Vision Festa Church Planting Movement
I’ve been inspired by pastors in Japan this past week. 70 or more gathered in Northern Japan for a movement called Vision Festa. It’s a movement of people with a passion for church planting and I’m eager to share their stories… Those will come later though.
For now, why is church planting so important? When so many people are down on the local church these days, why would I believe church planting is so important and why are these leaders coalescing around this fresh vision?
Missiologist Peter Wagner once said,
“Planting new churches is the most effective evangelistic methodology known under heaven.”
Pastor Tim Keller picked up on this theme as well. Check out his post on the same subject, Why Church Planting?
Reasons Church Planting is an Effective Strategy for Evangelism
Everywhere I have gone, I’ve seen these truths displayed as well. Church planting is one of the most effective means of seeing people come to know Christ. A few reasons why:
- It puts people on the ground next to their neighbors rather than surrounded by believers all the time.
- There is a hunger at the beginning of a new church plant to grow the fellowship and see new people come join.
- There’s a fresh expression that tends to relate more practically to people.
- New followers tend to be the most effective evangelists.
- There’s very little Christian jargon which can lose people quickly because of some kind of secret code, insider language that nobody understands.
- It distributes us more effectively into our neighborhoods and communities.
Japan Needs Many More Churches
As I look at Japan today, the need is enormous. Despite the great work that has been done in this country by faithful laborers, the task that remains is daunting. Just look at these charts!
Percent of Japan with No Churches
Percent of Church Attenders per Prefecture
Number of Churchless Villages and Towns
These charts are striking!
Fortunately, things are moving in the right direction. God has not forgotten Japan. The Lord is embedding new vision and calling new church planters for the task ahead. Soon, I’ll be posting stories of the fresh vision God is birthing in Japan. It’s exciting and you can be a part of it.
I’ll be sharing more in the coming days, but for now, will you:
- Pray to the Lord of the harvest to send more workers!
- Pray for more fellowships: house churches, small groups, church plants of all shapes and sizes to be started!
- Send funds to see a fresh move of the Spirit in Japan!
- And, consider coming… Join us in this exciting new season for Japan… Learn more at go2japan...
Japan needs YOU—to pray, to support, to come and serve!
With great hope for Japan!
Joe Handley
@jwhandley
More Information
- Ralph Moore: Your Church as a Church Planting Network
