The Church Planting Institute (CPI) of the Japan Evangelical Missionary Association (JEMA) started in 1994 with 29 missionaries in attendance. Since then we have trained over 2,500 different pastors, missionaries, and lay people from over 150 different mission agencies, denominations and churches. Missionaries and overseas visitors have come from over 30countries.

After the 3.11 quake we almost cancelled the CPI National Conference. I am glad we didn’t.

This biennial conference was bigger than in 2009! On November 9-11, nearly 340 missionaries, pastors, and laypeople gathered (along with over 100 children). The theme was “together” church planting in the wake of the quake. Many of those in attendance were from the Tohoku disaster areas or had worked there in ministry this past year.

The conference was a time of spiritual refreshment, inspiration, encouragement, and challenge for those attending. This was the first time the main sessions were from an all Japan cast. These speakers, who have been extensively involved in disaster response ministry, including two pastors from the disaster area (pastors Akira Sato of Fukushima First Baptist Church and Makoto Fukuda of Grace City Church), challenged those attending to be gospel-centered in all they do and to be compassionate like Jesus as the church extends to new areas. The main sessions used a new small group format for integration and application.

The conference had 20 Core Training sessions on evangelism, discipleship, small groups, prayer, worship, and other church planting training. Several sessions on personal care and support for those in ministry were sponsored by JEMA Member Care.

Among this year’s participants were 40 individuals connected to the PCA’s Mission to the World, as well as those from the Reformed Church of Japan, the Southern Baptist Convention and the Orthodox Presbyterian Church. Over all there were more than 65 groups represented at the conference.

Over 50 leaders met with CPI leaders where the leaders listened to them answer this question. “Over the next 2-5 years, what are some practical ways to advance God’s Kingdom to increase the number of disciples, leaders, and churches in Japan?” We are still compiling the answers which were extremely creative and helpful.

“We were struggling hard, but we got new encouragement, courage, and vision through CPI” reported one conference participant

As well many attendees felt that now is a great opportunity in Japan. Over 90 missionaries and 30 Japanese reported they plan to start new ministries, groups, and churches in the next 2-5 years. They believe that the church as a sending agency would plant more churches. This would extend Christ’s great compassion to Japan and beyond. Pray that God would make that happen.

Upcoming ministry will be Church Planter BootCamps in various regions (Kanto Nov 5-7, 2012) as well as more support and resourcing of church planters. The dates for the 2013 CPI Conference were set for November 11-15.

John Mehn and his wife, Elaine, have served as Baptist General Conference missionaries in Japan since 1985 with the primary ministry of cross-cultural church planting, direct evangelism and outreach, mobilization and equipping for church planting, leadership development, and spiritual renewal mentoring. Their home in Machida City, a large suburb of Tokyo with nearly 500,000 people, in addition to their residence, serves as a guest house, operations center for the JEMA Church Planting Institute (CPI), and a renewal center for women in ministry called The Spring. Since the March 3.11 disasters John has been assigned the Director of Disaster Response for Converge Worldwide Japan and is coordinating volunteer teams and relief to the area.