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Moriel Japan
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Welcome to The Moriel Japan missions page. The Moriel Japan branch opened up in 2009. We are based in Nishinomiya City, situated in between Osaka and Kobe roughly in the centre of Japan.
Who we are
- Geoff Toole (missionary from Australia)
- Daisuke Mori (First Moriel convert in Japan), and their families.
- Recently joined by Grant Norman from the US.
We also have some Japanese Moriel friends in various places and churches throughout the country. Geoff, Daisuke and Grant are all "tentmaking", teaching English etc. Geoff has 4 children who are being homeschooled.
What We Do
- Local ministry and evangelism in Nishinomiya City and Kansai.
- Teaching Hebraic bible studies, discernment ministry, translating and distributing Moriel messages. Posting all we can for free online.
- Answering bible related questions from online readers.
- Various teaching and discernment ministries in the Philippines in association with local Moriel affiliates there.
Recent News
In July 2013 we had a fruitful outreach to university students. Some of whom have begun attending church and or bible studies since.
Open bible study meetings in Osaka, Nagoya, Kobe and Tokyo. Recent topics included History and prophecy of Egypt, Midrash and lessons from the life of David.
An archaeology club, as an outreach to mostly retirees, of whom Japan has multitudes. So far we have looked at archaeology supporting the bible from Assyria and Egypt.
New "inquirers" attending church, although not yet saved. This year more than ever before we have seen response to our prayers and evangelism. Students, young adults, homeless etc.
A slow but steady stream of visitors to our website form churches throughout Japan. Many encouraging testimonies of Christians whose eyes have been opened to the depths of God's Word through Moriel teaching.
About Japan
Japan is a high tech society with major struggles with its economy, neighbours and aging population. It is a picturesque land full of quaint fields, valleys and traditional villages lying just outside some of the world"s largest cities. The Japanese culture is superficially open to the outside world, yet remains highly insular in many ways. On the whole it is a peaceful society which emphasizes outward order and frowns upon trouble making of any description.
Buddhism and Shinto are the main religions here. They both have shaped the culture and thinking of the population. Shinto superstition and Buddhist disassociation from the world keep most Japanese largely content to live in their own private world without the need to question whether their ideas or ways are right or wrong. Japan has been highly resistant to the absolute claims of Jesus and the bible. In fact the most common response when trying to share our faith with people here is
- "I"m Buddhist" (= I couldn"t possibly consider what you are saying)"
- "It is scary" (although puzzling to me at first, Asia has so many cults that people fear any contact with religion at all) and
- "It is too difficult" (= There is no need to think seriously about anything outside our own circle)".
Of course by God's grace, the gospel has reached many here in the past and still continues to reach those who listen to their consciences. Though less than one percent of the population, there are still Christians and churches scattered throughout the county.
Japan has been seriously shaken of late through continual natural disasters and the threat of trouble with China and Korea. It is our prayer that through these shakings, some will look for answers and receive the truth with joy. Finally the influence of the culture upon the church is limiting. Sharing the gospel by its very nature causes trouble. This is hard for believers here. Few Christians actively share their faith with friends of strangers. The society tends to be based upon the circle. If you are not in the circle people have little trust in you. We continually pray for wisdom concerning how much "circle building" is necessary for sharing our faith, and how much of it is wasting time. This is a serious question for evangelism in Japan.
Please pray for
- Laborers. Japan needs as many missionaries as it can. Contact us if you would like to help!
- Translation work. For the time and skills to translate many helpful messages that will help Japanese Christians to study the word and help reach out to unbelievers.
- Boldness for Japanese believers to share their faith, which is particularly difficult in this society.