About us
New parents, graphic artists, future missionaries to Japan...we're all of these things and more. Our life's goal is to glorify God by a life of worship, service, devotion, creativity, integrity, and love for the people whom He has placed in our lives. We long to bring redemption through relationship; impacting lives by investing in people.
Our mission
When we first met in the year 2000, we discovered that God had given each of us an interest in Japan. A few years later, God gave Mike an almost unthinkable (and at that time impossible) calling to pursue career missionary work there. Over the years this calling has been refined, shaped, and tested, over and over again, with God showing Himself faithful at every step. Eventually it became clear that God is calling us to a ministry of Christian counseling in Japan, and we have been working toward this vision ever since.
Mike holds a Master of Arts in Counseling from Reformed Theological Seminary (May 2010), and is currently working toward obtaining licensure as a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) in the state of Maryland. We hope to achieve this goal by the year 2012. Around this same time we also hope to begin raising support with Mission to the World, the missions sending agengy of the Presbyterian Church in America.
Why Japan?
“My son just died. Do you think I will see him in heaven? There’s no one at my church that I feel like I can ask this question to.”
“My husband used to profess Christ, but now he seems to have no interest in spiritual things. He is always so distant. I don’t know what to do.”
“My husband and I hardly ever talk. We’re both silent during dinner, then he goes to his room to watch TV. I think our relationship is pretty typical of most couples.”
These are the voices of real Japanese friends and acquaintances. In our conversations with them, we saw years of hidden pain and suffering. We longed to be able to recommend capable local Christian or pastoral counselors to these individuals, but often there was no one to whom we felt we could point our hurting friends.
There are millions in Japan that need counseling. Rampant pornography, daily suicides, teenage prostitution, failing marriages, young men who won’t leave their rooms--there is much brokenness here. But more than just counseling, people need the life-changing gospel of Jesus Christ. By partnering with local churches, our dream is to bring health, hope, and wholness to hurting souls, and in doing so point them to the true Healer who loves them.
Some key areas of ministry we’re excited about seeing unfold in Japan are:
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Equipping Japanese pastors, elders & lay leaders to counsel out of a deeper understanding of grace
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Discipling local church members towards emotional health and spiritual maturity
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Encouraging, assisting, and counseling missionaries
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Providing educational seminars for the community on various topics (anxiety, pornography, depression)
Why licensure?
You may be wondering, "Why is Mike bothering to pursue professional licensure in the United States when he hopes to spend his career in Japan working with local churches? Isn't this a time-consuming (and costly) departure from your real goal?" The truth is, U.S. professional licensure may not be valid in Japan for conducting for-profit psychotherapy, but it will nevertheless be key to the success of our future counseling ministry.
Not only will licensure serve as valuable experience and further professional training, it will also open doors to many otherwise inaccessable ministry opportunities. Credentials are important in Japanese society, and those four little letters after his name will enable Mike to more easily gain the trust of the people he ministers to. Finally, by obtaining licensure, Mike will be demonstrating his commitment and willingness to work hard for the sake of transforming Japanese society.
Interested in praying for us? Visit our support page.