New Chapels

As a church, we believe in church planting. As the name of the church indicates, we are primarily concerned about the church in the Tsugaru. Since we want to put time and yen behind our vision, we have dedicated 5% of the church budget to new starts. Over and above that, there are special donations.
Harvest Chapel is the church's first attempt to start a new congregation/campus. In order to prepare and to confirm God's leading and timing a building was rented for 2 years and many meetings were held to develop contacts. That has now led to the opening of a new chapel.
We don't want to sit back on our hammocks now, but be even more proactive. So we have begun looking for a place to rent in another area we believe God is leading us to start. There are a number of believers from this area already, there are a number of new people who are intested in church meetings. We don't want to be run ahead and not confirm God's timing.

Why is noone planting new churches?

This is the question asked last night by a vibrant Christian in his 70's. He was born into the Catholic religion, became a strait-laced evangelical, and then went to the pentecostals to get some freedom. He recently graduated from an on-line seminary. He would love to be involved in starting new chruches but hasn't found anyone who is willing to help. Somehow he was directed to talk to me.
I have no idea what we should do about it, since he belongs to another church but as we prayed together, there was an assurance that Jesus would guide.
But his question does beg an answer. The last 2 churches started in the Tsugaru peninsula, home to 500,000 people were Itayanagi in 1991 and Kanagi in 1994.
The Tsugaru Church's prayer is to Jesus to allow us the privelege of seeing his name proclaimed to the 499,400 people who weren't in churches yesterday and then helping the ones who respond to God's working in their hearts to know and love Him more.

Church Planting in the Tsugaru

In order to further the church's impact on the local community, and to help the people of the Tsugaru Peninsula come into a life-transforming encounter with Jesus Christ, Tsugaru Gospel Church is considering the following ministries:
### Bus ministry
The infrastructure of the Tsugaru Peninsula does not permit many of its inhabitants to easily attend a church in one of the centers. Because they will usually not make the first move to attend an existing chapel, and because we do not have the resources to start a chapel in every village, we are praying about ways to go to them. We are currently looking for a bus to purchase, which we will use for itinerate evangelistic circuits, similar to the days of early circuit riding preacher. Among other events, we hope to have music, preaching and puppet shows.
### Chapel planting ministry
Tsugaru Church is a multi-congregation church. In other words, Tsugaru Church is one church with more than one congregation(chapel). As God leads and works in His mercy, Tsugaru Church is praying toward opening ministry that would lead to five new Chapels by the end of 2010. Please contact us if you are interested in assisting with going, sending or facilitating.
For more info check out our blog on [Church Planting in Rural Japan](http://japanruralchurch.blogspot.com/)