Missions Launch

Of Japan’s 127 million people, less than 1 percent claim to be Christians. Missionaries John and Belinda McBade are trying to change this grim statistic. I caught up with John, who now lives in Japan with his wife, Belinda. Here, John shares a part of their story–a tale of planting the seeds of faith and changing lives one day at a time.

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During a short term mission to Japan, previous to our time here now, we were spending the day with our home stay host. He teaches in a Jr. High girl’s school and so he invited us to join them for a field trip to a local sea park. Most of our day was spent with the teachers and staff.

At the end of the day we had a meal with the school staff. The woman sitting across from us asked me, “So, why are you in Japan?” As I began to answer, it seemed suddenly all ears at the table were focused on what we had to say. I explained that we were missionaries and that we were Christians. She was asking me questions about my God.

Then she said, “Would you like to see one of my gods?”

“Sure,” I said. She pulled out a handkerchief and began to unwrap it carefully, producing a small wooden circle that had an ink image stamped upon it. I asked what it was for–their gods are for special purposes.

“This one is for traveling,” she replied.

In reply I said, “I mean no disrespect, but your god is a dead little piece of wood. Here, I can make another god for you just as easily.” I proceeded to draw a little “happy face” on a napkin.

She replied, “Yes, but this one is different. I paid the priest for this one and he has blessed it.”

I answered, “Tell me, if you didn’t have this little piece of wood with you, would you be afraid? Is this why you carry it?”

“Yes,” she answered.

I looked her in the eye and with a calm reassuring look I answered, “My God is alive. He lives inside of me and He is with me always.”

I then sensed my wife tapping me on the knee under the table. She was signaling me she wanted to say something. She began to speak, “You know when I was a little girl, I had so much fear. It seemed I was afraid of all kinds of things: people, traveling and being successful at things. I was always dealing with and trying to overcome my fear, and it was so hard for me. Now God lives inside me and He gives me the assurance that I can do anything He asks me to do, because He gives me hope and strength.”

It was very quiet at the table. Everyone was listening to us with polite and careful intent. Our home stay host was looking at us with a smile that said, “Thanks. You said it when I could not.” We don’t know that anyone received Christ at that table that day but the seed was planted. Someone will water, someone will harvest. The complete work is up to God and the power of His Holy Spirit. We are just asked to be faithful in the part He gives us to do. For my wife and me, this was a very exciting moment that we will never forget. That was when God started the work in our hearts to come to Japan full time.

Photos by bhollar and  x-eyedblonde

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If you would like to learn more about the McBades, and their ministries, visit them on the web at www.mcbade.com or www.gracejapan.com.