Several months have passed since a massive earthquake and tsunami struck the northeast region of Japan. According to statistics by Japan’s National Police Agency, 15,698 lives were lost, 5,717 people were injured and 4,666 are still missing. Furthermore, over 125,000 buildings were damaged or destroyed. The overall cost of the devastation could exceed US$300 billion, making it the most expensive natural disaster on record.
The numbers are telling of a nation and its people stricken by tremendous loss and despair. In a country traditionally known to be apathetic to the gospel, we now have an unprecedented opportunity to bring the message of eternal hope to many who may never before have felt the need for a Savior. We are convinced the Lord brought History Maker to Osaka for such a time as this!
The missions team comprised of both youth and adults from Hong Kong and Singapore, including a one-year-old baby who is part of a 27-member entourage led by Pastors Amos and Teresa Tsang. The size of their team is a third of their church congregation! The Hong Kong team’s passion for missions is truly commendable, because prior to this trip they were in Taipei for the History Maker Conference. With much excitement Singapore’s 4-member team led by Hannah Ho arrived in Osaka on the Monday night, a day earlier than the Hong Kong team, and all ready to win the city for Jesus.
On Tuesday morning, the team started their day at 6:30am with prayer walk along the streets of Doutonburi (a popular tourist destination lined with shops and restaurants), taking authority over the land for Christ! Again in the evening they covered the same neighborhood in prayer – person by person, business by business, building by building – taking spiritual ownership of the city and laying claim every place they tread upon for the Lord (Joshua 1:3).
Early the next morning at 6:30am the team went to Namba-Naka to pray and intercede for the community. It is only through prayer that the ground can be broken up for the seed of the gospel to be planted and produce a harvest. The team prayed against the powers of darkness, disarming principalities and pulling down strongholds over the city. With eyes of faith they began to release the Kingdom of God, declaring that Osaka belongs to Jesus!
In the afternoon the team was back at the Doutonburi Bridge – this time to do street outreach. A group sang praises unto the Lord as they played musical instruments. A few others danced in worship using flags. Another group performed a skit entitled “The Kingdom.” The rest went around handing out gospel tracts to curious bystanders that had gathered around, sharing the gospel despite the language barrier. 
Every person was involved in some way or the other – and they did what was assigned to them with remarkable passion and boldness. Even under the blazing hot sun the team displayed a spirit of excellence and was utterly focused on their job without a word of complain.
Later that evening the team did more street evangelism at Namba-Naka, just before the night meeting at Hope Chapel. The pastor in-charge is an American who has been ministering in Japan for many years now and speaks fluent Japanese. With just a guitar for praise and worship, the group had an awesome time in the Lord’s presence, even though it was just a small group meeting. Pastor Amos shared a word of exhortation that evening. The Spirit of God moved and touched lives, bringing salvation to a middle-aged Japanese man, and ministered strength and encouragement to the others. They had been praying for the Lord to send people to encourage them, and their prayer was answered by the team’s ministry. Heaven rejoiced that day when that one soul was saved!
On the final day, the team got up early for prayer walk at the American Village and Tsutenkaku areas. During prayer walking, they learned how to “watch and pray,” to become more aware of what is going on in the spiritual realm. As they tuned in to God and listened, they began to be guided by the Spirit and received insights on how they to pray. They were better able to understand God’s purposes and plans for the city and pray accordingly. It is always exciting to be led by the Spirit – and we can expect Him to reveal things to our hearts!
Around lunchtime members were sent out two by two at the American Village, to pray over the area, and then to do street evangelism. Later in the evening, the team proceeded to Tsutenkaku for more street outreach. Members were sent off in groups of four to do prayer walk around the area. Thereafter, the team came back together for the music, dance and skit performances. Praise God that everything went well that day!
There are many testimonies of God’s goodness, faithfulness and provision for this missions trip. Every person stepped out in faith and received a personal breakthrough. For some the Lord provided the finances for them to go on this trip. Others, despite their sickness, were able to serve and minister and were strengthened in the process. There are mothers in the team who sacrificed their time to go on this trip, and God gave them the assurance that He will take care of their families. In every situation our mighty God is more than able to meet every need.
This is the beginning of a new church plant that History Maker is starting in Osaka. The Hong Kong team played a significant role in laying the groundwork of prayer and sowing the seeds of the gospel. We are thankful for their support and their labor for the Kingdom, and pray that many more teams from different nations will capture that similar heart for missions and “go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation” (Mark 16:15). God will surely fulfill the good work He has started in Osaka and bring it to completion. More work has to be done – the gates of hell will not prevail against the Church!
