Golden Week 2025 Mission Trip
For a week in May a team of four gave their days to long conversations — three church retreats, from a beach in Iwai to the foot of Mt. Takao, and a set of English classes at Yokosuka Christian School. The aim was less to run events than to ask the kind of questions that make a person stop and examine what they actually believe, and then to stay in the room for the answer.
What happened on the ground.
Christ Center Church Retreat in Iwai
Our team led the game time for the children during the retreat, running two games so that the pastor had an uninterrupted stretch to bring the gospel to the adults.
Tokyo Shibuya Fukuin Church Retreat in Sawai
During the campfire, Irou broke down and said that he wants to be a Christian — that after two years of going to church Christianity makes sense to him — but that he is scared of what it would mean for his life, and that he does not feel good enough to be one. Members of our team stayed with him and helped him work through what he was afraid of.
Meeting with Alex Du
Alex told us the story of how he came from China to Japan and became a Christian. He has since been baptized, and having returned to China he is spreading the gospel there now.
Keeping relationships and planting seeds with Isaac & Ariel
Isaac and his girlfriend Ariel, who are not Christians, agreed to come along to the church retreat in Sawai. Members of our team were able to walk them through what Christians believe, and to address the misconceptions about Christianity they had picked up along the way.
Encouraging local Christians
During small group time at the Sawai retreat we shared prayer requests, and Jessica, who is a missionary, spoke about her health issues. Our team had the opportunity to pray for her and to encourage her to trust God, especially in times of uncertainty.
“I want to be Christian, but I'm scared!”
The photographs are still being gathered.
Photos from Golden Week 2025 Mission Trip are being prepared for sharing. A curated selection and the full archive will be posted here for team members, sending churches, and partners.