

Psalm 23 sets the center with a simple line, “for you are with me,” and that line carries the weight of calling, sacrifice, and daily grit in Tokyo. God’s presence, not ideal circumstances, makes the difference. The Shepherd does not promise ease, but he does promise himself. That reality steadies hearts in the highs and the lows, in fruit that surprises and in days that feel like two hours spent just to run a washing machine.

The call to mission distinguishes impulse from vocation. A holiday urges, “I want to go,” but a calling says, “I have to go back,” and it stands the test of time. From 2011 to today, the summons to Japan did not fade. God’s timing, not tidy life planning, rules the calendar of obedience. There is rarely a perfect time. There is a faithful God who speaks and keeps speaking.

Japan’s spiritual landscape tells a sobering story. Buddhism and Shinto shape families and rituals so that life can look like this: born Shinto, marry Christian because it is trendy, die Buddhist to return as something else. The city hums with material comfort and social harmony, yet a nation without the joy of knowing a Father and a Provider sits under a quiet ache. The contrast is sharp: beautiful order, deep spiritual lack.

Patience becomes a holy practice where social harmony keeps neighbors distant. Love keeps showing up. Bow after bow, “good morning” after “good morning,” and one day a long stern face lifts into a smile. That small turn is a door the Lord can widen. Seedtime comes before harvest, and the Shepherd is not in a hurry.

Church life grows when ordinary service gets organized for grace. A small grassroots congregation becomes a body with hands and feet when media, counseling, youth, and kids ministries take root. The Shepherd equips saints with the right tools for the pasture they are in, and even a media team can become a staff and rod that comfort a church. In a land of earthquakes, language gaps, and constant change, the table God sets among his people is steady and nourishing.

Key Takeaways

1. God’s presence changes everything God does not remove valleys, he fills them with himself. The line “for you are with me” redefines success and survival, shifting the focus from outcomes to communion. Courage rises when the Shepherd is near, even if nothing else improves right away. Proximity to him becomes the path through both fear and fruit. [21:16]
2. A calling that endures time Vocation proves itself by staying power. Desires flare and fade, but a true call keeps returning until obedience has a name and an address. God’s timing rarely matches convenience, yet faithfulness grows inside waiting that refuses to cool. The long ache becomes direction, not drift. [23:54]
3. Patient love in hard soil Where culture prizes distance, love lowers its expectations but not its effort. Small gestures repeated over months can carry more gospel weight than a single grand moment. A neighbor’s first smile is not everything, but it is not nothing either. God delights to work through slow hospitality. [15:45]
4. Build the church with skill Care is spiritual, but it is also practical. Media, counseling, youth, and kids work are not extras, they are shepherding tools fitted to the flock God has given. Thoughtful structure becomes a trellis for living branches to grow on. Form serves life when love drives the craft. [13:43]
5. See the nation without scorn Clear eyes name idols without contempt. Buddhism and Shinto tell a story that feels coherent, yet leaves a person without a Shepherd who knows their name. Compassion looks long enough to grieve, then speaks of a better hope with gentle courage. Truth without tenderness hardens the soil it hopes to break. [09:31]

Youtube Chapters

[00:00] - Welcome
[02:57] - Reintroduction and context
[03:33] - Serving a small church
[04:04] - Gospel need in Japan
[04:25] - Leaving jobs to go
[04:43] - Why Japan and first call
[09:31] - Buddhism and Shinto explained
[10:24] - Materialism and culture
[11:09] - Language and daily challenges
[12:59] - Earthquakes and resilience
[13:43] - Building teams that grow
[14:48] - Praying for a neighbor
[20:06] - Psalm 23: You are with me
[23:54] - Testing a calling over time
[24:36] - Trusting God’s timing

Bible Study Guide

Bible Reading
Psalm 23 (ESV)
1 The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.
2 He makes me lie down in green pastures.
He leads me beside still waters.
3 He restores my soul.
He leads me in paths of righteousness for his name’s sake.
4 Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil, for you are with me;
your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
5 You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies;
you anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
6 Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life,
and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.

Observation questions

According to Psalm 23:4, what is the reason the psalmist does not fear evil? How does this connect to the idea that "God’s presence changes everything" in the sermon summary?
The sermon mentions that "small gestures repeated over months" can carry gospel weight. What specific example was given of this patient love in action? [15:45]
In the sermon, how did the media team serve as a "staff and rod" (Psalm 23:4) for the church? What practical ministries were developed? [13:43]
What contrast does the sermon highlight between Japan’s "beautiful order" and its spiritual reality? How does this relate to the idea of "see[ing] the nation without scorn"?

Interpretation questions

Why might the psalmist emphasize God’s presence ("for you are with me") rather than the removal of difficult circumstances? How does this redefine success in ministry or daily life?
The sermon states, "A calling says, 'I have to go back,' and it stands the test of time." How does enduring desire over years distinguish a true calling from a temporary impulse? [23:54]
In a culture that values social harmony and distance, why might "bow after bow, 'good morning' after 'good morning'" be a meaningful expression of love? What does this reveal about God’s approach to hard soil? [15:45]
How do organized ministries like media teams or counseling services reflect the Shepherd’s care described in Psalm 23? Why are practical skills important for spiritual growth in a community?

Application questions

Where in your life do you need to shift your focus from wanting ideal circumstances to relying on God’s presence? What practical step could you take this week to remind yourself, "for you are with me"?
Has there been a desire or burden in your life that has persisted over years? How might you discern whether it is a calling from God or a fleeting impulse? [23:54]
Think of a relationship where progress feels slow. What small, consistent gesture of love (e.g., a greeting, prayer, or act of service) could you commit to for the next month?
The sermon highlights ministries like media teams and kids’ programs as tools for shepherding. What ordinary skill or passion do you have that could be organized to serve others in your community?
How can you cultivate "clear eyes" to see cultural or spiritual needs around you without judgment? Is there a specific group or person God is calling you to grieve for and engage with compassion?
In what area of your life do you need to trust that "the Shepherd is not in a hurry"? How might patience in that area deepen your dependence on God’s timing?

Sermon Clips

53s

#GodIsWithUs

“``In Psalms 23 when he says, for you are with me. We've just seen that, you know, that that you, the Lord, when when he said that you are for you are with me because you are with me. That's when everything changes. That's what matters. And in the lows, in the valleys, it's him. It's his presence that changes things. It changes our outlook. It gives us comfort. And in the highs as well, it's it's the fact that God has been with us in these stories that, again, we that's the only reason why we can't see through because his presence is with us. And so I encourage you all as well, you know, hold on to that same thing. It's that God is with us.”

51s

#KeepShowingUp

“In Japanese culture, it's actually very difficult to, I'd say I'd say, in integrate as a foreigner, but also interact with your neighbors because everyone can be like, you know, let's keep to ourselves. Harmony or social harmony is very important. And so what we did do was pray, Lord, would you open a door? And every morning, we'd walk past and we'd bow and say, good morning in Japanese. And every morning, he would just give us this really stern face of just like, I don't want us to speak to you. And even even even so, we just kept going, kept going every morning. And then eventually, one morning, he did just smile. He just stood up, smiled at us.”

44s

#SmallActsOfFaith

“an elderly gentleman just smile at us as one of our neighbors. We walk down this same road every day to get to the church, and it's to the train station. He has an allotment next to his house. In Japanese culture, it's actually very difficult to, I'd say I'd say, in integrate as a foreigner, but also interact with your neighbors because everyone can be like, you know, let's keep to ourselves. Harmony or social harmony is very important. And so what we did do was pray, Lord, would you open a door?”

46s

#ExpatLifeJapan

“We've had a lot of highs and lows since we've been in Japan. Yes. One of them has been, you know, we miss the local food or we miss our friends and family. We miss all the things that we know. It's difficult to understand the language. To operate a washing machine takes two hours. You know, just the simple things, but and and and even in the in the joys of seeing some fruit, even though we didn't think we would see some fruit right, you know, in these past two years. In Psalms 23 when he says, for you are with me.”

47s

#ChurchFamily

“So the at the very front is the pastor. To the your right is his wife, lady Jackie. And, yeah, just developing the media team has really helped the church grow. It was by a little bit. And now they're privileged family. So, like, we love seeing, you know, the body of Christ come together for the glory of God. I mean, another small story is seeing an elderly gentleman just smile at us as one of our neighbors. We walk down this same road every day to get to the church, and it's to the train station. He has an allotment next to his house.”

Ask a question about this sermon

Living Springs Community Church This sermon · AI assistant

How can God’s presence sustain missionaries in valleys

What distinguishes a calling from a temporary desire

How to witness in predominantly Buddhist and Shinto contexts

Called to Japan: Life, Faith, and Church Planting in Tokyo

Devotional

Day 1: When a Stern Face Finally Smiles

Day 2: Washing Machines and the Presence That Anchors

Day 3: When Calling Outlasts the Honeymoon

Day 4: Bowing Low to Reach High

Day 5: Trading Scissors for Surrender

Sermon Summary

Key Takeaways

Youtube Chapters

Bible Study Guide

Sermon Clips

Called to Japan: Life, Faith, and Church Planting in Tokyo

Share