Leap of Shame

"I tell you the truth, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life and will not be condemned; he has crossed over from death to life.” John 5:24 NIV

Millions ride the commuter trains of Tokyo every day. IMB career missionary, Mark Busby, notes a spiritual heaviness in the train passengers. This heaviness is also evident in the climbing suicide rate in Tokyo.

 "In other large Japanese cities like Kobe or Osaka people will smile and talk to each other on the train,” said Mark. “In Tokyo people stare off into space with a completely blank expression, like they are a million miles away. Tokyo people always look hurried and tired.”

One day Mark waited an hour on the train platform because of a delay. It turned out that a man had committed suicide by jumping onto the train tracks. Mark learned from a Japanese friend that the family of the jumper will be financially liable for the lost income caused by the suicide. It could easily mount to tens of thousands of dollars for every minute the train is delayed.

“I could see how that would deter people from jumping onto the train tracks,” said Mark.

“Oh no,” said the friend. “The people who jump on the tracks do it because it will cost their family so much money and bring them shame. It is a way of getting revenge.”

The people of Tokyo need something more than wealth or position to give meaning to life. There are 26 Pacific Rim personnel who have launched new ministries in 2005 to reach the 33 million unchurched people of Tokyo with the hope that is found in Jesus.

“Jesus can fill the void in the hearts of the Japanese living in Tokyo,” said Mark. “We need to share the gospel so Japanese men and women can make a leap of faith that leads to life instead of a leap of shame that ends in death.”

Pray that:

God will call short-term volunteers and long-term workers, especially Japanese believers to share the gospel in Tokyo.

The Holy Spirit will lift the veil of spiritual heaviness and prepare the hearts of Japanese people in Tokyo to receive the gospel.

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