First of all, welcome to my new blog. I’m creating this blog to give others the opportunity to keep posted on what God is doing in my life. I especially wanted to create it now, so that you can follow me during my trip to Japan this summer, but also so you can continue to follow me as God directs my life in the years to come.

For any of you who don’t know, I’m working on finishing my final week here at Word of Life Bible Institute, in Schroon Lake, New York. This is my second year here. The first year focused primarily on a comprehensive study of the Bible, laying a solid foundation of truth in my life. This second year has been much more ministry focused, as we learn a great deal more of how to continue to grow and utilize God’s Word on our own, as well as how to minister to others through His Word.

It’s a bittersweet thing as the school year comes to a close. I have learned so much, grown so much in my walk with God, and had so many great times here. But, I also am excited to turn the page to the next chapter of life that God has for me.

Prior to coming to the Bible Institute here, I intended to pursue a major in youth ministry, and I planned on serving as a youth pastor here in the States. However, through my friendships with Japanese students, and a couple who are now missionaries to Japan, as well as through my constant immersion in God’s Word, I began to have a growing realization of the needs outside of our own countries borders. God began to lay a burden on my heart to take the Gospel into a dark place; to take it to the lost people of this world.

My friendship with Kazuaki and Amy Kato played a major role in helping me come to realize the deep spiritual darkness of the nation of Japan, where less than .4% of the population are Christian. My heart breaks when I hear of how the last embers of truth and light are fading amidst the overwhelming spiritual darkness of that country. I desire to bring God’s light and truth to the people of Japan, both to reach those who have never heard it, and to encourage and lead those who have trusted Christ, but are so deeply struggling in their walk with the Lord.

I’ll talk about these burdens more in later posts, and will talk more about what specific ways I believe God is calling me to reach the Japanese people using the gifts that He has given me. I plan on going to Japan this summer, from June 10th to August 4th, to serve the Lord in Tokyo alongside Kazu and Amy Kato, and my friend, and fellow aspiring missionary, Adam Yoder. I hope that you will come along on this journey with me, and that you might be blessed as the words of this blog paint shadows of the beautiful things God has done, and is yet to do.

God bless.