A new paradigm in Japanese ministry: God at work through Southern Baptists in the Pacific Northwest

Baptist History and Heritage, Summer-Fall, 2004 by Michitsugu Yokoi

(1.) For the purposes of this paper, the term Japanese refers to first- or second-generation Japanese- speaking people with strong ties to their home country.

(2.) Mike Yokoy, pastor of Japanese International Baptist Church, interview by author, April 27, 2004.

(3.) Japanese Consulate of Portland, interview by author, April 20, 2004.

(4.) Shelby Oppel, "The Separation Between Church and Oregon," The Oregonian, September 18, 2002, A01.

(5.) Shiro Sasaki, "Various Problems and Biblical Solutions Facing the Japanese Ministry in the Pacific Northwest" (D.Min. project, Western Conservative Baptist Seminary, 1983), 3.

(6.) Southern Baptist Japanese language work existed in the Northwest before 1979, as well as non-Southern Baptist Japanese churches. For example, the Japanese Baptist Church (American Baptist) in Seattle was organized in 1897. See J. C. Baker, Churches of the Northwest (Philadelphia, PA: American Baptist Publication Society, 1912), 248-49, 344-48.

(7.) John T. Kamiyama, interview by author, April 12, 2004. Though originally from Okinawa, Japan, Kamiyama studied English in Dallas, Texas, before his arrival in Oregon.

(8.) Ibid. In the interview, Kamiyama requested to have a statement in this paper expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the members of Metropolitan Baptist Church for their support and partnership during that time.

(9.) Ibid. Interestingly, Kamiyama and Sasaki had known each other in Texas. Sasaki finished his M.Div. at Southwestern and pastored a Japanese congregation at Gambrell Baptist Church (the church is now the First Japanese Baptist Church of' Fort Worth). Kamiyama studied English in Dallas and often attended Sasaki's church. Sasaki was also the one who recommended Kamiyama to the ministry in Utah. Sasaki himself had been offered the post, but he planned to pursue a doctorate at Western Conservative Baptist Seminary in Portland, Oregon.

(10.) Sasaki returned to the United States sixteen years later following an invitation from Yokoy to pastor a church plant in Phoenix, Arizona.

(11.) James L. Watters, "Japanese Congregation--Newest NW Church: Ceremony Attended By Local Mayors and Congressional Staffers Marks a New Departure for Ethnic Work in the Northwest Northwest Baptist Witness, February 28, 1989, 5.

(12.) Yokoy, interview.

(13.) Albert W. Wardin, Jr., Baptists in Oregon (Portland, OR: Judson Baptist College, 1969), 357.

(14.) James L. Watters; "Graduated ... Ordained ... Called to Serve: Japan's Masaomi Takeuchi Finds His Pilgrimage Tough, But Oh, So Wonderful," Northwest Baptist Witness, June 25, 1993, 3.

Michitsugu (Mitch) Yokoi is music and youth minister at the Japanese International Baptist Church in Portland, Oregon.