Faculty & Staff

Matt Newkirk

Matt Newkirk holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Reformed Theological Seminary, a PhD in Old Testament from Wheaton College, and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in 2011. Prior to CBS he taught Hebrew and Old Testament at Reformed Theological Seminary in Orlando and Queensland Theological College in Brisbane, Australia. He is the author of Just Deceivers: An Exploration of the Motif of Deception in the Books of Samuel and Fill the Earth: The Creation Mandate and the Church’s Call to Missions. He and his wife, Caroline, have five children.

Craig Chapin

Born in Washington, D.C., Craig Chapin did editorial work there until his arrival in Japan in 1987. He has served in Japan as a missionary, educator, and pastor. Since 2007 he has taught New Testament and served as academic dean at CBS. He also filled in as interim president for several years. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Linguistics and English from Brown University and a Master of Divinity in Mission from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (TEDS).

Richard Brash

Richard is from Edinburgh, Scotland. He is a graduate of The University of Cambridge, International Christian College, Japan Bible Seminary, and Westminster Theological Seminary. He holds a Ph.D. in Systematic Theology from The University of Edinburgh. After five years of ministry in Oxford, England, and ordination in his hometown of Edinburgh, Richard joined the faculty of CBS in July 2020. He is the author of A Christian’s Pocket Guide to How God Preserved the Bible (2019) and Knowing Me, Knowing God: Six Theological Keys to Scripture (2021). He and his wife, Yuko, have a son and a daughter.

Takanori Oba

Takanori Oba was the first graduate of Christ Bible Seminary. From there he earned an MA and PhD in Religious Thought from Nanzan University with a specialization in patristics. He is a teaching elder in the Presbyterian Church of Japan, having served as pastor of Kita Yokkaichi Christ Church from 2009–2019. In addition to his role at CBS, Dr. Oba is the director of the Chubu Division of the Japan Evangelical Theological Society and lectures part-time at Nanzan University. He is the author of Irenaeus’ Pneumatology: Interpretation of the Trinity and Theosis in the Second Century (Yobel, 2022).

Damon Cha

Damon Cha was ordained in the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in 2007. He holds a Masters of Divinity (MDiv) from Westminster Seminary California (WSC) and a PhD in Old Testament from Fuller Theological Seminary. He was sent to Japan as a missionary from Redeemer Presbyterian Church in Los Angeles. He and his wife, Young-Mi, have two children, Aliya and Mikayla.

Mark Jeong

Mark earned an M.Div. at Westminster Seminary and a doctorate in New Testament at Duke University. He is a resident with the Christ Bible Institute team in Nagoya where he serves as a lecturer in New Testament with Christ Bible Seminary.

Brett Rayl

Brett Rayl holds a Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Reformed Theological Seminary and is a doctoral student in Religion and Theology at the Free University of Amsterdam. He has been teaching systematic and practical theology at CBS since 2012. He and his wife, Taylor, have three children.

Gary Watanabe

Gary Watanabe received his Master of Arts in Religion (MAR) and Master of Divinity (MDiv) from Westminster Theological Seminary in California, and was ordained by the Presbyterian Church in America (PCA) in 1986. He has served as an urban church planting missionary in Mexico, Philippines, New York, and Japan. He previously served as Director of the Joy of Japan Center for Church Planting and Revitalization at CBI. He and his wife Lois have three children and five grandchildren.

Seima Aoyagi

B.A., Sophia University
M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary
Th.M., Covenant Theological Seminary

Pastor of Grace Harbor Church, Presbyterian Church of Japan

Brooks Cain

B.A., Covenant College
M.Div., Covenant Theological Seminary

Missionary, Mission to the World (NEXT)

Kenji Hayashi

B.A., Nanzan University
M.A. in Economics, Chukyo University
M.A. in Commerce, Chukyo University
Graduate, Christ Bible Seminary

Pastor of Nagoya Christian Cell Church

Takeshi Kodama

B.A., Columbia Bible College
M.A.R., Westminster Theological Seminary
Th.M., Westminster Theological Seminary
Ph.D., University of Wales

Pastor of Katano Christ Church, Presbyterian Church of Japan

Yutaro Masuda

Graduated from Gifu Prefectural Gifu Senior High School
Bachelor of Architecture, College of Art and Design, Musashino Art University
Bachelor of Arts (Photography), College of Art, Nihon University

Photographer, Hakuhodo Products Inc., Photo Creative Division (2007–2010)

Tokyo Biblical Seminary (2011–2014)
Completed the three-year course in the regular program

Pastor, Ai Hope Church, Japan Alliance Christ Church (2014–present)

Rich McLaughlin

BA, University of Notre Dame
MA, Biblical Studies, Moody Theological Seminary
PhD, Educational Studies, Talbot Theological Seminary

Akihisa Miyoshi

BA, Business and Commerce, Kei University
MDiv, Evangelism, Trinity International University
MA, Evangelism, Trinity International University
PhD, Intercultural Studies, Trinity International University

Nozomu Oimatsu

B.A., Kansai University
Graduate, Japan Bible Seminary

Lecturer, Osaka Bible Institute
Staff, Sakai Ohama Christ Church

Sumito Sakai

B.A., Kansai University
Graduate, Kobe Reformed Theological Seminary
M.Div., Reformed Presbyterian Theological Seminary (USA)

Pastor of Higashisuma Church, Reformed Presbyterian Church in Japan

Takeo Shimizu

B.A., Japan Christian College
M.Div., Westminster Theological Seminary
Th.M., Westminster Theological Seminary

Pastor of Tamagawa Josui Christ Church, Japan Presbyterian Church

Tim St. John

Tim St. John (MDiv, ThM, Levels 1-3 CCEF certificates) serves as the counseling pastor at Lighthouse Community Church in Torrance, CA. He’s a member of the Biblical Counseling Coalition Leadership Council and is the mental health issues editor at the Sola Network. Tim’s passion is to see the grace of gospel-centered counseling grow and thrive in local churches.

Paul Kang

Paul Kang is a graduate of Christ Bible Seminary. He was ordained by KAICAM, an independent organization in Korea. At CBS he serves as Interpreter and Academic Assistant. He and his wife Yu have two children.

Etsuko Maeda

After graduating from a junior college in the US, Etsuko Maeda worked for a Japanese company. She then worked as an administrative assistant at a Christian international school for a number of years. She is currently the head of administration for CBS.