Five years ago, Nilesh Raveendran and his wife, Risa, embarked upon the adventure of planting Community Church, Nagoya (Japan). The vision, from day one, has been discernibly evangelistic; the church has endeavoured to reach into family networks and friendships, asking God for salvation and believing for a multiplying move of the Spirit in Nagoya and beyond.

This steady and often challenging work, underpinned by constant prayer and a commitment to the New Testament ethic of making disciples who make disciples, is bearing fruit in exciting ways.

And as the roots deepen and the shoots begin to show, one of the ways the church is preparing itself for the harvest ahead is through Activate, a new internship programme designed to strengthen, equip and release workers for gospel mission in Japan.

Relational bonds: leaders from Relational Mission churches in the UK visiting a gathering in Nagoya

A coming harvest needs workers

Nearly two decades in Japan have only reinforced what Nilesh has long believed: the country needs missionaries and church planters who are not only willing to be sent but also equipped to do God’s work with wisdom, cultural understanding, resilience and gospel depth.

Ten years ago, that conviction was put into bold relief. Riding a bus to Takayama, Nilesh sensed God speaking through a picture of many beautiful fish. This arresting image, he interpreted, as a coming harvest. A handful of truths immediately sprang to mind: 1) Japan is not forgotten. 2) God is at work. And 3) the church must prepare.

Jesus’ words in Matthew 9 cut through with fresh clarity: “The harvest is plentiful but the workers are few.” The need was indeed great, but rather than become despondent, Nilesh asked the Lord of the harvest to send workers. Trusting he’d been heard and that God would grant his request, Nilesh began building pathways to train, strengthen and release the coming workers.

Activate: strengthen, equip, release

Delivered alongside seasoned missionaries, Activate combines spiritual formation with hands-on training through both a 3-month mini internship and a 1-year internship. Above all, the programme helps interns discern their calling, develop practical tools for disciple-making and learn how to serve faithfully and effectively in their mission field.

Activate is built around three integrated strands:

A) Weekly training sessions

These sessions combine vision, strategy and tools for church planting and disciple-making with a focus on cross-cultural understanding grounded in biblical theology.

B) Japanese study

Because shared language is key to meaningful communication and helps bridge social and cultural divides, intensive Japanese study is available as an optional part of the programme.

C) Application

Interns apply what they’re learning through outreach opportunities such as Global Café, campus ministry and homeless outreach.

How you can help

As Activate continues to develop, there are some integral ways the wider Relational Mission family can stand with Community Church. You won’t be surprised that the majority of them revolve around prayer!

Pray for fruitfulness and salvation, especially among young people, as campus outreach grows and relationships deepen.
Pray for continued interest in both the 3-month and 1-year internship options.
Pray for strength and growth for the church, especially as God leads others to join with the right gifts and calling to advance the vision.
Pray for continued financial provision as the church works towards long-term sustainability through regular giving.
And if you know someone who is exploring overseas mission, has a heart for Japan or is sensing a call to cross-cultural disciple-making, tell them about Activate. Sometimes a single conversation can change the course of a life.

These prayers are big, but they’re not too big for our God. Jesus can and will turn this nation around. He will cause many Japanese people to come to faith and be gloriously caught up in His plans and purposes.

As the Lord continues to move, let’s join with Nilesh and the rest of Community Church in praise and celebration. We stand with our brothers and sisters in trusting for a multiplying Relational Mission church plant that serves the city and plays its part across Japan and East Asia.

Lord, bless the Activate internship!