The Rural Japan Church Planting Network (RJCPN) facilitates connection, relationship-building, information gathering/sharing, and diverse collaboration among those with a heart for Japan’s unchurched areas (all rural at this stage) so that they may be more rapidly reached with the gospel.
Our Vision is the presence of an established church or other lasting regular local gospel witness in each of the 1800 unchurched rural areas remaining in Japan.
Our Mission
Our mission is to facilitate the reaching of Japan’s unchurched rural areas (URAs) via…
- prayer and worker mobilization
- awareness building
- data research and sharing
- idea & info exchange
- mutual equipping & encouragement
- collaboration in an environment that honors diverse approaches.
The main activities through which RJCPN carries out its mission are tracking unchurched areas, prayer/newsletter, seminars, regional gatherings, and an adoption program for high priority unchurched areas. Learn more about our activities.
Our History
RJCPN stemmed from the founder’s vision in 2007 and launched in 2009. RJCPN’s coordinator Dawn Birkner has been leading church plants in previously unchurched rural areas of Japan since 2001. By 2007, God had given her an unrelenting burden for Japan’s 1800 unchurched areas, which led to a vision for a network to increase awareness of their need for church plants and to encourage and help connect those ministering in rural Japan. By 2009, God brought together enough people with a similar heart to begin RJCPN. The network has been gradually expanded its activities since then. Come grow with us as we continue to develop, together helping empower and serve a grass roots movement to reach Japan’s remaining unchurched areas.