Michael Oh from Urbana 09 on Vimeo.
Joshua Harris: Michael's personal story and the history of enmity between Koreans and Japanese makes his missionary zeal all the more compelling.
Mark Rogers: Last February Michael Oh, a missionary to Japan, gave a powerful sermon at the Desiring God Conference for Pastors, titled “Missions as Fasting.” In it he tells of his call to missions, describes the need for the gospel in Japan, and outlines his ministry there, before giving a moving challenge to forsake present comforts for the global exaltation of Christ. If you listen to it, your heart will grow for Japan and the glory of Christ!
D. A. Carson has described Michael Oh as “a remarkable young man, being used by God in ways that are wisely breaking all kinds of molds in Japan.” Molds need to be broken among the Japanese people, the second largest unreached people group in the world. After nearly 500 years of Christian witness, the evangelical Christian population is only 0.25%. Missionary work is legal there, but many missionaries labor for years and see very few come to Christ.
Oh started Christ Bible Seminary in Nagoya, Japan in 2005. Several other ministries have been started alongside the seminary, including a church plant (All Nations Fellowship), a lay-training institute, and a downtown ministry to young people.
We should pray for Michael Oh and all involved in this ministry. Some may want to consider supporting it, as they are in the process of raising $1.5 million for a campus. There is a desperate need for pastoral training and effective church planting in Japan, and Oh’s ministry has witnessed some encouraging fruit. For example, it is the fastest growing seminary in Japan, and over 90 people have been attending All Nations Fellowship – a remarkable number for a young church in a country where the average church size is 30-35 people. We should also pray for other faithful missionaries and pastors in Japan. May God grow his church for the good of that nation and the glory of Christ!
(HT: Joshua Harris)
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