Starting in the Samurai Projects【Autumn 2026 Newsletter】

My name is Kaori Omoto, and I am taking part in the Samurai Projects in Tokyo. Alongside my studies in the Samurai Projects, I am serving as an intern at Toyosu Community Church.

I grew up with an atheist father and a devout Buddhist mother, and Christianity and Christians were completely outside my life experience. However, in 2016, moving to Cambridge in the UK because of my husband’s work became a major turning point in my life. I still remember being deeply struck by the warmth and love I experienced from a Christian family I met there. It was so completely different from the families I had known before.

A Christian friend invited me to church, and as I began studying the Bible, I repented and came to believe in Jesus. God not only gradually changed me, but also restored my marriage, which had been on the verge of breaking down. I am truly grateful for His abundant grace.

After returning to Japan, I experienced various trials and struggles in my life of faith. Yet each time, I felt the Lord’s great love and support. Gradually, God placed in my heart a desire to share this wonderful grace and hope, and the good news of Jesus, with as many people as possible.

While I was in the UK, I learned that there were many programs for training people to teach the Bible, and I prayed that there might one day be opportunities for this kind of learning in Japan too. It was during this time that I discovered the Samurai Projects. After seeking advice from Christian friends and my church pastor, and praying about it, I applied and was given the opportunity to begin studying this April. I am deeply thankful that God has answered the prayers of both my church and me, and has led me to this course.

As the oldest participant, I initially wondered whether I would be able to keep up with the classes and whether I would be able to relate well to my younger classmates. However, those concerns quickly disappeared. The teachers, staff and fellow students welcomed me so warmly, and I was given an environment in which I could learn with confidence and peace of mind.

In the Samurai Projects, I am studying biblical exegesis, gospel-centred living, children’s ministry and other subjects. Every class has been a great blessing, but biblical exegesis, gospel-centred living, and children’s ministry have been particularly significant areas of learning for me.

In the biblical exegesis classes, I am learning how to read the Bible correctly and how important it is to carefully understand what the original authors intended to communicate. Even in passages I have read many times before, I have discovered new things, and I have once again been amazed by the richness of God’s Word. This learning has not only deepened my own understanding of the Bible, but has also been a great help when sharing God’s Word at church.

Through the classes on gospel-centred living, I am being reminded that the gospel is not only the message through which we become Christians, but also God’s grace that sustains us in our daily walk after becoming Christians. My gratitude for the gospel has deepened through these studies, and it brings me great joy to see what I am learning being put into practice in one-to-one Bible studies and in my service at church.

One of the things I am particularly thankful for about the Samurai Projects is the way classroom learning is closely connected with practical ministry. Not only am I able to put what I learn into practice at church, but I am also able to learn alongside like-minded people from a variety of churches, encouraging and supporting one another. At my church, my pastor also serves as my trainer, providing discipleship, advice and encouragement. This is another great blessing. In this environment, I can see how God is gradually shaping me and helping me to grow.

The children’s ministry class has also been an unforgettable experience. Working as a team, we thought carefully about how to communicate the Bible and the gospel to children in ways that would be clear and enjoyable. We shared our ideas and wisdom and developed a lesson together. We were then given the opportunity to put the lesson into practice at my church together with the other Samurai students on my team.

The children took part enthusiastically and seemed to enjoy the lesson. They answered the questions with energy and recited the memory verse loudly and confidently. One particular moment has stayed with me. There was a child who would usually sit quietly by themselves at the edge of the room. As the lesson progressed, the child gradually moved closer to us, and by the end joined in the activities with everyone else. Seeing this, I felt that God was working in the heart of each child, and I was greatly encouraged.

I am currently involved in youth ministry, children’s ministry and one-to-one Bible studies at my church. What I am learning through the Samurai Projects does not remain in the classroom; it is being put into practice in my daily ministry. I am thankful that, through this training, God is shaping me and preparing me to serve His church.

I believe that having such a wonderful opportunity to learn is, above all, a gift of God’s grace, but it is also possible because of all of you who continually support us through your prayers and generous giving. I am very glad to be able to report that your prayers and support are not only contributing to our learning, but are also bearing fruit in our ministry in the church.

Thank you so much for your continued prayers and warm support. I hope to continue walking with God, learning His Word more deeply and sharing the gospel with children and with those who do not yet know Jesus Christ. I would be very grateful if you would continue to pray for me.