“I will rebuild David’s fallen tent.”
The current state of missions in Japan remains challenging. Christians make up less than 1% of the population, and there are fewer than 10,000 churches—including Catholic congregations—serving over 120 million people.
According to data from the 2016 Japan Missionary Conference, 81% of Protestant churches in Japan had fewer than 50 members, and 75% of pastors were over the age of 60. In early March 2025, Christianity Today held an online forum with several pastors in Japan, highlighting how foreign residents are playing a key role in the growth of Japanese churches.
Pastor Yoshinaga Kouki, 44, who ministers in Sapporo, shared that with over 3 million foreigners currently living in Japan, his church has grown significantly through outreach to people from the Philippines, Vietnam, Nepal, and China.
Pastor Boie Alinsod, president of the Japan Council of Philippine Churches (JCPC), came to Japan in 1998. Over 26 years of ministry to Filipinos in Tokyo, his church has expanded into 24 active cell groups.
Lam Wai Chan, a Singaporean pastor serving in Tokyo and former foreign correspondent, said his church more than doubled in size since he began leading it in 2019, growing from 20 members. He attributed this growth to focusing on prayer for those facing emotional and spiritual needs.
Takashi Fukuda, Asia-Pacific director of Wycliffe International, noted that about 20% of foreign residents in Japan identify as Christian. He emphasized that they could be a significant breakthrough for the growth and renewal of the Japanese church. (Source: Gospel Prayer Newspaper)
After this I will return and rebuild David’s fallen tent. Its ruins I will rebuild, and I will restore it, that the rest of mankind may seek the Lord, even all the Gentiles who bear my name, says the Lord, who does these things. (Acts 15:16-17,NIV)
God, we praise Your zeal in growing the church in Japan through foreign residents, though the land has long been sown with the gospel and has borne little fruit. As foreigners and local ministers unite to serve, may they deeply encounter the power of Jesus Christ and grow in love for the Lord. Just as You made our corrupt hearts into a holy temple through the cross, rebuild Japan’s broken tent through them by the gospel, so this nation may be called Your people.
Prayer 24·365
prayer@prayer24365.org
