A special Christian conference for mission to Japan is held to equip believers to reach out to the Japanese with the Gospel.

Reaching Japanese for Christ (RJC) Conference is set on Feb. 17-19 at Northshore Baptist Church in Seattle, Washington D.C. with a pre-conference held Feb. 16. The Conference aims to equip both North Americans and Japanese "by missionaries, pastors, Christian Japanese and other para-church staff who have invested, collectively, over 200 years in ministry to reaching Japanese for Christ."

"Few Japanese know Christ as their personal savior. With over five hundred thousand Japanese living in North America each year as students and workers, now is there best chance to hear the ‘Good News’. While in America it is a time to consider the Gospel without the social and professional pressures of Japanese society, " RJC stated on its website.

In three days, over 30 workshops, general sessions, discussion groups, resource tables and panels will take place. 30 workshops are essentially divided into six categories: Japanese culture and the Gospel; understanding Japanese culture; sharing the "Good News" with Japanese; discipling Japanese; preparing Japanese Christians to return Home; and ministry opportunities in Japan.

All the workshop presenters are experts who have rich real experiences in ministering Japanese Christians. One of the most difficult issues for Japanese mission is how to keep the faith of the Japanese Christians who are converted in the U.S. after they return to Japan, according to RJC.

Barry and Jan Potter -missionaries of OMF International serving Japan for the past 28 years- is going to present a workshop to suggest some strategies to help Japanese cope with the inevitable challenges in Japan. Ray and Sharon Gosden serving at a Japanese American Christian Church in Kirkland will also present the workshop "How to Prepare Japanese Christians to Return."

Tetsuya (Ted) Fukusaku, born in Japan but became a Christian in the U.S., will discuss about the difference between heart conversion and head conversion in one of the workshops, explaining why many Japanese have only gone through head conversion in the U.S. Fukusaku is now pastor of Vancouver Japanese Gospel Church.

This year is the fifth year such Conference is held. Chairman, RJC Committe Don Wright said, "Each conference has been better than the previous, and now for the fifth conference we are looking forward to expanding the workshops so that there will be additional tracks for pastors, evangelism training, and for Japanese who are just beginning to consider Jesus."

The main sessions will be held in English, with worship mixed. Some specific workshop tracks are available in Japanese for Japanese participants. Please visit the website for further details about the conference: http://www.rjcconference.com.