Introducing a Samurai intern【Autumn 2024 Newsletter】

Natsumi Shoyama Tokyo Center Church, Tsukishima There are many struggles, both mental and physical, when living as a Christian in the workplace and in normal daily life. While working as a nurse, I had all kinds of conflicts with my co-workers, with patients, with doctors, and with the feelings and judgments that come up in each situation …

Introducing two of the five new Samurai 【Summer 2024 Newsletter】

Makoto Kawaguchi Kamoi Bible Church, Yokohama Nice to meet you! My name is Makoto Kawaguchi. I am a Samurai Projects intern at Kamoi Bible Church in Yokohama, Kanagawa Prefecture. The reason why I joined Samurai Projects is because I came to understand clearly that “God loves Japan and has not abandoned it.” I have repented for not …

Reflection from a graduating Samurai【Spring 2024 Newsletter】

Nakura ShinriSoma Tokyo I began the Samurai Projects with a desire to start a missional community in my home in Funabashi, Chiba, and to encourage Christians through worship. I am so thankful for the opportunity to study the Bible and work as a full-time intern at my church while confirming my calling and receiving financial support …

Samurai Projects, new semester begins! 【Summer 2022 Newsletter】

Samurai Projects Director James Ballinger The first class I attended in person at the Samurai Projects was, ironically, the graduation ceremony for three of our participants. It was a great joy to celebrate with Hirano-san, Li-san and Kevin as well as to hear presentations from some other Samurai about what they’d learned over the past …

Reflecting on the first year of the Samurai Projects 【Spring 2022 Newsletter】

It has been almost a year since Samurai Projects started in April 2021. As we look back the year it was filled with frustrated plans, such as James Ballinger who is the director of this project still hasn’t entered Japan yet because of Covid 19. But at the same time, it has been a year …

Samurai Projects (SP)【Winter 2021 Newsletter】

Tokyo Marunouchi Partnership Samurai Projects Director/ James Ballinger In March, all of my family’s belongings landed in Tokyo, it was our hope to arrive shortly afterwards, but because of the ongoing impact of Covid-19 we’ve been unable to obtain a visa, and subsequently all my work for the Samurai Projects has been online. Which, because …

2021 Summer Newsletter #1

Samurai Projects 2021 Spring semester begins! The Samurai Projects began a new term this April! Thank you so much for all your prayers and support that have enabled us to get us going. This year we have 7 participants, 3 men and 4 women from various churches. The participants study two days per week at …

2021 Spring Newsletter #2

The Unchanging Work of the Lord “Samurai Projects…what a funny name?!!” That was my first reaction when I heard the name Samurai Projects (SPs) for the first time. It was January 2020, when I joined Tokyo-Marunouchi Partnership (TMP) and were given the job of “Samurai Projects Researcher”. A little more than a year has passed …

2020 Winter Newsletter #2

Samurai Projects: Future direction involving 4 streams After a year of research, the future direction of the Samurai Projects was discussed at the end of August in the Tokyo Marunouchi Partnership (TMP) Board Meeting. The Board’s decision was to try to expand in the following four ways: 1. Expand the current program for training apprentices We …