New Creation: Yoji | Jesus Changes Lives Episode 12

Life is Hard, God is Good

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Yoji grew up in a family full of fighting, especially due to his father’s love of women and alcohol. When he was eleven years old, Yoji’s mother died of cancer. In his first year of middle school, his father’s company went bankrupt so he ran away, leaving Yoji and his three siblings to take care of themselves, which was difficult both emotionally and financially. Yoji felt like he had nothing to live for and spent a lot of his time hanging out with friends.

One day after hanging out late with his friends, Yoji couldn’t go home because he didn’t have his key, so he was wandering aimlessly around his town. A man invited him to a cafe to learn about Jesus. Yoji wasn’t interested in Jesus, but the coffee sounded nice. It was Yoji’s first time hearing about the Bible.

That very same day Yoji became a Christian and was baptized!

After that, he was refreshed and had peace. The circumstances in his life didn’t change, but now he had peace.

As he grew up, he wanted to become a pastor and prison chaplain, so Yoji went to Bible school which is also where he met his beautiful wife. They got married and now have three daughters and two sons.

When he was 31, Yoji started a church in Kumamoto.

About seven years ago is when the two boys joined their family through foster care and adoption and they are a blessing to the family. God has blessed Yoji’s life in so many ways!

Yoji encourages Christians to pray for Japan and to tell the Japanese people about Jesus. In Japan, there is only about 1% of the population that is Christian - and that 1% includes all denominations. Out of all the countries in the world, Japan is the 2nd least reached country for Christ.

Japan is an economically rich country, but there are many broken families and children trying to build a good life for themselves. Let’s pray for Japan and spread the Good News about Jesus!

Romans 10:14-15 “How, then, can they call on Him they have not believed in? And how can they believe without hearing about Him? And how can they hear without a preacher? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written: How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”
Thank you Pastor Yoji for sharing your story! And thank you Drew for translating!
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Have a great week! May the LORD bless you and keep you!