PROFILE
Dale & Ann began serving in EFC church planting, mission leadership and theological education in Japan in 1984. After 20 years with EFC America (ReachGlobal) and another 21 years with EFC Canada (ServeBeyond), they are now serving from within Christar Canada’s “Safe Landing Zone.”
Tokyo Multicultural Church
Dale & Ann launched TMC in 2013, their third church planting project in Japan. They now oversee TMC’s international church planting team from 6 countries on a part-time basis, mostly remotely from Maine but in-person when in Tokyo three times a year.
Dale oversees TMC by leading Leadership Team meetings monthly and Members’ Meetings three times a year. He encourages the younger pastors/missionaries handling most pastoral responsibilities by meeting with them both virtually and in-person. And he recruits new staff. Ann meets with and encourages members and attenders, especially when in Japan but also remotely. Dale & Ann raise funds that can be accessed as necessary for establishing and growing TMC. Their goal is to turn over all aspects of TMC leadership.
Theological Education
For 23 years through Dec 2024, Dale was adjunct faculty at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo where he lectured part-time in systematic theology (in Japanese). As a result he hopes to publish a book in Japanese on Contemporary Theology.
He is also working on a book about Church Planting Theology based on his academic papers, articles, and one seminary class on thinking theologically about church planting.
Dale & Ann launched TMC in 2013, their third church planting project in Japan. They now oversee TMC’s international church planting team from 6 countries on a part-time basis, mostly remotely from Maine but in-person when in Tokyo three times a year.
Dale oversees TMC by leading Leadership Team meetings monthly and Members’ Meetings three times a year. He encourages the younger pastors/missionaries handling most pastoral responsibilities by meeting with them both virtually and in-person. And he recruits new staff. Ann meets with and encourages members and attenders, especially when in Japan but also remotely. Dale & Ann raise funds that can be accessed as necessary for establishing and growing TMC. Their goal is to turn over all aspects of TMC leadership.
Theological Education
For 23 years through Dec 2024, Dale was adjunct faculty at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo where he lectured part-time in systematic theology (in Japanese). As a result he hopes to publish a book in Japanese on Contemporary Theology.
He is also working on a book about Church Planting Theology based on his academic papers, articles, and one seminary class on thinking theologically about church planting.
PURPOSE
The purpose of Dale and Ann’s 41 years of ministry based mostly in Japan is to model and encourage BOTH the vision for making disciples of Jesus Christ through compassionate church planting AND the development of evangelical theology from which that vision rises.
Church Planting
Jesus Christ commanded his followers to make disciples. Paul obeyed by proclaiming the gospel of Christ, founding churches, and then nurturing those churches. Church planting lies at the heart of God's mission.
Jesus Christ commanded his followers to make disciples. Paul obeyed by proclaiming the gospel of Christ, founding churches, and then nurturing those churches. Church planting lies at the heart of God's mission.
Theological Education
God’s mission as it unfolds in the New Testament has a significant ecclesial component. Therefore thinking theologically about church planting has great potential for encouraging and equipping church planters.
God’s mission as it unfolds in the New Testament has a significant ecclesial component. Therefore thinking theologically about church planting has great potential for encouraging and equipping church planters.
