In 1987, Japanese church planters invited Mission to the World to send missionaries to help establish a thriving presbytery in Japan.  Since then, there has been an MTW missionary team in the Tokyo metropolitan area.  "The MTW Tokyo team exists to glorify God by praying and working in partnership with the Japanese Church toward a biblical church planting movement" that is "Gospel driven, reformed, covenantal, indigenous, and overflowing to impact all of Japan and the world."

According to Joshua Project, only 4/10 of 1% of the Japanese people are evangelical Christians (compared with 32% of the American population).  Twenty years ago, there were 65 Japanese worshipers in three congregations of the Presbyterian Church in Japan (PCJ). There are now 14 Japanese churches with over 600 worshipers.

Craig and Ree went to Japan as MTW missionaries in 1994.  Since that time, Craig and Ree, along with their children—Daniel, Hannah and Mary—have brought the gospel to Makuhari Bay Town.  In 1996, by the grace of God, Kaihin Makuhari Grace Church was born.

Please pray for:

• God's provision of funds for a building that will be used for education and ministry
• Christian education to effectively disciple a new generation of Japanese Christians. 50% of the few covenant children in Japan forsake the faith.  Ask God to preserve the children of believers and make them fruitful in evangelism.
• Japanese society stresses rule-keeping externals.  Pray for Japanese believers to revel in the freedom of the Gospel and to shine with the joy of Jesus.

Pray for the Coulbournes, asking God:

• To make their marriage an attractive picture of Christ and the Church.
• To protect their family from the enemy of our souls, who would like to destroy their effectiveness.
• To guide Daniel (age 16) as he begins to make post-high school plans. 
• To grant them increased facility in the difficult Japanese language.
• To make their team relationships peaceful and fruitful.
• To give them open doors for the Gospel through their daily relationships and outreach activities (English classes, book discussion groups, college groups, hospitality, etc.)
• To give them wisdom in counseling and discipling Japanese believers.
• To be led by God during a time of transition.

Pray for the Kaihin Makuhari Grace Church, which has grown and matured so much that the Coulbournes will soon move to a new location to begin a new church plant.  Ask God to:

• Equip the Japanese believers in evangelism and church leadership.
• Bring more men to Christ and make them effective in leading their families. 
• Bless our missionaries as they build relationships with 14 non-Christian husbands of church members.
• Raise up elders for the church.