Kunitsugu Ohnishi

Kuni grew up in a Christian home in Osaka. After graduating from a seminary in Japan, he had studied Spiritual Formation and Soul Care at Talbot School of Theology of Biola University in Southern California. While in the US, he learned about Japanese who become Christians outside of Japan. He found a vision and possibilities of Japan mission and discipleship with the returnees. After serving as one of the pastors at Sa Rang Church in Southern California, currently, he is planting a church (second year) in Kansai as a JEMS missionary. He has a wife and two daughters. JCFN Kansai Associate Staff. Pastor at “A Church without a name (yet)”.

Prayer Requests

1. Please pray that I will speak only what God wants me to speak at EC20.
2. Pray that I would listen closely to God and to the committee members.
3. Pray that I would speak clearly and would be filled with the Holy Spirit. 

Saku Kuroda

Saku, when he was young, quit a “salaryman” life and became a pastor in Osaka. He became a Christian in high school through “Free English Class” (with tea time at the end) by very kind and fascinating missionaries. When he got married he made a promise not to become a teacher nor a pastor, but broke that promise, became a pastor and served 13 years in Kishiwada, 28 years in Hawaii, and 6 years in Kochi as a teacher, and now serving at a church plant as a “Otasuke Man (Support Pastor)”. Enjoying life with his wife.

Prayer Request

1. Pray that God would use the generational gap I have with the participants.

Satoru Nakanishi 

Satoru grew up in an Athiest family in Yokohama. While studying at Judson University in outskirt of Chicago, he met Jesus and became a Christian. Two years later he attended Urbana 96, and there he encountered JCFN and attended the very first EC in 1997. God spoke to him at that EC and he decided to return to Japan. With his business degree, he worked in Tokyo for Oracle Corporation Japan and Japan Delphi Automotive Systems. For six years, he struggled and trained as a sales person in charge of Toyota Motor Corp. That is when he felt a call to become a pastor. At EC 2002 and 2004, he struggled with this calling. Jack and Keiko Marshall, one of the EC speakers, introduced him to Reagent College in Vancouver Canada. Upon completion of M.Div. in 2009, he began serving as a Japanese pastor at The Japanese Presbyterian Church of Seattle. He also serves as a board for Reaching Japanese for Christ. His wife is from Shinshu and a son (13 years old) born in Canada, and a daughter in Seattle (9 years old). His hobby motto is “Wide and Shallow”. He loves sports, music, anything! He is into Shogi these days.

Prayer Request

1. Pray that I would listen to the Lord, connected tightly with Christ, continue to grow in Him.

Sho Ichikawa 

Born in Kichijoji, Tokyo. 47 years old. At the age of 28, Sho suffered from depression, but met Jesus Christ and was healed. Since 2018, he began serving as a pastor at Japanese American Christian Chapel in Camarillo and Riverside Free Methodist Church in Riverside. He loves ministering to grandpa and grandma. “I am a joyful ossan (middle-aged man)!”

Prayer Request

1. Please pray that, ini this COVID-19 situation, we will be able to provide a safe environment of worship where elderly of the church would be able to attend with no fear.

Manabu Nishikori

Born in Osaka in 1963. Grew up in Tokyo. Manabu grew up as a Pastor’s kid as a model Christian kid, but while in university, he was struck by God’s love displayed with Jesus’ cross, and liberated. He came to the US to study in 1992, to San Diego, Atlanta, and New Jersey. He began serving as a pastor at New Jersey Japanese Christ Church in 1997. His favorite things are weather forecast, Crab fishing, roasting coffee, and thinking about crazy fun programs for children.

Prayer Request

1. Please pray that my heart and body will be protected, always filled with joy, thanksgiving and love as I live.