We are also pursuing a partnering relationship with the Evangelical Free Church of Japan. The Evangelical Free Church of Japan is the fastest growing church planting movement in Japan.

Church Planting on Maui

Jayson Saito Family

In 1999 Mililani Community Church, with the support of the Hawaii District of the EFCA commissioned Jayson and Rachelle Saito as our church planters on Maui. Jayson Saito is a graduate of International College in Honolulu, and served as our youth pastor for four years prior to becoming the founding pastor of Maui Community Church. Maui Community Church, in Kahului, Maui, is the newest congregation of the Hawaii District of the Evangelical Free Church of America. Maui Community Church meets on Sundays at the Maui-Waena Intermediate School. You can visit them on the web by clicking Maui Community Church.

Church Planting - Japan

Vision Trip to East Asia

Pastor Rick Bartosik and Jonathan Wong took a "Vision Trip" to Hong Kong, Macau, and Japan in October, 1998. This trip was sponsored by the Evangelical Free Church of America International Mission and led by EFCAIM East Asia Director, Howard Plucar.

The purpose of the East Asia vision trip was two-fold:

To gain insight into the ministry of the EFCM in East Asia. Our eyes were opened to the great work of the EFCAIM in China, Macau and Japan.

To begin to establish a relationship with the Evangelical Free Church of Japan, in order to develop a partnering relationship with the new church plant of the Evangelical Free Church of Japan. We met with the EFCJ National Board and attended the signing of the purchase and sale agreement for the new church building of the church plant in Sapporo, on the island of Hokkaido.

click for full image

Mission Trip to Fukuoka In April 2003 Pastor Rick led a team of seven people (including three from sister EFCA churches on the mainland) to Fukuoka, Japan, at the invitation of the EFCAIM missionaries serving there.

It is estimated that at one time 10% of the population of Japan was Christian, but beginning in the early 17th century Christians became a political threat to the powerful Shoguns of Japan. They responded with ruthless persecution and thousands of Christians were martyred--many crucified, others drowned or tortured in a variety of other ways, many others renounced their faith. Christianity was virtually exterminated, and the Christian faith was banned in Japan from the 17th century until the late 19th century--about 250 years. Today Bible-believing Christians make up only about one quarter of one percent of the population of Japan.

The Evangelical Free Church in Japan began officially in 1950, just two years after the first Evangelical Free Church missionary arrived. In 2000, the EFCJ celebrated its fiftieth anniversary. The Evangelical Free Church of Japan has over 60 churches and is the fastest growing denomination in Japan. In the area of the new Itoshima Evangelical Free Church, a community of 67,000 people just west of Fukuoka City, there are only fifty known Christians.

The purpose of the trip to Fukuoka, Japan was:

To encourage and pray for the EFCM missionaries in Fukuoka

To pray for the people of Fukuoka who need to know Christ

To promote continued prayer for Japan and specifically the Fukuoka church plant

To establish an on-going partnering relationship with the Itoshima Evangelical Free Church

Great Links !

We've provided a few links for your enjoyment - click on the links to take a free "virtual" trip to Japan !

Pictures taken during the "Vision Trip" showing the building purchased in Sapporo.

The Hokkaido Project home page showing pictures of the dedication service, September, 1999.

Home Page of Japan EFCM missionary Mark Bowman who is assigned to the Hokkaido church to serve under the direction of Kaji sensei, the pastor of the new church plant.