Jesus.net Japan launches Outreach to Bring Hope to Nations Hurting

Dec. 14, 2011 - PRLog -- TOKYO – Jesus.net, a global alliance of Internet ministries that operates Christian evangelistic websites in more than 20 languages worldwide, launched its online ministry effort in Japan here this weekend with its special Hope for Living (HopeForLiving.net) web site.

The effort, Jesus.net Japan, aims to reach out to the millions of people still hurting physically, emotionally and spiritually in the wake of the March 11 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear plant accident with a message of hope. Working in partnership with Campus Crusade for Christ (ccci.org) and CRASH Japan (crashjapan.com), they plan to support local churches in the affected areas of northern Japan.

“The disasters last spring and the continuing economic upheaval here have people wondering what life is about, more than ever before,” says Yukio Konishi, coordinator for Jesus.net Japan. “But most of them have no Christian friends or family to help them answer these key questions. According to Google Analytics, about 25 percent of Google searches are on topics about the supernatural or about the big questions about life and the future – and the word ‘God’ is typed into Google more than 50 million times a month!

“We want to give people an opportunity to get answers and hope where they are – on the Internet – and connect them with other Japanese who have found the longings of their hearts in Jesus.”

HopeForLiving.net introduces visitors to survivors of earlier quakes or other traumatic experiences. Their stories illustrate how they have been strengthened by faith in God or how they got to know Jesus in the midst of their turmoil. The site also contains prayers and words of hope to encourage those who are afraid, tired, lonely or going through difficult times.

In the coming weeks and months, Jesus.net Japan will roll out sites to complement HopeForLiving.net: a Japanese version the KnowingGod.net site to introduce inquiring users to the Gospel and the “Why Jesus?” online course that will help connect seekers with Japanese Christians.

Jesus.net Japan aims to work with local churches by connecting them with seekers through its Hope For Living outreach. Part of that work entails training e-coaches who will assist those who are seeking answers online to life’s questions. Jesus.net already has begun training Japanese Christians as e-coaches who will support seekers as mentors and resources, and is looking for more.

As the one-year anniversary of the quake approaches next spring, Jesus.net Japan is planning more ways to reach out to the Japanese people, including a special series of Hope For Living stories from the stricken region.
 

“HopeforLiving.net offers the Japanese people an opportunity to find light in the darkness of difficult times,” said Andy Game, Jesus.net director. “We’re here for them, to listen to their questions and address the issues and situations they face. Being available online and taking the time to hear them out, these things really matter to people.”
    
Jesus.net (Jesus.net) is a worldwide movement of more than 40 national and international ministries who partner together to create a network of online websites and tools to assist and support online searchers in their spiritual search. Their goal is to see online searchers become offline disciples. This involves partnering with local Christian organizations and churches, as that is where Jesus.net believes the spiritual growth and strengthening will take place. Its vision is to share, through interactive websites, the Good News of Jesus Christ to the Internet users of the 35 most-used languages on the Internet. In the next 10 years, the goal is to expose 250 million people to the gospel and help 25 million people come to Jesus as a result of this effort.