Location: Kobe, Japan

Presbytery: Japan

Organization: 1974

Membership: 32 communicant: 2 baptized

Pastor: Charles Leach

Website: marokiwi.net/kasumi

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Kasumigaoka RPC is located in a hilly neighborhood near the west end of Kobe, Japan—just a 20-minute walk from the ocean. Those who attend Bible studies in our second-floor classroom can also enjoy the fascinating view of the ships coming and going in Osaka Bay, of the graceful suspension bridge to Awaji Island, and of some amazing sunsets and cloudscapes.

This congregation began about 57 years ago. Following a period of evangelistic outreach and Sabbath preaching that began in 1960 under Rev. Samuel Boyle, the church was formally organized in 1974.

Jim Pennington served here as a missionary-pastor then and again some years later as a stated supply pastor. The current pastor, Charles Leach, was installed in 2013.

The Lord has sustained the church throughout a number of severe hardships, including damage sustained in the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995, painful experiences of unfaithfulness within the church, and several extended pulpit vacancies. The church building had to be torn down and rebuilt after the earthquake. Thanks to God’s abundant blessing, however, a versatile new building was dedicated in September 2002. Members who have seen this fellowship sustained throughout serious crises over the last 50 years often testify to God’s faithfulness in preserving His church.

Today Kasumigaoka is a friendly and hardworking congregation. Various Bible study groups meet at the church, and members have been faithfully inviting their friends. Adult, junior high, and high school/college Bible study groups and classes meet throughout the week.

These groups bring together a mixture of Christians, seekers, and some who have very little knowledge of Christianity. Many of the groups have an English language study component—often in the form of reading from a bilingual Bible and discussing the language as well as the content. This helps all of us—native speakers of English as well as Japanese—to look closely at the text and think carefully about God’s Word.

We also have a Moms and Tots group that invites mothers to bring young children twice a month to a playgroup. It is intended to help Japanese moms meet Christians and learn fundamentals about Christianity and God’s design for families.

A few times each year we hold Saturday activities for neighborhood children. We are thankful for the freedom to distribute invitations to elementary school kids as they are leaving school. Even though the vast majority of Japanese people view Christianity as foreign and irrelevant, the Japanese society is in some ways much more tolerant of evangelism than America is today. So having kids—and parents—attend the children’s programs gives us a special opportunity to plant seeds for God’s kingdom.

The Kasumigaoka church is an international congregation with members from Japan, Taiwan, Korea, and the U.S. We often have visitors from other countries in our classes and worship services. Once a month we hear a bilingual sermon with member Yusuke Hirata acting as interpreter for Pastor Leach.

Another blessing we enjoy is the number of older members who have been walking in the faith for many years. There are a few families represented by three or four generations. God has certainly blessed the faith of our oldest member, Mrs. Yayoiko Kato (age 110), who sits in church each week with her younger sister, Mrs. Hattori, who is “only 100.” Mrs. Kato’s great grandson, not yet a year old, is our youngest member.

Prayer

• The congregation is eager to see more young people and young families added to the flock. We are praying for God’s blessing in this.

• There are quite a few members whose spouses are not converted. These believers desire to bear faithful witness to a husband or wife who does not yet share their commitment to Christ.

• Please pray for the Lord to raise up new deacons and elders to serve the congregation.