 Challenge Given by God
Currently many Japanese are living abroad for various reasons. These include ongoing studies, business ventures, and international marriages. Under these circumstances God's work of salvation, in the lives of Japanese people, is clearly seen as it extends to many different countries. The Gospel touches these people often while living overseas, and many of them become believers in that foreign country, later returning to Japan. There are also those who became Christians in Japan but are now growing spiritually as they experience life overseas. They can be greatly used after returning to Japan to witness to their families and friends and to spread the Gospel message as they get connected to local churches.But in reality, many of these returnees suffer what is often called "reverse-culture shock" beyond the level they had expected, affecting even their Christian lives, and as a result, regrettably, many Christians depart from their churches within a few years of returning home.
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History
JCFN was established at Urbana, Illinois in December of 1990 during the "Urbana '90", InterVarsity's 16th Mission Convention. Because JCFN began at Urbana, the original name was 'Urbana-kai' ('kai' in Japanese means fellowship). Approximately 30 students had gathered during that time and felt the need to continually encourage each other while living abroad and sensed the need for care once they returned to their homeland. Since that time, JCFN has grown to over 1600 members and well over half of them now reside in Japan.
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Mission statement
"To glorify God, we equip multi-cultural Japanese Christians for the expansion of God's work."
North America Mission Statement
We make Japanese** in North America to be Christ's disciples, then equip and send them to Japan and beyond.
Keywords: Evangelize→Equip→Connect→Commission
*"Japanese" indicates those who speak Japanese and grew up in Japanese culture, not bound only by citizenship or race.
Japan Mission Statement
In order to equip and encourage returnee Christians, we support churches, ministries, and individuals who receive them.
Keywords: Connect→Encourage→Equip→Expand
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4C
"Equipped Christians" have these 4Cs.
1. Calling: Responding to God’s calling
Wherever they are sent to (family, market place, Japan or outside of Japan), they have assurance of God's salvation (having identity as God's children), and respond to God's calling to His ministries.
"As a prisoner for the Lord (identity), then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received. (Responding to the call) (Eph. 4:1)
2. Character: Transforming to Christ likeness
They are transformed daily to Christ (goal) likeness (following Christ; choosing what Christ would choose) and have Christ characters.
"And we all, who with unveiled faces contemplate the Lord's glory, are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord, who is the Spirit." (2 Corinthians 3:18)
To this you were called, because Christ suffered for you, leaving you an example that you should follow in his steps. (1 Peter 2:21)
3. Community: Building up the community, family of God
Daily, they receive God's unconditional love, love God and one another in the body of Christ, and to remain in the fellowship of God's family.
"not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Hebrew 10:25)
Jesus replied: "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.' This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.' (Matthew 22:37-39)
4. Commission: Equipping as disciple makers wherever they are
Those of us who are called to be Christ's disciples are commissioned to equip His disciples who raise up His disciples.
Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28:19-20)
And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable people who will also be qualified to teach others. (2 Timothy 2:2)
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Vision
"JCFN's vision is to see the worldwide movement of the multiplication of Jesus' disciples in Japan and beyond through multi-cultural Japanese Christians and friends.
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Summary of Activities
We encourage Japanese Christians who come to know Christ while livingoverseasso they are able to glorify God by using what they have gainedfrom their experiences to grow spiritually. Depending on their individualneeds, we help them to find fellowships and give them opportunities to bediscipled in Japanese while outside of Japan. When they return, we help themget in touch with churches and find former returnees who can follow them upwith fellowship and discipleship.To achieve this goal, we are expanding ournetwork with individuals, churches and various organizations with a burdento assist returnees. We send out newsletters that contain testimonies, prayer requests, Bible verses and information about places and times of Japanese fellowship groups. We refer returnees to churches whether they are Christians or not. In addition, we contact Christians who can follow them up personally. We also give information to Japanese who are moving overseas. We work together with other organizations and offer fellowship and Bible study through returnee conferences, the Equipper conference and retreats aimed at preparing them to go back or assist those who have already returned. We publish a prayer newsletter also, and pray for the work of JCFN: for those who are following up returnees, for the ministries reaching Japanese overseas and for the revival of Japan and the world!
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Core Values
1. Obedience to God
In everything we do, we do so to glorify the Lord and have prayers and the Word as our foundation for our ministries, seeking always Biblical discernment and trusting the Holy Spirit's work.
2Timothy 3:16 All Scripture is God-breathed and is useful for teaching, rebuking, correcting and training in righteousness,
2. Equipping the next generation
Our mission of equipping next generation Christians who would raise up Christ's disciples are included in any of our ministries and activities.
2Timothy 2:2 And the things you have heard me say in the presence of many witnesses entrust to reliable men who will also be qualified to teach others.
3. Keeping Returnees Perspectives
In any situations, we will serve Christians and non-Christians as advocates for returnees, our target people group, without losing their perspectives.
1 Corinthians 9:22 to the weak I became as weak, that I might win the weak. I have become all things to all men, that I might by all means save some.
4. Diversity in unity and open communication
We rejoice in keeping the unity in the Spirit (not uniformity), all having different spiritual gifts, accepting each other as he/she is, building up the body of Christ, and working and serving each other as in a team (as co-laborers). Therefore, we value open and faithful communication.
1 Corinthians 12:27 Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.
5. Kingdom Mentality
We believe that it is important and we encourage that each person to find his/her gift and calling to use them for the Lord and also to build partnership with local churches, Christian organizations and believers intentionally to work together.
Matthew 6:33 "But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you.
6. Risk Taking (it is easier to ask forgiveness than permission)
Depending on God's leading, the form or strategy of ministry must be flexible and open to change according to current trends and needs. Therefore, we move forward with spontaneity and the conviction that we will not be shaken by taking risks.
Luke 5:38 "But new wine must be put into new wineskins, and both are preserved.
7.FUN
We believe that enjoying the fellowship with the Lord, with staffs and volunteers who work with you, and with returnees and their friends, and also the ministries themselves is the obvious proof of loving, serving, encouraging each other.
Psalm 133:1 Behold, how good and how pleasant it isFor brethren to dwell together in unity!
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Doctrinal Statement
The doctrinal statement of JCFN is in agreement with the basic tenets of the historical evangelical Christian faith and it provides for a unity of belief among all members.
- We believe that all sixty-six books of the Old and New Testaments are the Word of God, which in their original form are perfect. They are our sole text for life and faith.
- We believe that there is only one true God, revealed in three persons: the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. We believe that He is the Almighty, Sovereign Creator of everything.
- We believe that Jesus Christ, testified to in the Scriptures, is true God and true man. We believe that He was born of a virgin, died as an atoning sacrifice for our sins, was resurrected from the dead, and is seated on the right hand of God the Father. He will come again, filled with glory, to judge all people and consummate the Kingdom of God.
- We believe that all human beings are sinful by nature and can be saved from sin only by the redemption of Jesus Christ.
- We believe that salvation is only by God's grace through faith. We believe that sinners can be renewed and purified, and that their salvation is made complete through the Holy Spirit.
- We believe that all who are saved are a part of Christ's body, the church, and are one in Christ.
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