RTIM REVIEW
Why Tokyo?
WHY TOKYO
I have fallen in love with Tokyo. I grew up in a suburb of Toronto, so I feel comfortable in large cities. But Tokyo is a completely different behemoth. More than 40 million people spread across 847 square miles. Over 100 universities and 3 million students. With a GDP of $1.5 trillion, it’s the richest city in the world.
And yet, a city so celebrated for its industry and riches suffers from extreme gospel poverty. The sad story is the same throughout the nation. Among 122 million people, less than 1 percent claim to be evangelical—and that number is dropping year after year.
Tokyo needs the gospel, which means Tokyo needs healthy local churches full of Christians who reflect and proclaim the gospel. Which means Tokyo needs missionaries who are committed to patient, long-term discipling and evangelism.
In 2025, Reaching & Teaching is inviting you to join us to #PrayForTokyo. The slogan is so simple to type and say. But it takes commitment and sacrifice to
actually do it. Every Monday morning, we’re giving the first five minutes of our day to pray for Tokyo. We’re also setting aside March as a month of dedicated prayer. Would you join us? Would you encourage your church, family, and friends to do the same?
If you’re a local church leader, would your church consider sending missionaries to Tokyo? Can you send men and women who are committed to making mature disciples, establishing healthy churches, and training local leaders? Would you consider setting aside some of your most gifted members and deploying them to Tokyo?
If you’re an aspiring missionary, consider going to Tokyo. Commit to a season, alongside the leaders of your local church, of prayerful consideration. Are you willing to leave behind your home for a city in desperate need of the gospel? It will be hard. It will take a lot of work. There will be days you’ll want to give up and move home. But Jesus is worth it. And He deserves to be worshiped with every voice in Tokyo, in local churches throughout the city.
So please join us in Praying, Giving, Growing, Going, and Sending for the sake of gospel’s advance in Tokyo.
“The Lord reigns, let the earth rejoice; let the many coastlands be glad!” Psalm 97:1
Sincerely,
Ryan Robertson
RYAN ROBERTSON
President
Ryan Robertson serves as the President of Reaching & Teaching. Robertson has previously served in executive leadership positions for public companies and other non-profit organizations and has been a board member of several different charities. In 2014, he obtained his CPA from the State of Massachusetts. Robertson is currently enrolled in the Doctor of Missiology program at The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Ryan and his wife Erin have three children and are members of Third Avenue Baptist Church in Louisville, KY, where Ryan serves as an elder.
TOKYO STATS
1. Almost one-third of Japan’s population—more than 40 million people—live in Tokyo, though the city makes up less than 1 percent of the country’s total area.
2. By 2030, it’s expected that Tokyo will have the world’s highest population density.
3. More than 1,800 foreign companies operate in Tokyo.
4. More than 140 universities are in Tokyo.
5. Tokyo is home to more than 3 million university students.
6. There are 1,500+ Shinto shrines in Tokyo.
7. Here's the religious breakdown of Japan: 70 percent of its population is Shinto, while nearly twothirds is Buddhist (some Japanese practice these religions simultaneously). Less than 1 percent are evangelical.
8. Due to its extensive rail network, almost all of Japan’s major islands and cities can be Tokyo’s GDP is $1.5 Trillion USD. That’s higher than all but 17 nations in the world.
9. Tokyo is driven by convenience. It has over 5 million vending machines, 13,000 convenience stores, and 850 rail stations.
10. The name Tokyo comes from from the words “tō” (“east”) and “kyō” (“capital”).
11. The world’s busiest train station, Shinjuku, handles over 3.5 million passengers every day.
12. The world’s oldest business, Kongō Gumi, is located in Tokyo. This construction company was founded in 578 AD.
13. The average life expectancy of a Tokyo resident is 8 years longer than an American’s.
14. There are over 30 non-stop flights every day from the USA to Tokyo.
LETTER FROM A JAPANESE BROTHER
Dear brothers and sisters in America.
I am grateful for this opportunity to write a letter to you. It is a joy to know that there are so many that worship the same Lord Jesus, and many who are faithful to his call to make disciples of all nations through His Church. Greetings from Japan.
I write this letter to bring to your attention the immense spiritual need in Japan, with the Japanese people group being the second largest unreached people group in the world. Although this is the case, Japan has flown under the radar for many Christians. It is after all, one of the most developed countries in the world and is without any persecution (one can even apply for a missionary visa!). However, worldly peace and success doesn’t always mean spiritual peace and flourishing.
As with many saints in the world, the church in Japan has had a rough spiritual journey. There are 600,000 protestants in Japan, amidst 125 million people. This exodus size group of people is spread across roughly 8000 churches, with more than 1000 churches that are without a pastor. The total percentage of Japanese Evangelicals is 0.3 % of the population and statistics say that we are in decline. With the older generation of pastors phasing out, some say another 1000 churches will be without a pastor in the next 10 years. These realities are true even in Tokyo and its surrounding metropolitan area, one of the largest cities in the world.
More than numbers, many communities have drifted away from orthodox faith.
There are a number of groups, both local and international, that have strived to keep the faith once for all delivered to the saints. Praise God for these people! However, the lack of conviction over biblical inerrancy and sufficiency, the lack of expository preaching, and a misunderstanding of the mission of the church has resulted in many dying churches.
This is why I humbly but urgently ask for your prayers and prudential help. Churches in Tokyo and Japan are in desperate need of people who can handle God’s word well. We are in desperate need of Christians who have a high view of scripture and who can encourage believers in the faith. Most importantly, Japan needs healthy churches that are made up of this compelling community. So I encourage you to pray if God will have you do the hard but glorious work of strengthening the body of Christ in Japan and reaching the lost. I encourage you to pray if God will have you to send qualified men and women to this country. Finally, please pray for the churches in Tokyo and in Japan. The Lord is the only one who can hold fast his church.
From a Japanese Brother,
Jo Yozawa
USE THE PRAYER PROMPTS BELOW TO GUIDE YOUR PRAYERS AND JOIN WITH CHRISTIANS AROUND THE WORLD IN PRAYING FOR TOKYO THROUGHOUT 2025.
1. Pray for qualified missionaries who love the local church to be sent to Tokyo.
2. Pray for the Holy Spirit to convict the people of Tokyo of their sin, that they would trust in Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection for the forgiveness of their sin.
3. Pray for millions of people in Tokyo to declare Jesus as Lord.
4. Pray for the true gospel to be preached faithfully in Tokyo.
5. Pray for the teaching of sound doctrine in Tokyo, both in churches and in seminaries.
6. Pray for families, neighborhoods, and workplaces in Tokyo to be transformed by the gospel.
7. Pray for Christians in Tokyo to be convinced of the authority, sufficiency, and relevancy of the Bible.
8. Pray for the regular preaching of God’s Word in Tokyo.
9. Pray for Christians in Tokyo to love the Bible.
10. Pray for God to open the eyes of the people in Tokyo to see their sin and their need for Jesus
11. Pray that missionaries in Tokyo would trust in God’s sovereignty in salvation and would persevere in seasons of discouragement.
12. Pray that God would protect missionaries and other Christians in Tokyo from the temptation to manipulate the gospel.
13. Pray that missionaries would learn the Japanese language well in order to have deep gospel conversations.
14. Pray for missionaries in Tokyo to discover how to faithfully contextualize and communicate the gospel in a way that is clear and compelling.
15. Pray for missionaries in Tokyo to be wise in navigating how to challenge the Japanese worldview with the gospel.
16. Pray for God-glorifying friendships to form between existing local churches and new congregations in Tokyo.
17. Pray for affordable meeting spaces for local churches in Tokyo.
18. Pray for local churches to desire to send some of their best members to Tokyo.
19. Pray for the Lord to provide the resources necessary to send missionaries to Tokyo.
20. Pray that new Christians in Tokyo will quickly join local churches.
21. Pray for spiritual maturity for Christians in Tokyo.
22. Pray that missionaries in Tokyo will see the local church as the primary means of discipleship in the Christian’s life.
23. Pray for older men in Tokyo to desire to train younger men to lead their churches in future years.
24. Pray for seminaries in Tokyo who will train up pastor-theologians in sound doctrine.
25. Pray for the holiness of pastors and aspiring pastors in Tokyo.
26. Pray for churches in Tokyo to partner together in church planting and strengthening.
27. Pray for the Lord to raise up church planters and missionaries among the Japanese people.
28. Pray for the Reaching & Teaching team as they mobilize for Tokyo.
29. Pray for missionaries as they interact with high rates of suicide and depression in Japanese culture.
30. Pray for the governments in Tokyo and Japan to allow for Christian freedom.
31. Pray for faithful and evangelistic campus ministries in Tokyo that love the local church.
#PRAYFORTOKYO
Check out the 4-part series highlighting the gospel need in Tokyo, Japan on our YouTube page @RTIMChannel.
GIVE
Dylan Eagle Director of Development & Comm.
When you think about giving to a cause, what do you envision? I think many of our minds turn to opening our wallets, pressing “yes” to round up to the nearest dollar on a credit card console, or scanning a QR code displayed on a computer screen to donate $5 to the latest natural disaster capturing our attention. Opportunities to give are never in short supply.
Throughout Reaching & Teaching, there are literally hundreds of missionaries and incredible gospel efforts in need of financial support – and we would love to present all of them to you! As Christians, there are many worthy causes to which we should consider providing financial support because part of discipleship to Jesus includes cheerfully giving of our resources. A follower of Jesus happily handing over hard-earned money for the sake of building the kingdom adorns the gospel message and faithfully pictures the worthiness of our Savior.
However, there are more ways to give than just in dollar bills.
What if our hearts were so deeply moved by a need that we gave not just at financial cost, but at the cost of our attention and our time? What if we became so captivated by a cause that we were driven to our knees in prayer throughout the week, month, or year? Not just posting a one-time hashtag on our social media platforms, but regular, intentional, calendar-marking prayer. At Reaching & Teaching, this is the hope behind our #PrayForTokyo campaign. In the words of Thomas Terry, “What if we actually believed that humanity’s greatest tragedy was not a natural disaster or even mass casualties? But an entire city of lost sinners dying without a savior.” This is the situation in Tokyo, Japan.
We’re praying that a growing community of Christians around the world will give five minutes every Monday morning to pray for Tokyo throughout the year. This is not a one-time transaction that you forget about after clicking submit; it’s meant to embed itself in your life as a regular prayer rhythm that moves your heart. Imagine hundreds or thousands
of people praying every week for the people of Tokyo to repent and believe in Jesus Christ for the forgiveness of their sins. Praying for new missionaries to be sent to help establish healthy churches in a city that is in desperate need. And praying that some may even consider going themselves to be part of this work. We look forward to seeing how God may respond to these prayers in the coming months and years. Will you join us?
You can scan the QR code below to visit prayfortokyo.com. There, you can sign up to receive emails every Monday morning throughout the year, featuring a prayer prompt and a video guide to help you set aside five minutes that Monday morning. Additionally, there are ways to give financially. If you would like to partner with RTIM to support the work happening in Tokyo, Japan, you can go to prayfortokyo.com and click “Donate” at the top of the page. If you would like to learn more, please contact our team or email me directly at dylan.eagle@rtim.org.
GROW
Becky Houston Mobilizer - Northeast
2. SOLIDIFY YOURSELF IN CERTAIN THEOLOGICAL CONVICTIONS.
3. SEEK OUT PRACTICAL OPPORTUNITIES.
Are you considering long-term missions?
Maybe you attended the Cross Conference and heard about the gospel need in Tokyo, or maybe your pastor just preached on Genesis and the promise to Abraham to bless the nations through him. The spark has been lit. Now the questions are rolling in your mind. You can say, “I’m willing,” but you’re not sure about the next step.
Friend, if this is you, let me encourage you right here, right now: stop reading this and pray. Our plans, desires, and hopes for our service to the Lord must be dowsed in prayer.
Our mobilization team counts it a huge joy to walk alongside those wondering what role they may play in the Great Commission. Here are some practical steps to take that we often encourage people to pursue:
1. TALK WITH YOUR PASTORS.
If you’re not already a member of a church, let me encourage you to become one and press into the life of the body. Allow yourself to be known by others, especially your pastors who are called to shepherd and counsel you according to the Word of God. Let older Christians have eyes on every aspect of your life and seek to be formed and shaped by the ministry of the Word. Seek to have a humble heart that is eager to be assessed by others according to Scripture.
Can you clearly articulate the gospel? What is the definition of the church? Where does the church and missions meet? There are so many great resources available to help you grow in these convictions. But start with Scripture.
Our friends at 9Marks have written extensively on these things. We regularly point to resources like What is a Healthy Church by Mark Dever, Mission Affirmed by Elliot Clark, and Path to Being a Pastor by Bobby Jamieson (a great book whose principals can be applied to anyone considering vocational ministry). Read these books and others alongside your pastor, or with a group of other missions-minded people in your church. Discuss them together.
We at RTIM also invite you to join us this spring for our online “Intro to Missions” cohort. You’ll get to watch three sessions that lay a foundation for biblical missions and then join three Zoom meetings to discuss with the others in the cohort. Or consider the Global Internship, a 16-month deep dive into ecclesiology and missiology. To learn more about either of these opportunities, please reach out to our mobilization team, we would love to connect and talk further with you about them.
The best place to start gaining experience is within your own context. So look for opportunities to share the gospel with unbelievers or get connected with international communities in your area. Developing the skill of one-to-one Bible reading, whether in a discipleship or evangelistic context. Get involved in caring for and communicating with the missionaries from your church.
RTIM also offers short-term opportunities so that you can dip your toes in the water of missions. Our Practicum program offers a six-to-ten-week opportunity for young adults to come alongside established Global Workers during the summer. They will see first-hand what life on the field looks like. As you begin to consider these different opportunities, we encourage you to include your pastors in the conversation.
Our Mobilizers would be happy to connect with you and your pastor about any of these opportunities and share more about how you can be connected with RTIM.
Why You Should Come
Whether you are considering long-term missions or want to mobilize your church, our Preview Day is a great place to start! What you can expect from the day:
Grow in a biblical understanding of missions
Discover RTIM’S DNA
Connect with like-minded Christians
Learn how you can partner with us
Raleigh, NC
Thursday, April 10, 2025 Christ Covenant Church
Washington, D.C.
Monday, June 2, 2025
Capitol Hill Baptist Church
Atlanta, GA
Monday, September 15, 2025
rch
Mount Vernon Baptist Church
Boston, MA
Friday, October 10, 2025
Tremont Temple
Chicago, IL
Monday, October 20, 2025
Brainard Avenue Baptist Church
Time: 8am - 5pm
Price per Individual: $50
GO
Matt Bennett Director of Long-Term Ministry
Japan has often been referred to as “a missionary graveyard.” Japanese is difficult for native English speakers to learn. Japanese culture is difficult to penetrate with its focus on long working hours and a seedy night life. This nation has long resisted the advance of the gospel.
So why should your church think about sending you to Tokyo with all of these difficulties piled up against you? Because God is worthy of the glory of the 40 million Japanese image bearers who live there. Without hearing and believing the gospel, they will not return to God the praise he is due. They will continue to wallow in their idolatry. That’s why your church might send you to go to Tokyo.
So that’s why you should go. But what about the how? The goal of this brief article is to begin to answer that question.
CHURCH’S ASSESSMENT AND STRATEGY
Churches have all sorts of strategies on how to steward the resources they have been entrusted for missions. Many churches are eager to bring the gospel to the most remote and needy places, where people don’t have a Bible and have never heard of Jesus. This is certainly a valuable strategic option.
Other churches tend to cluster their missionary efforts in a specific place
that allows for a deeper understanding of the needs, laborers, and work. This strategy helps a church to be more connected in one place. If your church is looking for a place to send multiple members, then Tokyo might be a really strategic option.
Tokyo is a highly developed city with all the amenities of the world’s leading economies. There are opportunities for both full-time vocational ministry and countless marketplace jobs. There’s a need for people to pursue both options.
VOCATIONAL MINISTRY NEEDS IN TOKYO
Tokyo needs more churches. In a city of 40 million, there are only a handful of healthy churches. There needs to be more healthy English-speaking international churches. There needs to be more healthy Japanese-speaking indigenous churches. There needs to be more church planting and revitalizing throughout the city and the nation.
So, if you are an elder-qualified man whose church has affirmed you to be sent out as a missionary, consider Tokyo. We would love to have you and your elders start praying for Tokyo with us as you discern whether this might be the right place for you. You can sign up for weekly prayer prompts at prayfortokyo. com.
MARKETPLACE AND MINISTRY
In addition to the need for more pastors and church planters, the churches that are already in Tokyo have a significant need for mature, gifted church members who are happy to lead various ministries. For instance, the college campus is a key place to connect with Japanese students before they launch into 80hour work weeks. But many pastors don’t have the bandwidth to develop a campus ministry. If you were able to come over and use your evangelistic gifts to draw interested students to the
church, that would be a huge service to the pastors and leaders there.
There are other aspects of building a healthy gospel infrastructure in a place like Japan. With only a handful of healthy churches, there’s a need for someone who could develop an association of churches for encouragement, resourcing, and events. If you can do your job from Japan and be a member at a healthy church there, that would be a huge blessing.
Or maybe you’re gifted in music. Perhaps you can help a church develop its own hymnody. Maybe you’re interested in editing and publishing; perhaps you could facilitate the process of translating and publishing healthy theological materials in Japanese. Yes, you’d have to learn the language. It would take time. But most worthwhile endeavors take much time! All of these roles are needed by churches in Tokyo.
WHERE TO START
If you and your church are thinking seriously about Tokyo, please reach out to an RTIM mobilizer. Or click the “Go” option on the prayfortokyo.com website. We would love to talk to you about specific opportunities as they emerge. May the Lord be glorified in Tokyo in the coming years, and may we have the privilege to be part of making him known!
Learn more about our vision by connecting with a Mobilizer at rtim.org.
SEND
Rachel Ware
Director of Mobilization
Here’s how the missionary appeal usually goes: the vast need is described, the vision for meeting that need is cast, and men and women are called to consider whether God could be leading them into a life of cross-cultural ministry. God has used this mobilization strategy to guide countless missionaries to the ends of the earth for the sake of his name.
But we at Reaching & Teaching have a slightly different approach. It’s not that we don’t invite men and women to give up their lives for the sake of Christ and go where gospel-centered churches are needed. But there’s another demographic we intentionally invite into this great work—pastors who send.
This approach comes from the conviction that local churches—not parachurch organizations—are given the authority to identify, equip, train, send, and care for missionaries. The task of missionary sending is great, and Reaching & Teaching exists to serve churches as they seek to obey this task.
So, if you’re a pastor reading this, would you prayerfully consider those in your congregation whom you could send to a place like Tokyo? The city has 40 million people—that’s more than the entire state of Texas—and very few gospel-centered churches. Is there someone from your church who could go?
As you pray through this, don’t only think of those whom you know already have an interest in missions; think of those whom you think would be particularly qualified for it. Are there individuals in your
congregation who are clearly gifted in teaching or discipleship or evangelism?
Do you see some who are bearing great spiritual fruit? Do you see someone who generates meaningful ministry around them? Who would it hurt the most to lose? Would you be willing to give these people up for the sake of ministry in a place so desperately in need?
The vision behind our Tokyo campaign is simple: we want to see churches who love the glory of God and expositional preaching and the ordinary means of grace partner together in sending their best to Tokyo. Imagine with me for a minute what the Lord could do if dozens, or even hundreds of churches began partnering together by sending their very best to make the name of Christ glorious in Tokyo.
What could this look like, starting now? Here are a few next steps for you to consider:
1. Begin praying that the Lord would burden the hearts of people in your congregation to go to the nations— maybe even Tokyo.
2. Think about those in your congregation who are elderqualified and gifted for ministry. Perhaps you have been seeing them only on a track to be an elder at your church. Could it be that they should go to the nations?
3. Pray regularly for Tokyo with your congregation. We have weekly prayer prompts that you can use as a guide, as well as a mini-documentary series to watch.
4. Start a missions reading group in your church, led by you or another elder. Read Let the Nations Be Glad by Piper, Mission Affirmed by Clark, or The Science of Missions by Bavinck. Help your people recognize the beautiful symmetry between ecclesiology and missiology and why the local church matters so much in missions.
5. If there are some who are clearly gifted in ministry but don’t yet have a clear direction, approach them with a vision for Tokyo. Perhaps you could even invite them on a vision trip to see the needs with your own eyes and think carefully about the ministry opportunities that exist on their behalf.
6. Join us at our upcoming Sending Church Summit in Atlanta, GA, happening September 15-17. Take advantage of this opportunity to meet other churches who are in the process of sending missionaries to Tokyo and ask how you can work together to see God glorified among the nations.
The Lord may not be leading you to go to the nations yourself, although that could change at any time. But perhaps he is asking you to sacrifice in another way: by sending your best for the sake of the elect around the world. Would you prayerfully consider who that may be?
Assisting local churches in their mission to send qualified missionaries to the ends of the earth.
September 15-17, 2025
October 22-25, 2025 | İstanbul, Türkiye
REGIONAL UPDATES - ASIA
Chris C
Regional
Leader - Asia
When God’s people entered the Promised Land, each tribe was allotted land across the breadth of Canaan. Though they lived in covenant fellowship within their own settlements, pilgrimage became a vital rhythm of their lives, drawing them together at appointed times to worship and delight in the Lord as one people.
Today, God’s people are dispersed across an even greater expanse. Though we are scattered, the Lord still graciously provides opportunities for churches to gather for worship and encouragement. Recently, one of these significant gatherings took place in Asia. Members from more than 40 churches came together to feast on God’s Word, share in both victories and burdens, and become further equipped to nurture the health of their churches.
Psalm 133 beautifully captures the joy of such gatherings, portraying God’s people traveling from all corners of Canaan to join together in Jerusalem. The psalm begins by declaring how good and pleasant it is when God’s people dwell in unity and concludes with the promise that the blessings flowing from their shared delight in the Lord will bring life to the surrounding lands.
Please pray that these churches continue to faithfully serve Christ in the places he has appointed them. May the blessings of their joy in him overflow— drawing more people to the knowledge
of our Savior and joining in covenant fellowship with his people.
GOSPEL INFRASTRUCTURE
One of the exciting advancements in the region is the continued establishment of a healthy gospel infrastructure. Just as a well-built infrastructure enables a city to meet the needs of its people, a strong gospel infrastructure equips like-minded churches to care for their members, sustain long-term growth, and stay anchored to the truth of the gospel. It also provides a blueprint that guides these churches in developing the necessary systems while remaining on a firm foundation.
Our focus areas include evangelism, discipleship, church planting, leadership development, theological training, theological resource development, and hymn writing. Each church within our global network is at a different stage of health and maturity. And yet, as they pursue these same priorities within their unique contexts, they can learn from one and strengthen each other.
Please pray for these churches as they pursue growth in each of these areas. As careful attention is given to gospel infrastructure, we can support them by fervently praying for our Father to further establish and strengthen them.
GOSPEL NETWORKS
A strong infrastructure isn’t just about having the right elements— it’s about those elements working together in a way that not only supports each part but also connects every section to the whole. Likewise, a healthy gospel infrastructure does more than strengthen individual
churches; it weaves them together, which fosters meaningful connections among like-minded congregations. When the gospel remains central, the pursuit of church health in every structural element is both strengthened and sustained through these growing networks.
Thankfully, we’ve established a central network in the region. Efforts are underway to see churches within each country unite on both national and local levels. One model location is already leading the way, having formalized an association of like-minded churches. Please pray that other regions will learn from this example. We want to form strong networks that will result in:
• More people giving their lives to Christ
• More disciples being made
• More healthy churches being established
• More indigenous pastors being raised up
• More indigenous theologians being equipped
• More theological resources being produced
May these connections continue to fuel gospel growth, strengthening churches wherever they are.
GOSPEL OPPORTUNITIES
The modern Church Growth Movement, which emerged in the 1950s and 1960s, has profoundly hindered the health of churches planted in its wake. While it created unprecedented opportunities for expansion, it also introduced challenges that have affected the very fabric of biblical church life.
As pragmatic growth models became
the norm, the necessity of regenerate church members gathering in covenant fellowship quickly eroded. The call to accountability—to Christ, his Word, his bride, and one another—was replaced by strategies that prioritized rapid numerical growth over deep discipleship. A consumer mindset took root, and churches began to cater to subgroups within the congregation. They began to design their Sunday morning services for the unbeliever, the “seeker.” Over time, this approach became the dominant model for church planting.
And yet, as time has tested these methods, the succeeding generations have struggled. They’re wrestled with commitment, accountability, and commitment to biblical community. Thankfully, a resurgence of meaningful membership is beginning to take hold. Churches in the region are once again prioritizing Scripture over pragmatism and congregational vitality over individual preference. As revitalization efforts take root and new churches are planted, there remains widespread confusion among those shaped by pragmatic models of the past.
Please pray for the global workers in the region who are laboring tirelessly to restore biblical church membership. Their efforts have been met with strong opposition, and the cost has been high. Many tears have been shed along the way. Buy God is sustaining them, strengthening them to persevere. Pray that they would cling to the promise of Psalm 126:5–6: “Those who sow in tears will reap with shouts of joy. Though one goes along weeping, carrying the bag of seed, he will surely come back with shouts of joy, carrying his sheaves.”
May the seeds of faithfulness they are planting today yield a harvest of joy in the generations to come.
Learn more about Long-term opportunities by connecting with a Mobilizer at rtim.org.
“
Healthy churches in places like Latin America are the nations’ best chance for hearing the gospel. If the billions of people who have never heard are to receive this lifegiving message, it will be because the global church is strengthened by the very gospel it proclaims and continually sends workers into the harvest.
REGIONAL UPDATESLATIN AMERICA
AJ Gibson
Regional Leader - Latin America
Latin America is Reaching & Teaching’s “legacy field.” As a young missions sending agency, we’re just moving into our second decade. Last February at our global retreat in Thailand, it was a joy to recognize several workers who have served overseas with Reaching & Teaching for more than a decade. All of them are working in Latin America.
Thankfully, our workers’ investment in Latin America is paying off. As Reaching & Teaching’s Regional Leader for Latin America, I’m seeing that in two specific ways.
GREEN DOT CHURCHES
Churches in Latin America are growing in their ability to raise up their own leaders. One of the most devastating deficiencies in the Latin American church is the lack of trained leadership. This deficiency is the chief cause of the theological famine that ravages the region. When churches don’t have qualified leaders, they can’t reproduce new leaders.
Most Latin American churches are what Mark Dever and others have called “red-dot churches.” That is, they are net importers of church leaders. Because they’re unable to raise up their own leaders they must look outside the church for new blood. The lack of “pastors and teachers” who “equip the saints for the work of ministry” (Eph. 4:12) creates a
vicious cycle: the lack of trained pastors leads to theological famine, and the theological famine results in a lack of trained pastors.
Missionaries can effectively serve the church in Latin America by strengthening churches through leadership training. The goal here is “green-dot churches,” that is, churches capable of raising up leaders for themselves and for the nations. These churches are net exporters rather than importers of gospel workers. This is Paul’s vision in 2 Timothy 2:2 when he calls Timothy to entrust to faithful men what they’ve received so that those men can, in turn, train others. This biblical process cancels the vicious cycle caused by theological famine.
In the last year, I’ve been enormously encouraged by reports of new national elders being appointed in the churches where our workers serve. Unless qualified, reproducing national leaders are trained up, the shelf life of a church will be very short—one generation at best.
SENDING OUT LABORERS
But being a green-dot church doesn’t just mean raising up a church’s own leadership. It also means sending out trained, qualified leaders to the nations. The principle here is simple: churches produce missionaries. Specifically,
healthy churches produce qualified, well-trained missionaries. In the New Testament, Paul’s missionary coworkers came from the local churches that he and others had planted around the Roman world. The same is true today. Healthy churches around the world are still the Lord of the harvest’s supply chain for harvest laborers.
In January, I was privileged to speak at a youth missions summit in Guatemala. Three hundred young people from around Latin America converged in Guatemala City to hear missions-related preaching, teaching, and testimonies. Sort of a mini CROSSCON, this event reminded me of the importance of continued investment in the Latin American church.
Healthy churches in places like Latin America are the nations’ best chance for hearing the gospel. If the billions of people who have never heard are to receive this life-giving message, it will be because the global church is strengthened by the very gospel it proclaims and continually sends workers into the harvest.