Almost two years ago, Jamison & Kathryne Pals and their three children were killed in a car accident while traveling to Colorado for a final training with their missions agency, WorldVenture, before they would leave for Japan. God is using this tragic event to further the spread of the gospel throughout Japan. I’m honored to invite Kathy Pals (Jamison’s mother) to share one of the significant ways God is working in Japan.

On July 31, 2016, Bethlehem members Jamison & Kathryne (Engel) Pals, along with their three children, Ezra, Violet, and newborn Calvin, were tragically killed when a semi-truck rear-ended them, and their van exploded into flames. They had moved from their home, had given away most of their earthly goods, and were on their way to a final missionary training before leaving to serve at Christ Bible Institute (CBI) in Nagoya, Japan.  

The Pals family loved the people of Japan, desired to share the joy of Christ, and to see Christ-centered churches planted. (Read about their passion at their blog JoyofJapan.org.)  In honor of their memory, CBI is excited to announce the formation of the Joy of Japan Center for Church Planting and Development.

The Joy of Japan Center is a fresh work that seeks to bolster a blossoming movement of church-planting throughout Japan and has already been blessed by resource partnerships with ... 

• Japan Church Planting Institute 
• Redeemer City to City Asia Pacific
• Japan Presbyterian Mission 
• Park Cities Presbyterian Church
• The Jamison & Kathryne Pals Family Foundation

Official Launch!

The Joy of Japan Center will host conferences and panels specifically focused on key topics for ministry in Japan. You are invited to attend the first training event to be held July 13–14, 2018, in Nagoya, Japan. Dr. Paul Tripp will be teaching lessons from his book, Dangerous Calling, geared toward church planters and revitalizers. Dr. Tripp is a pastor, author, conference speaker, and president of Paul Tripp Ministries. He works to connect the transforming power of Jesus Christ to everyday life.

The Joy of Japan Center is a ministry of CBI and exists to enable the next generation of church planters to revitalize existing or establish new churches, serve as a launch point to share the gospel, and continue to grow outward into the surrounding areas. Ultimately, we pray that the gospel and glory of Christ will be cherished and proclaimed throughout all of Japan. Would you pray with us?

• Pray for the launch of the Joy of Japan Center.
• Pray that God would prepare new workers to go and serve.
• Pray that many in Japan would experience the joy that can only be found in the love of Jesus.