JESUS NET JAPAN Expands Initiative: 1-Year Anniversary of Multiple Disasters Rocked Northern Japan

March 22, 2012 - PRLog -- YOKOHAMA, Japan – As part of its efforts to bring healing to Japan after last year’s earthquake, tsunami and nuclear accidents, Jesus.net Japan is posting at its Hope for Living web site (www.HopeForLiving.net) a new series of videos relating stories of those who found hope through Jesus. Airing in Japanese with English subtitles, the videos, filmed in cooperation with Samaritan’s Purse, premiered at the recent Billy Graham Evangelistic Association (BGEA) “Celebration of Hope” in Tohoku.

With a new installment posted each week, the videos first aired Mar. 2-4 before a crowd of nearly 12,000 at the Grande 21 Arena in Sendai. The audience also heard messages from evangelist Franklin Graham and music by such groups as Korea’s 3rd Wave. In a city with just 83 churches and 25 members in the average congregation, the event saw more than 400 people make first-time commitments to follow Jesus. Area pastors cooperated to sponsor Celebration of Hope, which provided them with an opportunity to refresh after nearly a year of ministering to disaster victims.

In addition, Jesus.net Japan supported the Mar. 7-11 northern Japan speaking tour of bestselling author Philip Yancey and will be involved with four BGEA events in 2013. Its partners in Japan include Campus Crusade for Christ and CRASH Japan.

Part of an Internet evangelism effort to reach millions shaken by the March 2011 disasters, Jesus.net Japan’s initial “Hope for Living” web site has generated considerable online traffic. It introduces visitors to survivors of earlier earthquakes and other traumatic experiences. Their stories illustrate how, in the midst of great turmoil, their faith in God strengthened them or the pressure inspired them to come to know Christ.

Jesus.net Japan recently rolled out a second, complementary site, “Knowing God,” (www.knowinggod.jp), which introduces inquiring users to the gospel. A third site, “Why Jesus?,” (www.whyjesus.net), is a five-week interactive course that will be available soon and connect seekers with Japanese Christians. These “e-coaches” will assist those searching for answers, invite them to a local gospel meeting and help connect them with a local church. There is a need for additional e-coaches, who must be able to read and write Japanese. Applicants can contact Yukio Konishi at yukio.konishi@jesus.net.  

“A year after the disasters, we are more encouraged than ever,” says Andy Game, director of Jeus.net Japan.  “With only a fraction of our nation expressing belief in Christ, the response to Franklin Graham’s messages will dramatically increase the church’s presence in Sendai and beyond. Add to that our continuing efforts to connect seekers with churches, and we see bright days ahead. “

““The work of Hope for Living is increasing in importance, as much of the world moves on to other concerns while the Japanese try to make sense of their future,” said Yukio Konishi, the Japanese Coordinator.  “People appreciate us being there for them to respond to their questions and concerns. Our availability online plugs a gap that many spiritual seekers cannot fill elsewhere.”

Jesus.net Japan is a part of Jesus.net (www.Jesus.net), 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. Its vision is to share, through interactive websites, the good news of Jesus Christ to 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.