John’s mission is to connect lost people in Asia to Jesus, preaching Christ crucified and bearing witness to Jesus Christ by living a life surrendered to the leading of the Holy Spirit (John 3, Acts 1). His desire is to bridge the gap between the church building and those who are lost through grassroots evangelism and discipleship.
“And I, brethren, when I came to you, did not come with excellence of speech or of wisdom declaring to you the testimony of God. For I determined not to know anything among you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:1–2
Based in Okinawa, Japan, John is serving under the direct supervision and guidance of Yomitan International Church (YIC) in Yomitan Village, Okinawa. Between 1% and 2.07% of the local Okinawan population is Christian, making the harvest in Okinawa plentiful.
John has spent 35 months over the past five years in Asia teaching, exploring, and completing intensive cross-cultural discipleship training. Most recently, he lived in Okinawa, Japan, for 10 months, volunteering and working at a faith-based after-school program. He has seen firsthand the massive need for Holy Spirit-led believers to bear witness to Jesus Christ in Japan and in Asia at large, and he has witnessed openness to the Gospel.
Before Asia, John served as a Captain in the U.S. Army. He earned a BS from James Madison University in 2014.
Abide
Abiding in Jesus Christ is the driving force behind John’s work in Asia and the driving force behind his life. He has discovered that fruitfulness in God’s Kingdom is directly tied to abiding in communion with the Father and the Son through the Holy Spirit every day.
“Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing.” John 15:4–5
John will complete a ministry internship with YIC, while studying and practicing conversational Japanese. Long-term, he plans to continue working in communities in Asia that have limited Gospel access.
