Preparing for the Conference

In last month’s newsletter, we asked for prayer for the conference that Christ Bible Institute’s Joy of Japan Center (JOJC) will host next month on the topic of church revitalization in Japan. The conference planning team has been avidly preparing for the JOJC Conference, which will take place on September 11 and 12—just over two weeks away now! This month, we would like to share a bit more about our plans.

The conference will feature two main speakers: Takanori Oba (below right), Christ Bible Seminary’s very own church history professor and the director of JOJC, and Makito Matsuda (below left), a pastor who has seen revitalization in his own church and has spoken on the topic elsewhere. Breakout sessions will cover several matters related to revitalization, such as the nature of a healthy church, the challenge of pastoral burnout, and the urgent need for discipleship in Japan.

One unique feature of this conference is the group discussion workshops that will follow the main teaching sessions. Conference participants will be divided into groups of six, arranged so that each group includes (as far as possible) a mix of ministry leaders and laypeople, men and women, young and old. The groupings are intended to communicate that revitalization will involve the whole body of Christ—the church—and to elicit everyone’s participation, making sure a variety of perspectives are heard.

Finally, the conference is designed to encourage participants to consider next steps in our respective local churches. While participants come from various church traditions and parts of Japan, we pray that the centrality of the gospel and the foundation of the Word will lead to Christ-honoring relationships and friendships that display the unity of the church.

We pray that productive discussions among participants will lead to a deeper understanding of various issues hindering renewal and to the implementation of biblical solutions that will bear lasting fruit beyond the JOJC Conference. And we pray that the conference will be one more means the Lord uses to bring about renewed commitment among all involved to faithfully endure in our respective communities for the renewal of churches across Japan. Will you pray with us for all these things?

Want to support future efforts like this one? Consider making a special gift toward CBI’s Joy of Japan Center today!

Ways to Pray

• Christ Bible Seminary: Please pray for the students and professors as they begin the fall term in September.
• Joy of Japan Center: Please continue to pray for the church revitalization conference on September 11 and 12.
• CBI Counseling: Please pray as we begin the next round of the STEPS counseling and discipleship program in September.
• CBI Press: Please pray for the Holy Spirit to overcome all obstacles that continue to hinder the release of God’s Grace in Your Suffering.
• CBI Media: Please pray that the content of our September social media series, on suffering, encourages and ministers to our audience.

Phone #: (+81) 052-462-8331
Fax #: (+81) 052-462-8334
cbifriends@cbijapan.org

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Released August 27, 2026. Copyright © 2026 CBI Friends Japan. All rights reserved.