The lady sharing in this picture was saved by a bridge in her local fishing village. She was driving back to her home where her husband’s family has led a fishing business for several generations. As she drove onto the bridge, the tsunami swept away most of her friends, their homes, and their cars. The town was devastated and all she could do is sit there and watch her friends get swept away. 

Her husband, just a few minutes earlier was able to marshal a few people to several boats he owned and fled into the sea before the waves crushed the village. He’s standing in this picture to her right. He was gone for three days at sea and she had no idea where he was or if the tsunami took his life.

They were both saved that day… For a purpose! God had a plan for them and their village.

Pastor Kishinami, who is standing next to her on her left, re-ordered his life in the days and months following the disaster. He took trips every day to many of these fishing towns to take food, supplies, and gasoline to help anyone he could find. He found this couple and in his frequent visits, their daughter became a follower of Jesus.

The daughter begged her parents every night to become a follower of Jesus. Pastor Kishinami admitted that he was far less aggressive. He just served, loved and shared.

The lady followed her daughter not long ago and today hosts meetings with Pastor Kishinami in their home which was high enough to avoid some of the damage from the tsunami. She told us that day that she was waiting on her husband to follow Jesus before she would get baptized. 

The husband later stood up in front of us, telling the story of his 3-day boat ride. He was smoking like mad that day but loved telling the story. He said, “I’m not yet a follower of Christ but I love this pastor. He really cared for me and my family. And, I’m happy to open up my warehouse for meetings like this.” 

Today, there are more than 30 house chapels like this one started by Pastor Kishinami and your prayers and support helped provide for all this to happen.

Thank you for praying, for giving and for caring for the people of Japan. Most of these places had little chance to hear about Christ, let alone have a church in their village. But, today because of God’s favor and your generosity, there are small, developing churches all over the region.

Out of such devastation, God is birthing new life!

Please keep praying for the people of Japan and for families like this one who are taking steps of faith. Pray for pastors like Kishinami (pictured below), a graduate of Asian Access, who are applying the priniciples of what they learned through Asian Access into these pockets and corners of Japan that saw little fruit in years past. Today, God is raising up a whole new harvest and your prayers are vital!

Thank you so much for partnering with us!

Joe Handley

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More Information

• See related story, House chapels started by pastor in disaster zone