Jesus.net Japan Keeps Fukushima In Focus With New “Hope Stories” 18 Months After Major Quake

Sept. 14, 2012 - PRLog -- Yokohama - On Tuesday September 11th Japan marked the 18-month anniversary of the March 2011 earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disasters that devastated northeastern Japan and resulted in a death toll of 15,870 with  2,814 people still unaccounted for according to Japan's Mainichi News.

Another 1,632 people have died of disaster-related causes, such as fatigue and failing health while living in evacuation shelters. Some 343,000 people still live in about 136,000 temporary homes.

“The accidents and lingering problems at the Fukushima nuclear plant threatened our existence and everyday life” said Bach Collegium Japan's senior conductor, Masaaki Suzuki. “We felt completely stranded and helpless.”

While those affected by and bereaved in the disaster offered silent prayers at 2:46 p.m. – the time the magnitude 9.0 earthquake struck – Jesus.net Japan has been offering a message of hope through a new series of short films showcasing those who have found hope while volunteering in Fukushima. These videos, on www.HopeForLiving.net, are part of   Jesus.net Japan's efforts to bring hope and healing to Japan.

One film follows popular Japanese Gospel singer Chu Kosaka who has been touring Tohoku temporary housing centers lifting survivors' spirits through music. Kosaka is well known in the area thanks to his One Body radio program that is broadcast on 22 community radio stations across northern Japan. Filmed performing at one of his many mini-concerts, the video shows Kosaka openly sharing his message of hope for the future. www.chu-kosaka.com/onebody

Other glimpses of hope are emerging as the disasters bring walls between churches, organizations and affected communities tumbling down. An example of this is seen in a series of  five short films featuring pastors Akira Mori and Akira Sato. Despite their diverging theological backgrounds, the two pastors found themselves working increasingly closely together in the aftermath of the disasters.

Presented in Japanese with English subtitles, all these films were made on location in Fukushima in cooperation with Christian relief organization, CRASH Japan (www.CRASHJapan.org).

In addition to the Hope for Living site, Jesus.net Japan also runs complimentary websites Knowing God and “Why Jesus?”  that give viewers more background on the message of hope in the midst of disaster presented in the films.

“Knowing God,” (www.knowinggod.jp) introduces visitors to the message of the Gospel, and also includes music videos, and more life changing stories. The third site, “Why Jesus?,” (www.whyjesus.net) takes the explanation of the message further with a five-week interactive course that also connects seekers with Japanese Christians. These “e-coaches” assist those searching for answers, invite them to a local gospel meeting and help connect them with churches in their area.

Jesus.net Japan is a part of Jesus.net (www.Jesus.net), a worldwide movement of more than 40 national and international ministries partnering together to create a network of online websites and tools to assist and support seekers in their spiritual search.

The goal of Jesus.net is to see online searchers become offline disciples through also partnering with local Christian organizations and churches. Its vision is to use interactive websites to share the good news of Jesus Christ with Internet users of the 35 most-used online languages. The goal over the next 10 years is to expose 250 million people to the gospel with 25 million of them coming to Jesus as a result of this effort.

www.jesusnetjapan.org