Area churches join efforts in mission trip to Japan

Church for the Harvest in Alexandria and Destiny Church of Ashby joined together for a mission trip to Japan in January.

The trip was led by Pastor Steve Quernemoen and his wife, Trish, of Church for the Harvest, and Pastor Mike Bartolomeo and his wife, Rhonda, of Church for the Harvest.

According to Bartolomeo, there are more than 127 million people living in Japan. The two major religions there are Shinto and Buddhism.

Religion does not play a major role in the life of the average Japanese, but people usually have religious ceremonies at births, weddings and funerals. On New Year’s Day visiting a temple or shrine is also a common custom.

About 1 percent of the population follows Christianity, which was heavily persecuted in Japan prior to the Meiji Restoration in 1873.

Those on the mission trip spoke with pastors in the Osaka region and met with some Korean and Chinese Campus Crusade for Christ missionaries.

The local mission group also hosted an outreach rally to the community, shared the gospel, ministered to youth groups and college students and encouraged the believers in their faith. Because of these meetings, a total of 35 people received Jesus Christ through this trip.

“Japan is a very safe nation and we believe now is the time for the Gospel to be declared in that nation,” Bartolomeo noted. “As the Lord continues to lead us, we will be taking other trips to reach the Japanese people with the Gospel.”

Tags: faith