Osaka Team Closes Ministry Center to Launch Church Plant

After three fruitful years, our team in Osaka, Japan has decided not to renew the lease for their ministry center, “Ibasho,” whose name means “Place where you belong.”  

Through Ibasho, God opened countless doors for our team to meet people in their neighborhood and share the Good News. The space hosted Bible studies, classes introducing Christianity to those unfamiliar with the faith, mom’s groups, and a small group connected with Mustard Seed Church, where the team attends. 

“Many people heard the gospel verbally from us, but also saw the gospel relationally through us and the greater Christian community,” says our worker, Matt. “One of our nonbelieving friends who often attended events there told us, ‘This place really is my Ibasho.’” 

We praise God for all He accomplished through the ministry center. But as one chapter comes to a close, He is leading the team into an exciting new one: planting a church. 

About a year and a half ago, Matt was meeting with his friend Yuma, an associate pastor at Mustard Seed Church, for a casual coffee and time to catch up when Yuma shared something that had been on his heart. “I’ve felt called to plant a new church for a while,” Yuma said, “and you and Mai are the ideal people that I would want to do that with.” 

What Yuma may not have realized was that Matt and Mai had spent years praying that God would provide Japanese believers to partner with them in planting a church. Not only was Yuma’s invitation a remarkable answer to prayer, but the two families were already close friends. “We’ve been good friends with them for the past eight years and share the same core theological convictions,” Matt says. 

The Osaka team’s newest addition, Allana, will also be a core member of the church planting team, while Randy and Susan will serve the church planting team in shepherding and mentoring roles. 

Both Encompass and the Mustard Seed Network have given their blessing to the partnership, and Mustard Seed Church plans to officially send the team out as church planters in 2027. In the months leading up to that launch, Yuma will gradually be released from some of his current responsibilities so the team can begin preparing and planning together. 

We praise God for the many lives touched through Ibasho and for the relationships and opportunities that grew there. Please join us in thanking Him for all He has done—and praying that He will use this new partnership with Yuma and Sally to establish a thriving church and reach even more people in Osaka with the gospel.