When I was an infant, my family migrated to the United States, where we lived until I was ten years old, after which I returned to Japan. Having grown up in the West, it was hard enough having to adjust to the conservative Japanese culture. What made my return more difficult was that I arrived in Japan at the tender age of ten, the product of a broken family. My parents divorced after our return to our homeland.
So there I was, an emotionally unstable young girl, looking for acceptance, approval, and a home. I needed love, and wanted nothing more than for my family to be whole again.
Then came that fateful day in junior high, when the school nurse invited me to attend a worship service at
Yokohama Grace Bible Church (YGBC). Though it was just my first time to attend, I felt loved and welcomed. I knew in my heart that I found a new family, a spiritual family who would stand with me through the difficult season I was going through.
I had a life-changing encounter with Jesus, who I accepted as my Lord and Savior.
As a young Christian, I began to grow in my faith, though it wasn’t easy. Since my mother was a devout Buddhist, I faced strong persecution. However, instead of getting discouraged and spiritually weak, my faith grew even stronger. Instead of being resentful and indifferent towards my family, I continued to love them, and persevered in praying for their salvation.
God was faithful to keep His promise of salvation, not just for my immediate family, but for my entire household.
After years of praying and sharing the love of Jesus to my family, I started to see His hand moving in their lives. God was faithful to keep His promise of salvation, not just for my immediate family, but for my entire household.
My mom, who used to fiercely persecute me, got radically saved during a counseling session at
YGBC. My younger brother, who was dealing with depression at the time, met Jesus at his point of need and began to walk closely with Him. My grandparents, who initially came just to watch me sing (as part of the worship team), also received Jesus as their Lord and Savior and learned about the real meaning of worship. The mission of leading my entire family to receive Jesus’ free gift of salvation was being accomplished one loved-one at a time.
Then, God did amazing things in the life of my father, an arrogant Japanese businessman who spent years cultivating his business and not his children. My dad came to know Jesus shortly after watching The Passion of The Christ with
Morning Star New York pastor, Ron Lewis. Not long afterward, God led him to apologize to my mom. After a heartbreaking divorce, the process of forgiving was difficult and rigorous. But God was behind all of it and He was faithful to carry my parents through. A timely opportunity in the form of a new job assignment allowed my dad to return to Japan and work towards the restoration of his relationship with my mom. God honored my dad’s act of obedience and brought my parents back together. They now serve as leaders of single professionals in our current church,
Grace Tokyo.
My testimony is living proof that He can use anyone, regardless of background, social status, and skill to accomplish big things for Him and His people.
What once was just a dream is now a reality: I rejoice in the answered prayer of my whole family being discipled and serving Jesus together.
Looking back, I am amazed by how God used me, a broken and insecure teenager to lead my entire family into having a personal relationship with Him. Aside from displaying God’s faithfulness to His promise of salvation, my testimony is living proof that He can use anyone, regardless of background, social status, and skill to accomplish big things for Him and His people.
“Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household.”
Acts 16:31
Ask God for divine favor and smooth processing of the visas of our long-term church workers and their families.
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