Each Wednesday evening a number of young single Japanese gather to have church in central Tokyo.  God is doing something new and creative in church planting and design in Nakano Baptist Church, a multi-media and multi-congregational church.  Saito Kazumi Sensei (pastor) is committed to creative and innovative worship and discipleship for the members of his four very different congregations.

On any given Wednesday evening, the Nakano Baptist Church sanctuary looks like a television production set with special lighting, multiple TV monitors, and a big screen playing one of the latest American Gospel Music videos.  On stage are drums, electric synthesizers, a piano and an electric guitar.  The young drummer, Masahiro, is a believer who spends the bulk of his time in service to the Lord and his church. 

The sanctuary is warmly lit and adorned with small round tables with candles.  Off to the side are racks offering the latest Christian music CD’s and videos from Japan and the US at subsidized prices.  CD’s of last week’s sermon and other teachings are also offered at very reasonable prices.

Saito Sensei, who plays the guitar and sings, leads a lively worship service.  His wife, playing synthesizer and piano, adds her voice to his.  The songs alternate between translated American music such as “God will make a way…” and Japanese favorites.

As a trial run, Saito Sensei has been using the Japanese-dubbed “Purpose-Driven Life” videos with the Wednesday night congregation.  He first introduces the night’s topic and shares a brief testimony or teaching.  Then he turns on the video.  This is a very daring, different, and completely out of the box approach for ministry in Japan.  This trial run is in preparation to use the Purpose-Driven Life materials in each of Saito Sensei’s four congregations during the forty days leading up to Easter in 2006. As a follow-up to the campaign, the church will begin forming small groups for more effective evangelism, intimate worship, and effective discipleship.

Saito Sensei has designed the Wednesday night service as a relaxed and casual time to allow Japanese young people the opportunity to learn important life truths and to share in the lives of others like them. Most young Japanese have never experienced this type of environment.  

In addition to the Wednesday night service, Saito Sensei also hosts three additional services targeting different segments of Japan’s society. These include a Friday morning “question and answer” seeker service for women with small children, a Sunday morning orthodox, traditional service targeting the elderly, and another Sunday service targeting younger adults with an unplugged acoustic folk style. 

Pray that:

The truths of living a purpose-driven life will take hold in the hearts of the diverse members attending Nakano Baptist Church and will attract them to accept and to follow Jesus Christ as Lord.

Saito Sensei and his wife can share their vision with other ministers to breathe new life into “church” in urban Tokyo.

Masahiro, who is sensing God’s call to ministry, will continue to grow and to find opportunities of service.

Each of the various congregations will become a vital, self-sustaining and multiplying Body of Christ that will be a light to the 33 million people living and working in Tokyo, Japan.

Pacific Rim is a region of the International Mission Board, SBC.