Japan Missions Updates - 6/20/26
Good evening from Okinawa friends!
Our family has been here in Okinawa for the last week. This is where we believe The Lord is calling us to serve long-term. Per Joshua Project there are approximately 1,151,000 people living in Okinawa. Of these people, only between 0.1 and 2% are Christian.
We attended church service this past Sunday at Gospel Life here in Okinawa. This was a house church that was planted a few years back and has since grown to about 50 international people. We were very blessed to be able to stay in the guest room at the church for a little over a week. The Senior Pastor grew up in Okinawa and preaches entirely in Japanese while a live translator interprets everything.
Pastor Soh, the Senior Pastor, took our family around to different spots on the island including Peace Memorial Park. Like Hiroshima, Okinawa has this memorial for lives lost. These lives were lost in The Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Growing up on the island Pastor Soh has a wealth of knowledge of the culture and history which was a blessing to hear about. Our fellow Pioneers missionary, Jocelyn, came with us and translated everything.
Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan. It has one of the highest divorce rates as well as the highest number of single moms in the country. Many of the single moms have children from service members who have since left the island. This has led to many struggling with personal identity.
We have also spent time with Jocelyn and another Gospel Life Pastor, Jon, as well. Jocelyn moved here awhile back from Canada and Jon is the pastor who planted Gospel Life Church a few years back. Jocelyn took us to several areas and one of them was Shuri Castle. Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom previously and Shuri Castle was the palace that the king had lived in. Our family has also learned a lot from them both about Okinawa and the culture.
One of the highlights of our time in Okinawa has been meeting up with long time friends of Jenn's family. We've also been able to reconnect with her cousins ex-wife and children. The time spent with them helps remind us why God called us here specifically.
Please pray for the following in regards to Okinawa:
1.) The lost of Okinawa to come to know The Lord Jesus Christ.
2.) That those living in Okinawa would find their true identity in Jesus.
3.) The churches in general to be united in the mission of reaching the Okinawan people.
Our family so appreciates all your prayers and support. We hope these messages are an encouragement to you and we will post again next week!
Logan, Jennifer, Lucas and Lucy Goolsby
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which The Lord has promised to those who love Him."
(James 1:12)
Our family has been here in Okinawa for the last week. This is where we believe The Lord is calling us to serve long-term. Per Joshua Project there are approximately 1,151,000 people living in Okinawa. Of these people, only between 0.1 and 2% are Christian.
We attended church service this past Sunday at Gospel Life here in Okinawa. This was a house church that was planted a few years back and has since grown to about 50 international people. We were very blessed to be able to stay in the guest room at the church for a little over a week. The Senior Pastor grew up in Okinawa and preaches entirely in Japanese while a live translator interprets everything.
Pastor Soh, the Senior Pastor, took our family around to different spots on the island including Peace Memorial Park. Like Hiroshima, Okinawa has this memorial for lives lost. These lives were lost in The Battle of Okinawa in 1945. Growing up on the island Pastor Soh has a wealth of knowledge of the culture and history which was a blessing to hear about. Our fellow Pioneers missionary, Jocelyn, came with us and translated everything.
Okinawa is the poorest prefecture in Japan. It has one of the highest divorce rates as well as the highest number of single moms in the country. Many of the single moms have children from service members who have since left the island. This has led to many struggling with personal identity.
We have also spent time with Jocelyn and another Gospel Life Pastor, Jon, as well. Jocelyn moved here awhile back from Canada and Jon is the pastor who planted Gospel Life Church a few years back. Jocelyn took us to several areas and one of them was Shuri Castle. Okinawa was known as the Ryukyu Kingdom previously and Shuri Castle was the palace that the king had lived in. Our family has also learned a lot from them both about Okinawa and the culture.
One of the highlights of our time in Okinawa has been meeting up with long time friends of Jenn's family. We've also been able to reconnect with her cousins ex-wife and children. The time spent with them helps remind us why God called us here specifically.
Please pray for the following in regards to Okinawa:
1.) The lost of Okinawa to come to know The Lord Jesus Christ.
2.) That those living in Okinawa would find their true identity in Jesus.
3.) The churches in general to be united in the mission of reaching the Okinawan people.
Our family so appreciates all your prayers and support. We hope these messages are an encouragement to you and we will post again next week!
Logan, Jennifer, Lucas and Lucy Goolsby
"Blessed is a man who perseveres under trial; for once he has been approved, he will receive the crown of life which The Lord has promised to those who love Him."
(James 1:12)
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