PMI Missionaries
Koji & Marcia Esaki
Ministry Area: Japan
Responsibilities: Church growth
E-mail Address: marciaesaki@hotmail.com
Koji and Marcia, and their daughters Hana and Mae, have been serving in Japan since 1993. Over the years, Koji has pastored a mission planted church and co-pastored another church plant in Nagoya, with 2.2 million in its city limits (similar to Houston, TX). Koji continues to preach monthly at a Nagoya church plant by MTW, and serve as an elder there.
In 2005, Koji and family felt led to begin a Sunday worship service in the empty room above his mother's coffee shop. This central area of Japan is not far from Nagoya, and it is where Koji spent his formative years from age six until college.
This is the first church from the Japan Presbytery in Gifu City, population 400,000. The church has attracted mainly non-believers who have never held a Bible in their hands or attended a worship service. Growth is slow, but there are opportunities to reach out through English classes and general friendship in the community.
As a result of pastoring a church in Gifu City, the Gifu Prefecture correctional system invited Koji to be a visiting Presbyterian chaplain for the 400 inmates. Koji leads a monthly worship service and monthly Bible studies for any who wish to attend.
Latest Report: (updated 7/19/2010)
Amazing Grace Church, Gifu:
Understand the Gospel,
Live the Gospel
Share the Gospel
Please pray that Itsuko Aoki (back right corner), and Koji's cousin, Taeko Ando, would be open to a preparation class for baptism. Both have been attending church for some time.
Mr. Kamimura is our once-a-month organist. He is a non-believer, and a graduate music student, who has been with us for almost three years. God has miraculously used him to compose preludes based on the Bible text of the service. Please pray for his conversion.
Praise for the attendance at the seasonal seminars held at the church. Spring, 2009, began with a Christian counselor, who spoke on Anger Management. The Summer 2010 Seminar on Thank You for Life, by a dynamic 84-year old pastor, drew 30 people. This November, a former Buddhist priest (now a pastor), will be speaking on Buddhism and Christianity.
Pray for two new families (parents, children, grandparents) to begin attending Amazing Grace Church.
Gifu Prefectural Prison: Praise! After almost no prisoners coming in March and April, prison officials have allowed six prisoners to come for counseling/Bible study in June and July. Every session includes a prison guard. The June's worship service had almost 40 attending, the largest number in the last couple of years. We pray that the Spirit would continue to move in this prison.
Gifu Prefecture Prison Christmas service
Hana and Mae: Hana continues in Human Resources, but for a different company, and Mae will be taking a six-month break from school to work for a design company. We are so grateful that they can live together in New York City, and God has richly blessed and provided for them. They are attending Redeemer church, and we pray for their continued spiritual growth.
Thank you for your faithful support to this ministry in Japan.
In His Grip,
Koji, Marcia, Hana and Mae
Presbyterian Mission International
12330 Conway Road
St. Louis, Missouri 63141
Telephone: (314) 434-4044
Fax: (314) 434-4819
