Speaker Profiles

Dr Michael Young-Suk Oh is Global Executive Director / CEO of the Lausanne Movement. Michael is of Korean descent, born in America. Michael received his BA, MS, and PhD degrees at the University of Pennsylvania. He also completed an MDiv at Trinity Evangelical Divinity School as well as an MA in regional studies, East Asia, at Harvard University.

Michael, his wife Pearl, and their five children served as missionaries in Nagoya, Japan from 2004 to 2016. In January 2004, he founded Christ Bible Institute (CBI). He currently serves as chairman of the board of directors for CBI and chancellor of Christ Bible Seminary.

Michael’s first involvement with the Lausanne Movement was at the 2004 Forum for World Evangelization. Then in 2006 Michael served on the younger leaders planning team for the 2006 Lausanne Younger Leaders Gathering, where he also gave the keynote address. In 2007 he joined the Lausanne Board of Directors as its youngest member. He has served as global executive director / CEO since March 2013.

Born in Nagoya in 1966, now 59 years old. Minoru Aoki was led to church through family problems and was baptized at the age of eleven. Later, his entire family came to faith and was baptized, making theirs a Christian home. After graduating from high school, he worked as a company employee until the age of 35. Around that time, through meeting Dr. Michael Oh, founder of Christ Bible Seminary, he was led to dedicate his life to ministry and resigned from his company. He then entered Tokyo Christian University’s Faculty of Theology. After graduating, he served as church staff and evangelist at Shiga Christ Church of the Presbyterian Church in Japan, later becoming pastor, a role he continues to this day. In addition, he has served as moderator of the Chubu Presbytery of the Presbyterian Church in Japan, board member of the Tokai Evangelical Broadcasting Association, and advisory pastor for Life Hope Network. He lives with his wife and daughter, a family of three.

Originally from Chiba Prefecture, Seima Aoyagi was saved after being invited by a friend to a Hi-B.A. meeting during his second year of high school. He was baptized at Chiba Midoridai Church of the Presbyterian Church in Japan. After actively participating in KGK (Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai) activities during university, he served in university student evangelism for seven years following graduation, encouraged by an invitation from a missionary. He then pursued further studies at Covenant Theological Seminary in St. Louis, Missouri, USA, followed by a church planting internship at Harbor Presbyterian Church in San Diego. In 2009, he was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA). He returned to Japan in 2011 and began church planting in Toyosu, Koto Ward, in 2012. Grace Harbor Church officially launched in April 2015. He joined the Presbyterian Church in Japan in January 2025. Currently residing in Tsukishima, he is a father of four. His hobbies include camping, surfing, and city walking.

After graduating from university, Nozomu Oimatsu worked part-time as a staff member of KGK (Kirisutosha Gakusei Kai) in the Kansai region. He then enrolled at the Bible Training Institute of the Biblical Seminary. After graduation, he returned to serve as a KGK staff member for a total of eight years in the Kansai and Tohoku regions. He later began teaching at Osaka Bible College. He is currently enrolled in the Th.M. program at the Asia Graduate School of Theology Japan.

Takanori Oba graduated from Tokyo Christian University and Christ Bible Seminary. He completed both the master’s and doctoral programs at Nanzan University Graduate School, earning a Ph.D. in Religious Thought. He is currently a professor at Christ Bible Seminary, Director of the Joy of Japan Church Planting and Revitalization Center, a board member of the Chubu Chapter of the Japan Evangelical Theological Society, and a co-representative of YLGen Japan (Lausanne Movement). His published work includes Eirenaeus’ Theology of the Holy Spirit (Yobel, 2022).

Born on November 4, 1975, in Toyohashi City, Aichi Prefecture, Teruaki Kanbe currently resides in Hamamatsu City, Shizuoka Prefecture. After graduating from Jishukan High School in 1994 and earning a degree in Forestry and Environmental Science from the University of Tokyo. In 2000, he began working in Christian ministry. His experience spans individual tutoring schools, free schools, and international schools. In 2014, he became a pastor, actively engaging in community volunteer work, including reading picture books to children and operating a children’s cafeteria. He was appointed as a probation officer in Hamamatsu City in 2016 and later earned his Master of Divinity from Christ Bible Seminary in 2019. His commitment to social service continued with his appointment as a volunteer interview officer at Shizuoka Prison in 2023. In 2025, he became the Director of the 21st Branch of the National Proportional District, House of Councillors. Currently, he serves as an associate pastor at Grace Life Church, a probation officer in Naka Ward, Hamamatsu City, and a volunteer interview officer at Shizuoka Prison. He lives with his wife and three children and enjoys JoJo’s Bizarre Adventure, ice cream, and following Shohei Ohtani.

Born in 1977, Hironobu Furuta was baptized at Living Christ Ichibuku Church (Nagoya) at the age of 11. After studying abroad in high school in Pennsylvania, USA, he graduated from Biola University. Since 2003, he has served as a staff member and interpreter for the missionary organization Thanksgiving, Praise and Worship. After graduating from Tokyo Bible Seminary in 2008, he began ministry at Living Christ Ichibuku Church, becoming its pastor in 2012, a position he holds to this day. His translated works include Lessons from a Hospital Bed by John Piper (Word of Life Press Ministries). He also serves as a chaplain for Voices Of Vision.

A graduate of Kansai Bible College in 2007, Takafumi Nagasawa has launched various youth and worship ministries, with his composed hymns sung worldwide. As a messenger of the Gospel, he travels domestically and internationally, sharing the message across generations. In 2021, he founded River Worship School, an online school for training worship leaders, which now attracts many students from both Japan and abroad. Originally from Hokkaido, he serves as the Senior Pastor of Canaan Praise Church and is the Principal of River Worship School. He is also an Ambassador Artist for World Vision Japan, an international NGO, and a domestic missionary. He lives with his wife and their four children.