Sunday at Yamato Calvary Chapel

On Sunday, we joined the Nitta family for worship at Yamato Calvary Chapel. It’s one of the largest churches in Japan, with a beautiful two story sanctuary that welcomes hundreds of worshippers across 3 packed services. The ministry center, a short walk away, hosts children’s worship as well as a youth service called J-plus.

We attended two services in the morning. Looking around me, I was encouraged to be surrounded by worshipers of all ages — young married couples, single young adults, and grandparents with their grandkids. The folks we met afterwards were eager to indicate their Christian lineage— 3rd gen Christian, etc— much like we do with our proud American heritage back home. 

Later on at lunch, we met the young adults of the church. Yoshi and Hikaru were eager to hear about America and what seminary life was like back home. They invited us out to youth service later that evening. 

J-Plus was upbeat music in a dimly lit room— very Hillsongesque. A member gave a testimony about his time as a missionary in Israel. The pastor spoke of the Good Samaritan from Luke 10. This was an affirming space of faith, where young Christians, a small minority in Yamato, could sing and praise God aloud and receive encouragement from others doing the same. I came away very moved by this worship experience, struck by the expressions of passion and boldness I saw there.

-Li