All about Higashiyama Christ Church
2023/10/14
~ Our Mission and History of our Church~
Our Mission
Gospel for all peoples, all nations, and the world! We will continue our activities with the aim of becoming a church that loves God's Word, values worship and prayer, is full of praise, and serves the community.
About our Church
Higashiyama Christ Church is a Protestant Baptist church affiliated with the Japan Baptist Convention. We hope to be a church that puts the Lord God first, places importance on praise and prayer, and offers rich worship, so that people of all ages, from small children to the elderly, can gather together with peace of mind. We hope that our church will be open to the community, comfortable and easy for anyone to come to.
We sincerely pray that the hope of the Lord Jesus' death on the cross and resurrection will reach the whole world, and that the church will live its mission of delivering the gospel.
This church is located in a quiet residential area in Chikusa Ward, east of central Nagoya. It is also an educational district, with Tashiro Elementary School, Shiroyama Junior High School, Sugiyama Jogakuen, Nagoya University, and Nanzan University nearby.
Established in 1962, we have walked a history of over 60 years in Honami Town. Led by its predecessor, the late Pastor Isao Tamaki, it used to host activities open to the community, such as calligraphy classes, painting classes, and a plaza where parents and children could gather.
As for the name of the church, we've heard that it was named after the Higashiyama Zoo & Botanical Garden. There were three churches in Chikusa Ward with almost the same name, Higashiyama Church. Even now, there are some people who visit our church with the intention of participating in ceremonial occasions held at Catholic Higashiyama Church. We sometimes give them a map or guide them to the church!
Although Higashiyama Christ Church is located in an urban, we hope to be called an urban oasis or a town hideout. Also we hope to be a church that provides spiritual peace and healing, and anyone can feel comfortable visiting us. You'll feel exactly the same way what we wanted, once you visit.
“Knowing God’s Love” (Aichi Prefecture) “, ”Sowing a thousand Seeds of the Gospel from Ancient Times” (Chikusa Ward, Nagoya City) , ”Ahead of harvest, panicles are beating in waves” (Honami Town), and the Church has been planted in a good land. That's the Higashiyama Christ Church!
History of this Church
April 1, 1962: Established as a mission station under the direct control of the Japan Baptist Convention, with Japan Baptist Nagoya Christ Church as its parent church, and missionary work started at the home of missionary Reiji Hoshizaki (3-36 Mitana-cho, Chikusa-ku). did.
In 1964, the church moved to its current location in Honami Town, and the church was completed in 1965. 1966 The parsonage is completed.
1967: Conducted church organization. 1968: Joined the Japan Baptist Convention.
September 23, 2012 50th Anniversary Appreciation Service & Love Concert (Flute: Kaori Shion)
September 25, 2022 60th Anniversary Service of Mission Start [Sermon “Worshiping Together” (Matthew 16:13-17), Pastor Ikeda Ikeda (Cooperating Pastor, Japan Baptist Nagoya Christ Church)]
As a Baptist Church
Higashiyama Christ Church is a Protestant Baptist church*1 that is affiliated with the Japan Baptist Convention. The origins of the denomination can be traced back to the Southern Baptist Convention of the United States. The seeds of the gospel were sown around 1961 by Japanese American missionaries Reiji and Alice Hoshizaki, and Higashiyama Christ Church was born in April 1962 with Japan Baptist Nagoya Christ Church as its parent church. Missionary Hoshizaki and his wife have been involved in the birth of many churches, including Shizuoka Baptist Church. Following Higashiyama Church, Hirabari Christ Church began its missionary work in 1970.
The Japan Baptist Convention*2 has 316 member churches (including mission stations) nationwide, from Hokkaido in the north to Okinawa in the south. The 13 churches in the Chubu region (Aichi, Gifu, Mie, Fukui, Ishikawa, and Toyama) are also members of the Chubu Regional Baptist Union. We work hard to evangelize while cooperating with each other.
Higashiyama Christ Church, as a church descended from the Baptist tradition, as well as a broadly Protestant church, transcends the differences between denominations, and lives on the mission of delivering the joy of the gospel to Japan and the entire world. We will continue to do so.
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*1 Characteristics of Baptists:
- Emphasis on the Bible, 2. Christ-centered, 3. Believer's Baptism, 4. Respect for baptism, 5. Universal priesthood and democratic church management, 6. Cherishing each local churches, 7. Principle of separation of church and state
*2 Japan Baptist convention:
Currently, 316 churches and missions are members.
Related organizations include Nippon Baptist Hospital (Japan Baptist Medical Group, Kyoto City), Hisayama Rehabilitation Center (support facility for people with severe mental and physical disabilities, Hisayama Town, Kasuya District, Fukuoka Prefecture), Seinan Gakuin (kindergarten to university, Fukuoka City), Seinan There is a connection with Jogakuin (kindergarten to university, Kitakyushu City).
Formerly operated Amagi Sanso (Izu City, Shizuoka Prefecture, currently owned by another organization).