[3104] Summer training program in Japan exemplifies PCT’s vision for youths and mission partnerships

Summer training program in Japan exemplifies PCT’s vision for youths and mission partnerships

Reported by Chen Yi-hsuan

Written by Lydia Ma

Every summer is an opportunity for churches to share the gospel through camps and seminars. One such successful camp in Japan hosted by Makino Evangelical Japanese Institute (MEJI) is a program made possible through a cooperation between Asia Evangelical Missionary Fellowship and PCT.

MEJI was founded in 2006 after the current PCT General Secretary Andrew Chang and the director of MEJI, Rev. Lin Mao-hong, met during a conference for pastors from Japan, South Korea and Taiwan. Both pastors realized after getting to know each other well that they both had a common vision on training future missionaries.

Their brainstorming eventually led to the creation of MEJI. After a year of planning, MEJI finally held its first camp on July 21-August 11, 2006. The camp usually lasts 3 weeks and this year marks the 6^th annual training. 48 PCT youths participated in this year’s program.

Throughout these 3 weeks, PCT youths learned about Japanese culture and lifestyle and shared about their faith with their Japanese counterparts. The also learned to serve one another.

The main purpose of this camp is to encourage PCT youths to become interested and involved in ministering to Japanese people and missions in Japan, and strengthen the relationship between PCT and Japanese churches.

Participants of this year’s training were engaged in various activities including, daily morning and evening devotional times, learning the Japanese language, weekend stay with a local Japanese family, volunteering in church ministries and service, etc. But spiritual training aside, they also had the opportunity to volunteer at some local social agencies, experience the local culture, and go on half-day observation tours.

Lin, who is still serves as director, said that youths who participated in this camp were transformed through it and matured a lot spiritually too. “The most special thing about this camp is to hear youths say that they want to be involved in full-time ministry in the future,” he said.

Despite the earthquake and subsequent tsunami in Japan this March, MEJI is still active and running this year. God brought 6 youths from across different parts of Taiwan to Japan for this exposure and training – the exact number of applicants that Lin said he felt God had impressed on him in a recent dream.