Hikikomori,” a Japanese word, is a condition in which individuals completely shut themselves off from society for at least six months. For example, other than for bathroom breaks, a person with “hikikomori" might remain alone in their (small) room for more than 6 months. Out of a population of 120 million, about 1.5 million people in Japan suffer from “hikikomori."

Suicides among young people climbed to an all-time high in 2022…. Read More…

In the summer of 2025 Dale was given a lead about a Japanese pastor who might be interested in joining our TMC staff. Since then this pastor has preached at TMC half a dozen times. However, on Feb. 6 this pastor regretfully declined the invitation to enter the process of becoming TMC’s part-time Japanese ministries pastor. The reasons were personal. Nevertheless, this pastor is happy to continue periodically preaching at TMC and the couple has been encouraged each time they visit. So we are still seeking a Japanese pastor.

On Feb. 2 Tokyo Multicultural Church, though still a church planting project, was voted into church membership in the Evangelical Free Church of Japan. This new status provides us with some resources, most notably the possibility of other EFCJ churches helping us with recruitment of a Japanese pastor. It also positions us to encourage the historically monocultural EFCJ to consider the value of multiple language congregations in the large cities of Japan that are becoming more culturally diverse.

From https://efcj.org/churchmap:

Izumi Akasaka, Japan Bible Seminary Principal or Academic Dean, where Dale continues to teach, emphasizes ministry faithfulness rather than success when interviewed for an article in CT titled, "Growth Is Good. Survival Is, Too.” (March/April 2025). The article highlights the challenging statistics about Japanese churches and pastors. And it mentions that Japan is known as a “missionary graveyard,” meaning missionary dreams are likely to die in Japan.

The article continues by mentioning a hope that might be sourced in the relatively new Japanese phenomenon of ethnic churches. Diaspora immigrants might have the potential of carrying the gospel forward in Japan—if they can be discipled to understand themselves as witnesses for Jesus. We have understood this since launching Tokyo Multicultural Church in 2013. Dale & Ann look forward to their next meal with Izumi and his wife!

On Dec. 30, Dale submitted TMC’s EFC of Japan (EFCJ) membership application. We at TMC have always been an informal part of the EFCJ, especially the Kanto (greater Tokyo) South District. But this application moves us toward becoming an official EFCJ church. By Jan. 10 the EFCJ Board had approved our application. So during the Feb. 1-3 EFCJ Annual General Meeting, delegates from the approximately 70 EFCJ churches will vote whether to accept TMC as its newest member. Dale will be attending in order to represent TMC, taking two others from TMC with him.

Dale has been told by the chairman of the Tokyo Central City Ministry, a group of 24 EFCJ churches, that once TMC becomes an EFCJ church, they will help us find a Japanese pastor for our Japanese ministries. They might also be able to financially support him. PTL!