Support Committee Chairman Hiroaki Sato
Thank you for your continued interest in our site. Thank you very much. My name is Hiroaki Sato, Chairperson of the Support Committee.
Support group established after meeting with missionary Kashiwagura
In 1999, Missionary Hideyoshi Kashiwagura was baptized in San Diego, U.S.A. after graduating from college, and in 2009 he decided to return to San Diego for the salvation of the Japanese people living there, and he has continued to have a God-given vision.
I met Missionary Kashiwagura and his wife in Los Angeles in 2004 through a mutual friend. From the moment I met Missionary Kashiwagura, I could feel his passionate missionary spirit. I still vividly remember talking about our future and praying for each other. Since then, we have prayed and encouraged each other as friends whom God has allowed us to meet.
I love his passion for missions and his humanity. He may be clumsy at times, but I find his earnestness about people's salvation and his honesty in evangelism fascinating.
Church planting
He started a pioneer church in Yamagata City (his hometown) in April 2011. The church was called "Konomi-machi Christ Church" (later renamed "Konomi Christ Church"). In 2013, we had a meeting and prayer to decide the future direction of the church.
At first, we were thinking of missionary work in San Diego, U.S.A., but we were given the way to be sent to "Melbourne Japanese Christian Church" in Australia. Then, in 2014, "Hideyoshi and Haruka Overseas Japanese Mission Supporters Association" was established [The "Overseas Japanese Mission Newsletter" has been published since June of the same year].
Chairman Sato and Missionary Kashiwagura with Yamagata City in the background
To Australia
In March 2015, Missionary Kashiwagura and his family moved to Melbourne, Australia, and began pastoring "Melbourne Japanese Christian Church" and local missions.
In September 2016, when the Kashiwagura family temporarily returned to Japan, I was able to pastor "Melbourne Japanese Christian Church" for one month in their place. I was able to learn about the local mission situation and challenges. It was also a great blessing for me to be able to get to know the church members and have good fellowship with them.
In Japan, I prayed and supported the activities of the Kashiwagura missionary family while following "Konomi Christ Church" with the late Brother Masami Kato, who is the president of the support group, Pastor Hiroshi Kawasaki as a counselor, and myself.
The Kashiwagura missionary family will return to Japan in March 2019 due to the expiration of their visa, but during their four years of activities in Melbourne, they shared the gospel with more than 400 Japanese people and led 15 baptisms. I think it is a wonderful grace of the Lord.
After returning home
After returning to Japan in February 2019, the foundation of the support group was rebuilt through a series of dept. to churches across Japan to report on the Melbourne mission and share about the San Diego Japanese mission.
As we prayed and sought a new path "to obtain a missionary visa (R-1 visa)" for the San Diego Japanese mission, we got involved with JCPN (Southern Baptist Association of America, Japanese Language Department and Church Planting Department). However...
Entering 2020, our visa application was not granted, and that path was closed. While there is discouragement over the past year of preparation, knowing the new developments since then, I believe that we have experienced a trial from God.
Formation of core members of support association
In May 2020, a new membership was created in the Support Group and the "Support Association Core Members" were formed. I will continue to chair the committee, and Pastor Hiroshi Kawasaki, Pastor Yutaka Sugahara, Pastor Katsuya Ito, Pastor Hidenori Yanagihara, and Missionary Naoki Kagawa have joined us (Pastors Nobuaki Kadotani and Yui Masuda have joined us since May 2021).
Start of support and prayer meetings
Let's expand the circle of prayer," a supporter suggested the "ZOOM Prayer Meeting," which started on the third Friday of every month from 7:30 to 9:00 p.m. in September.
This prayer meeting has become the "power of the support group. This work begins with prayer. Prayer is the driving force and propulsion. We are always encouraged by the participation of many people.
In 2021, a new road
Our relationship with JCPN was blanked out and deputation was restricted due to the impact of COVID-19. There was some anxiety about what would happen in the future, but the support and prayers of the support group were a great source of strength.
Since the end of 2020, various issues have been resolved, and through God's mysterious guidance, in January 2021, Missions Door, an American Conservative Baptist domestic mission organization, became involved and decided to help us apply for R -1 visas.
In November, Missionary Kashiwagura went to the U.S. to visit San Diego. Especially with the help of Rev. Philip Waters (former missionary of Missions Door and elder of First Baptist church of Oceanside), we were able to make great progress by interacting with the local people and having discussions with Missions Door.
2022, Execution
In January 2022, with the help of Missons Door, the R-1 visa application was approved. This is an important step for Japanese missionaries in San Diego.
City of San Diego
Prayer Requests and Goals
- Please pray that the R-1 visa will be issued and that we will be able to make preparations (living quarters, housing, schools, etc.) for our trip to the U.S.
- Please pray that the missionary fund (over $6,000/month) will be filled.
- Please pray that the "circle of prayer" of those who support us will expand.
- Please pray that the number of churches that can be dept. will increase.
- Please pray for the health of Missionary Kashiwagura's family, both physically and mentally.
Request to our supporters
Missionary work cannot be done alone. We can only work with the support of those who support us.
To those who are reading this, please pray for missionary Kashiwagura to expand his mission. We also ask that those whose hearts are in the right place make a donation to help us meet our financial needs.
Please know that your support will lead to the salvation of the Japanese in America. You will be a part of God's precious work.
Thank you from the bottom of my heart for reading this far.
Hiroaki Sato
Pastor, Kisakata Christ Church
Worship! President, Japan Missionary Human Resource Development Institute