Helping share lasting hope in Jesus

We are continually thankful for all those who partner with us in cross-cultural gospel mission. Through prayer and regular financial giving, this partnership is helping plant gospel seeds around the world.

A story of hope

Less than 1% of Japan’s 125 million people know Jesus as their Lord and Saviour. Tomoko, like millions of other Japanese people, used to believe in karma and had many worries about her life.

Tomoko’s husband Michiya started going to church and became a follower of Jesus. Tomoko had not grown up in a religious family, and although she began to attend church with Michiya, she viewed church as ‘his thing’. But at church she became friends with other believers including CMS missionary Kellie Nicholas. Kellie reflects:

“I have been praying for Tomoko, and opportunities to share the gospel with her, for over five years.”

Over time, through her relationships with Kellie, her church pastor and other congregation members, Tomoko grew in understanding God’s grace and came to faith in Christ. Tomoko says:

“Jesus’ death dealt with all sin once and for all. I was able to gradually understand the gospel as the church loved and cared for me in the way that I needed.”

Through reading God’s word with Kellie, Tomoko is learning what it means to follow Jesus:

“When I don’t understand things in the Bible, we look at the Bible together to try and find out the answer… we can also discuss many things, both about regular life and things of faith. Rather than always worrying about what I must do, Jesus says in Matthew 11:28 that I can come to him for rest. I am strengthened by this.”

It is often very difficult for Japanese Christians to be open with friends and family about their beliefs, but Tomoko recently made a courageous decision to be baptised and has begun to tell others about her faith. She explains:

“My family has never been strongly religious… I am hoping to have opportunities to talk to them about God and the things I’m learning in the Bible. Last summer when I saw my sisters, I was able to tell them that I was planning to be baptised…”

Please join with Kellie in praying for Japanese Christians to boldly share their faith amidst fear of rejection.

There is a great need for long-term gospel witness in Japan, as Kellie explains:

“I have learnt, and am still learning, how to share the gospel with Japanese people in a way that is helpful to them. This is not possible to do in the short-term but takes time to learn alongside my Christian brothers and sisters.”

CMS missionaries have strategic opportunities to share the gospel and their lives with people like Tomoko in their locations, and all generous one-off donations to the Lasting Hope Appeal help that work continue and grow.

Our 2023 Lasting Hope Appeal has now concluded, however there is an ongoing need to grow our regular giving to CMS, to help us confidently send and support our missionaries as we continue to work together for a world that knows Jesus.

We are thankful for all who joyfully gave, whether ongoing or as a generous one-off donation, to our Lasting Hope Appeal in 2023, and want to reaffirm that your support will help enable our missionaries to continue sharing the gospel of lasting hope.

All donations given will help enable the strategic ministries of our workers to continue, so that more people would know the gift of God’s grace and live as disciples of Christ. Through the support of people like you within the CMS fellowship, God’s love is being proclaimed to people around the world through CMS workers. Thank you.