Jesus For Japan: Bridging the Cultural Gap to Christianity - Paperback

by Maria Le Roux (Editor), Mariana Nesbitt (Author)

Christian growth in Japan has been slow. This book fills a cultural gap. It is a collection of insights from Japanese literature, the arts, and religion that will help solve the problem of making our ministry less foreign to the Japanese heart and mind. No other work to date has attempted to include this much information in one book, focusing on and using Japanese opinions, research and theology.Not only those working in Japan, struggling with language, culture and frustrating questions will benefit from the insights presented here, but also missiologists, theologians and students of cross-cultural evangelism. They will find this ground-breaking book to be organized in such a way that they can easily utilise the principles and guidelines it offers in their own spheres of work and study.12 chapters of cultural bridges Christianity will surprise and absorb the reader.

Author Biography

27 years of trying to understand Japanese culture has produced this book by career missionary, Mariana Nesbitt. An education diploma, 4 theological qualifications, culminating in Master's level research in Missiology, concentrating on Ancestor Practices has fitted the author to write this book. Those big moves: Cape Town to Japan, Athens to Tokyo. Japanese culture is so rich, one can discover new, interesting things every day. Mariana particularly enjoyed ceramics and through friendships was able to visit ancient pottery villages. Another joy was painting on silk with dyes. The kimono is a national treasure painted on silk. Mariana produced framed art on silk. A TV station was interested in her first Silk Painting exhibition. The last one was a big one entitled "Abundant World." It started with paintings of God's great creation, then the darkness brought by sin. Jesus' cross brought peace, forgiveness and ease of heart. The new heavens and earth was portrayed, bringing God's plan of redemption to the great finale. Mariana's primary ministry was friendship-evangelism and her friendly nature enabled her to get close to reserved Japanese people. She also took part in church planting. Almost continual illness, either of a child or herself contributed to the experience of sharing in Christ's sufferings. Her husband Jim does international missions' finance and administration. He also enjoyed a marriage/family ministry at St Mary's Church in Tokyo. The Nesbitts' 2 children and their 4 grandchildren are their delight. My prayer is that God will use the guidelines and information in this book in training and equipping gospel workers and in the hearts of individual Japanese that they may see "the great light" and worship Christ.