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Asian Access Missionary Behind Bars
TOKYO, JAPAN
"I find myself spending more and more time behind bars. That is to say, I've had several opportunities to assist in ministry inside the oppressively dark, most heavily guarded prison in Japan. In December, I was privileged to be a part of the baptism of the third inmate from this prison. Mr. K. was baptized as a testimony of his faith. Words cannot express the joy I felt seeing this man changed and hearing his testimony of how meeting Jesus has changed his heart and life." 210 of the 800 men attended the Christmas service conducted by Davis' church. About 40 men raised their hands to accept Christ. The church hopes to plant a church in this prison, and 40 men are studying the Bible each month.
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Background Info:
Greg and Lori Davis have served as missionaries in Japan with Asian Access (formerly known as LIFE Ministries) since 1987. While on home assignments in America, Greg completed a Bachelor's Degree in General Ministries from Columbia International University (CIU) in 1994 and a Master's Degree in Missions and Intercultural Studies from Wheaton College in 2004.
Lori received a Bachelor's Degree in Elementary and Special Education at Bowling Green State University in 1985, and a Master's Degree in Human Resource Development from Azusa Pacific University in 1996.
Greg and Lori felt God calling them into missions after a short trip to Taiwan and Japan to visit the family of an exchange student in 1986. God moved in many ways to confirm their calling and open the doors for their departure in September of 1987. They worked in Japan as short term missionaries until November of 1992, when they applied for career service and returned to America for Greg to complete his educational requirements. Early in 1994, after Greg completed his degree at CIU, they returned to Japan as career missionaries, to study Japanese.
During their years of ministry, they have been involved in evangelism and church planting. Greg and Lori have been involved in teaching English as a means of evangelism, evangelistic Bible studies, and short term missionary training and several church planting projects.
Greg and Lori have three children who were born in Japan, and Matthew and Steven speak Japanese fluently. Matthew attended Japanese schools for seven years (K-5), and Steven for four years (K-1). They are currently home schooling. Matthew, Steven and Elisa are an integral part of the ministry that takes place in their home.
Ministry Assignment:
Greg and Lori are currently working in partnership with Pastor Yoji Nakamura of Kumamoto Harvest Church in Kumamoto City, Japan to help establish a new church in the city. In addition to their church planting project with Pastor Nakamura, they are helping to begin a network of pastors on the island of Kyushu that will plant additional churches. The Davis family arrived back in Kyushu in July 2004 to begin ministry and preparations for the Kyushu Church Planting Network. The first phase of the Kyushu Church Planting Network began in May of 2005 and will conclude in 2008. By 2008 Greg and Lori hope to begin more networks in at least three different regions in the Kuyshu area.
They are currently teaching English as a means of evangelism, leading Bible studies and Alpha Courses, discipling young Japanese believers, mentoring Church Planting Associates, and encouraging and supporting a team of church planting pastors. They are seeking more pastors in the area who desire to join in additional Church Planting Networks and waiting for Church Planting Associates to complete preparations and arrive from North America.
Words of Wisdom...
If you sense God is calling you into missionary service and you are involved in ministry at home already go on a short term trip (or some short term trips) and see if God confirms that calling. If you are not involved in ministry at home get involved in ministry and see where God leads you from there.
When you're in Japan, be sure to...
"Watch what you're doing." If you watch the Japanese people and do what they do, and at the same time don't do what they don't do (with the exception of religious things of course), you should be able to learn the culture and adjust to life in Japan. As you learn what is culturally acceptable and what is not acceptable you can go back to being yourself, tempered by the culture, not burned by it and without making surging waves and steam. In other words, "learn to be culturally sensitive." When we are sensitive to them they will be sensitive to us and that opens doors for the gospel.
Funniest story of life in Japan...
Our life is full of funny stories. One of the best goes back to our first months in Japan. We went to a restaurant for dinner. We should have been used to not getting what we expected. We could barely read the Japanese alphabets and we couldn't read any kanji characters. We were so happy for the window display of foods available on the menu, but we could not read the names of the sets available. I carefully studied the characters of the meal I wanted, ran to the table and found it on the menu. When the waitress came I pointed to the menu and in my best Japanese (ha, ha, ha) said," I'll have this one." My wife pridefully picked out a meal that was written in Hiragana (one of the alphabets we were learning to read). She pointed and said proudly, "I'll have the curry." She was not at all concerned with the little kanji characters at the end of her meal's name.
A few minutes later, possibly for the first time, I got the meal that was exactly what I thought I ordered. Then came Lori's meal. The waitress brought out Lori's set and the meaning of those little characters at the end of that curry set became clear. Lori's meal was served on a cute little Mickey Mouse plate. She had an ice cream cone upside down in a little Micky bowl, a wooden toy, and a little Mickey spoon. She was humiliated. She was mad the waitress didn't at least bring a "real" spoon. She was so mad she said, "I'm not going to eat it." My insensitive response at that time was, "Stop crying Lori. You're acting like a child." This is one of many experiences under stress in Japan that we have to look back at and laugh. I guess because of this experience and many others you could say we have become fools for Christ (I Cor. 4:10).
We want to network with these people!
If you have led a Japanese person to Christ and can share with us the circumstances and methods we would love to hear from you. We would love to share more about what we are doing and our experiences in sharing if it would help you.
Wonderful ministry memories...
We enjoy working, playing, camping side by side with Japanese Christians. Of course, as missionaries we find there is no greater joy than seening lives changed by the power of God and the gospel. We have been blessed to witness the confessions and baptisms of friends who have studied with us. We have seen some go into full time ministry. There is nothing that can be more meaningful for us than seeing lives changed by the power of God.
How is God blessing your life and ministry?
God has continued to bless us with prayer support, financial support, physical and emotional suport from home (in the form of letters and care packages). Our faith has been challenged over and over and has stood the test: we see God blessing us as we remain faithful to Him and the call He has placed on our lives. God is blessing our relationships and we have seem many people give their lives to Christ. Most of our friends and aquaintances have opened up to the gospel message. Many of our friends have difficulty taking the first steps of faith, but we continue to believe that God will make the seeds planted in them grow, as we are faithful.
Contact information is in the left sidebar.
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