Last week, I did the Annual Reviews for each of the Tokyo Marunouchi Partnership (TMP) staff members. Excluding me, there are eight staff at TMP, two in each of the four departments: Marunouchi Office Groups (MOGs), Samurai Projects (SPs), Marunouchi Church Tokyo (MCT), General Administration (ADM). As I was conducting the reviews for each staff member, it struck me afresh just how much fabulous work each one of these staff has done over 2025. One of the sections in the review is for the staff members to write down the things they have done in 2025. And it was such a joy for me to read these lists of activities and recall the joys and challenges of each of those events and the people who were encouraged and built up by each of those activities. When we were dreaming of this TMP work back in 2018, these kinds of activities and encouragements were exactly what we were praying for and hoping for. And our kind and powerful and gracious heavenly Father has provided what we asked for. My heart is full of thanks to Him.
Marunouchi Office Groups
In November, we completed the ninth running of the “Testimony in the Workplace” course, with a cohort of 15 people taking part in the 6-week course. It was a great encouragement for all.
And at the end of November, I had the privilege of baptizing one of the MOGs members, Richard Kershaw. I was introduced to him through Kyle Runnels, a fellow partner at Deloitte here in Marunouchi, who began speaking with Richard about Jesus after they met at a partner’s training event. Others have become Christians through the MOGs work, but Richard is the first person who has both become a Christian through the MOGs work and then I have had the privilege of baptizing with most of his group’s members in attendance at the baptism ceremony. In this sense, it feels like Richard is truly a delightful mark of God’s amazing grace in using the MOGs work. Richard’s testimony is included in this newsletter, and I would be most grateful if you could read his story.
Then, in December, we had a MOGs Christmas Party, with 106 people attending, including around 20-25% who are not yet Christians. And the feedback was very positive, for which we thank the LORD. The two speakers (Andrew Cho, Kenichiro Manabe) gave good presentations about the meaning of Christmas and how relationship with God impacts them in their workplaces. These parties are always a good opportunity for all 14 of the Marunouchi Office Groups to work together to invite friends to come and hear about Jesus.
Samurai Projects
The 12 Samurai participants did a mission week up in the northern island of Hokkaido in November, supporting the church where one of the Samurai works. Church work and mission is very different in Hokkaido compared to Tokyo. Only 600 people live in the sparsely populated and often very cold town, with many empty houses. And yet, the same LORD is at work there through the same Word and by the same Spirit, to achieve his gracious purposes.
Marunouchi Church Tokyo
Marunouchi Church Tokyo, in addition to the monthly Sunday services and Wednesday evening services, has been putting on various Hobby Clubs over the second half of 2025. These give an opportunity for Christians to invite their friends who are not yet Christian to come and have a relaxed time of fun together in and around the TMP office in Marunouchi. These clubs have been a lot of fun, with friendships being formed, and people taking the next steps towards considering Jesus. The Running Club, Movie Club, Art Club, Islam Culture (from a Christian perspective) Club, seem to have been especially encouraging for people over this period.
The LORD has opened the door for us to do these activities and has encouraged our team with fabulous teamwork over 2025. Please pray on for the LORD to give us wisdom and to work through us weak vessels here in Tokyo in order to rescue many and equip people to hold out the truth about God to many others who desperately need to hear of Jesus Christ.