The Joy of Japan Center for Church Planting and Development (JOJC) in Nagoya, Japan, is a ministry of Christ Bible Institute (CBI). CBI, founded in 2005, exists to equip Christians in Japan for gospel ministry and seeks to help the church multiply and thrive for Japan and for the world. CBI’s primary ministry is Christ Bible Seminary (CBS), a school which provides theological education to train leaders in the church and other Christians for gospel ministry.
In addition to the education provided by the seminary, the leaders at CBI saw the need for a new kind of training center specifically focused on strategic training and resources for church planting and revitalization in the Japanese context. Thus, in July 2018, CBI launched the Joy of Japan Center for Church Planting and Development (JOJC).
In addition to its focus on planting new churches in Japan, JOJC also focuses on reviving older, historic, struggling churches for a renewed outlook for gospel ministry in their city. By providing additional training, the Center hopes to encourage such pastors to become revitalizers.
The name of JOJC, “Joy of Japan,” is dedicated to the Pals family, who were committed to serving as missionaries with CBI before the entire family was killed in a car accident on their way to missionary training on July 31, 2016. The Joy of Japan Center seeks to honor this family and steward their story well.
