Sue and Eric Takamoto raised their four children in Japan while serving as global workers with A3. For twenty-two years they served as church planters, and during the decade after the 2011 triple disaster they moved to Ishinomaki, one of the areas worst-hit by the tsunami, to be Christ’s hands and feet to the people there. Their family engaged in church planting and relationship building, while Sue started and directed the Nozomi Project, a social enterprise employing local women.
Background Info:
Eric and Sue first met at Fuller Seminary, where Eric graduated with his Master of Divinity and Sue completed her PhD in leadership and intercultural studies. They were married in 1997 and continued moving forward toward their goal of serving overseas. Eric taught for two years at a charter school for troubled teens in southern California while Sue worked in A3's U.S. office in staff development and human resources. Sue is from New Jersey and previously spent 3 years in Japan prior to getting married. Eric is from Hawaii and has done ministry in Brazil with a Japanese congregation.
Current Ministry Assignment:
After 22 years of ministry in Japan, Eric and Sue have recently transitioned to New Jersey, where they continue serving with A3 and loving Japanese people in their region. Sue has been thrilled to start a number of outreaches to Japanese women and their families, including a weekly English bible class. Eric serves on the Japan leadership and member care teams, while focusing on a new role as a chaplain to global workers under the umbrella organization of SIM International.
Previous Ministry Assignments in Japan
Previously, the Takamotos served in Ishinomaki, Japan in one of the hardest hit areas by the Triple Disaster of 3.11.11. They also worked in Sanda, Japan (about 40 minutes from Osaka and Kobe) and serving as Area Leaders in the Kansai Church Planting Network. Before moving to Sanda in July 2004, they spent two years in Sendai, Japan at Sendai L'Abri Bible Church.
Words of wisdom...
Pray expectantly, knowing that God delights in making our paths clear. He will not (usually) unfold the whole plan, but will always give you enough light to make the next step.
When you're in Japan, be sure to...
Go to an outside hotspring!
What we've learned here...
We love to be creative in doing ministry. We’ve used our hobbies (old ones and new ones!) to build relationships – bonsai, cloth-dying, even practical jokes! It's great that God takes who we are and wants to use us to do His work.
Funniest story of life in Japan...
I (Sue) was at a farewell party in a church in Japan after I had spent a summer there. I was giving a farewell speech, being translated for the church by a proficient translator. The pastor and his wife had a darling 5 year old son (I was single at the time). I said in English, "I don't care how many years I have to wait, it's worth it to me if I can marry the Satos' son."
The translator translated. The pastor, his wife, and the congregation, were silent, and slowly turning green. So I repeated the sentence. The translator translated it again, hesitantly, looking at me to clarify. That time I caught what he said in Japanese: "I don't care how many years I have to wait, it's worth it to me if I can marry Sato - san." (San is the Japanese word for "Mr"). Needless to say, we all turned red, and laughed a lot after that!
Wonderful ministry memories
We love loving the Japanese people. There's no greater joy to us. They are warm, and open, and often difficult to understand—but the blessings are way beyond any others that we know.
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