Yoshito Noguchi on Sharing the Gospel Through Missional Community in Japan

I've been directly involved in the I've been directly involved in the launch of over a dozen multi-site launch of over a dozen multi-site launch of over a dozen multi-site campuses through the church's I've led campuses through the church's I've led campuses through the church's I've led and half of them have been in movie and half of them have been in movie and half of them have been in movie theaters I'm convinced that every church theaters I'm convinced that every church theaters I'm convinced that every church leader should consider using a theater leader should consider using a theater leader should consider using a theater for your next campus or church plant for your next campus or church plant for your next campus or church plant they're flexible culturally relevant they're flexible culturally relevant they're flexible culturally relevant locations typically in the center of the locations typically in the center of the locations typically in the center of the community that you're trying to reach community that you're trying to reach community that you're trying to reach regal is the only theater company with a regal is the only theater company with a regal is the only theater company with a dedicated team of full-time consultants dedicated team of full-time consultants dedicated team of full-time consultants ready to help your church launch and ready to help your church launch and ready to help your church launch and succeed in a movie theater check out succeed in a movie theater check out succeed in a movie theater check out regal theater church com for more regal theater church com for more regal theater church com for more information on locations your church information on locations your church information on locations your church could use welcome to the uncinate could use welcome to the uncinate could use welcome to the uncinate podcast are you looking for practical podcast are you looking for practical podcast are you looking for practical ministry help to drive your ministry ministry help to drive your ministry ministry help to drive your ministry further faster have a sinking feeling further faster have a sinking feeling further faster have a sinking feeling that your ministry training didn't that your ministry training didn't that your ministry training didn't prepare you for the real world hey prepare you for the real world hey prepare you for the real world hey you're not alone join thousands of you're not alone join thousands of you're not alone join thousands of others in pursuit of stuff that we wish others in pursuit of stuff that we wish others in pursuit of stuff that we wish they had taught in seminary buckle up they had taught in seminary buckle up they had taught in seminary buckle up and let's get started with this week's and let's get started with this week's and let's get started with this week's on seminary podcast well happy Monday on seminary podcast well happy Monday on seminary podcast well happy Monday everybody its rich purged from the unsub everybody its rich purged from the unsub everybody its rich purged from the unsub inori Park podcast we are spending this inori Park podcast we are spending this inori Park podcast we are spending this month celebrating church leaders around month celebrating church leaders around month celebrating church leaders around the world and today we've got an the world and today we've got an the world and today we've got an incredible interview with Yoshii noguchi incredible interview with Yoshii noguchi incredible interview with Yoshii noguchi he's all the way from Tokyo Japan you're he's all the way from Tokyo Japan you're he's all the way from Tokyo Japan you're going to love today's conversation and going to love today's conversation and going to love today's conversation and don't forget we're doing all this to don't forget we're doing all this to don't forget we're doing all this to celebrate the launch of my first book celebrate the launch of my first book celebrate the launch of my first book it's called unreasonable churches ten it's called unreasonable churches ten it's called unreasonable churches ten churches who zagged while others egged churches who zagged while others egged churches who zagged while others egged and saw more impact because of it it and saw more impact because of it it and saw more impact because of it it comes out November first you can go to comes out November first you can go to comes out November first you can go to unreasonable churches dot-com today to unreasonable churches dot-com today to unreasonable churches dot-com today to make to get a sample chapter from that

make to get a sample chapter from that make to get a sample chapter from that we'd love for you to go over there pick we'd love for you to go over there pick we'd love for you to go over there pick one of those up you'll also get on a one of those up you'll also get on a one of those up you'll also get on a waiting list to be on the front of the waiting list to be on the front of the waiting list to be on the front of the line to learn about the launch of that line to learn about the launch of that line to learn about the launch of that book but enough about that let's jump in book but enough about that let's jump in book but enough about that let's jump in today's interview I love it because today's interview I love it because today's interview I love it because we're hearing from Tokyo Japan really we're hearing from Tokyo Japan really we're hearing from Tokyo Japan really the heart of Tokyo and we're hearing the heart of Tokyo and we're hearing the heart of Tokyo and we're hearing some incredible stories about how God is some incredible stories about how God is some incredible stories about how God is at work there so thanks so much and at work there so thanks so much and at work there so thanks so much and enjoy the special monday edition of the enjoy the special monday edition of the enjoy the special monday edition of the unsub inary podcast this is the unset unsub inary podcast this is the unset unsub inary podcast this is the unset Maneri podcast stuff you wish they Maneri podcast stuff you wish they Maneri podcast stuff you wish they taught in seminary what do you tell us a taught in seminary what do you tell us a taught in seminary what do you tell us a bit about Japan let's start with Japan bit about Japan let's start with Japan bit about Japan let's start with Japan give us a sense of kind of the spiritual give us a sense of kind of the spiritual give us a sense of kind of the spiritual climate most of the people that listen climate most of the people that listen climate most of the people that listen in to the podcaster from the States but in to the podcaster from the States but in to the podcaster from the States but I'd love to hear more about Japan okay I'd love to hear more about Japan okay I'd love to hear more about Japan okay I'll a being told kill and the greater I'll a being told kill and the greater I'll a being told kill and the greater area area area it's about 36 millions Wow people live it's about 36 millions Wow people live it's about 36 millions Wow people live and are less than one project accretions and are less than one project accretions and are less than one project accretions while and there only one thousand while and there only one thousand while and there only one thousand churches in cocoa Wow and the most of churches in cocoa Wow and the most of churches in cocoa Wow and the most of the people I meet is they never heard of the people I meet is they never heard of the people I meet is they never heard of the gospel and they never had the Bible the gospel and they never had the Bible the gospel and they never had the Bible in the hand and those are people I'm in the hand and those are people I'm in the hand and those are people I'm scrubbing and trying to love people and scrubbing and trying to love people and scrubbing and trying to love people and trying to share Christ that's amazing trying to share Christ that's amazing trying to share Christ that's amazing now tell me I give me a sense so one now tell me I give me a sense so one now tell me I give me a sense so one percent that's that seems incredibly percent that's that seems incredibly percent that's that seems incredibly small that's amazing you know what what small that's amazing you know what what small that's amazing you know what what are the kind of predominant faith are the kind of predominant faith are the kind of predominant faith systems or other people's you know systems or other people's you know systems or other people's you know what's their kind of religious what's their kind of religious what's their kind of religious background then okay most people believe background then okay most people believe background then okay most people believe in Buddhist and the Shinto and the most

in Buddhist and the Shinto and the most in Buddhist and the Shinto and the most of them practice you know our culture of them practice you know our culture of them practice you know our culture it's very much based on their traditions it's very much based on their traditions it's very much based on their traditions so some people even they don't believe so some people even they don't believe so some people even they don't believe but you know they practice you know you but you know they practice you know you but you know they practice you know you know once a year you know they go to try know once a year you know they go to try know once a year you know they go to try and the wardship and stuff like that and the wardship and stuff like that and the wardship and stuff like that right so this improv is it primarily right so this improv is it primarily right so this improv is it primarily kind of a cultural Buddhism kind of a kind of a cultural Buddhism kind of a kind of a cultural Buddhism kind of a you know like you're saying it's it's you know like you're saying it's it's you know like you're saying it's it's not it's like a it's kind of just not it's like a it's kind of just not it's like a it's kind of just infused in the society whether there infused in the society whether there infused in the society whether there there's kind of a deep you know belief there's kind of a deep you know belief there's kind of a deep you know belief or not yes um yeah most people they or not yes um yeah most people they or not yes um yeah most people they don't really pray yeah they don't be don't really pray yeah they don't be don't really pray yeah they don't be yeah it's more like you know based on yeah it's more like you know based on yeah it's more like you know based on it's becoming our culture you know some it's becoming our culture you know some it's becoming our culture you know some people don't really believe but you know people don't really believe but you know people don't really believe but you know they just for all the customs well you they just for all the customs well you they just for all the customs well you know so amazing so now you're placing a know so amazing so now you're placing a know so amazing so now you're placing a church in Tokyo tell us a bit oh I used church in Tokyo tell us a bit oh I used church in Tokyo tell us a bit oh I used to do you three is about eight years and to do you three is about eight years and to do you three is about eight years and got called me and my wife to move to got called me and my wife to move to got called me and my wife to move to Tokyo and to plant churches and and five Tokyo and to plant churches and and five Tokyo and to plant churches and and five years ago we moved and we start from years ago we moved and we start from years ago we moved and we start from basically from scratch we run the church basically from scratch we run the church basically from scratch we run the church and planting community of believers and and planting community of believers and and planting community of believers and first three years you know I had a job first three years you know I had a job first three years you know I had a job and and I was taking care elderly people and and I was taking care elderly people and and I was taking care elderly people and visiting house two houses and throw and visiting house two houses and throw and visiting house two houses and throw we some people our friends start coming we some people our friends start coming we some people our friends start coming of our living living rooms and start

of our living living rooms and start of our living living rooms and start sharing a life and start sharing the sharing a life and start sharing the sharing a life and start sharing the gospel and so yeah five years ago we gospel and so yeah five years ago we gospel and so yeah five years ago we started living in Tokyo with guts for started living in Tokyo with guts for started living in Tokyo with guts for intentionality song so you were intentionality song so you were intentionality song so you were sometimes that's referred to as kind of sometimes that's referred to as kind of sometimes that's referred to as kind of by vocational you were you know you were by vocational you were you know you were by vocational you were you know you were you were doing this you know work you you were doing this you know work you you were doing this you know work you know was paying your bills with you know know was paying your bills with you know know was paying your bills with you know caring for elderly folks and then you caring for elderly folks and then you caring for elderly folks and then you were just kind of relationally building were just kind of relationally building were just kind of relationally building you know you're kind of up your you know you're kind of up your you know you're kind of up your connections in the community what did connections in the community what did connections in the community what did that look like how are you kind of that look like how are you kind of that look like how are you kind of starting to build those relationships oh starting to build those relationships oh starting to build those relationships oh yeah it takes a lot of time because you yeah it takes a lot of time because you yeah it takes a lot of time because you know most of the main Japan's are very know most of the main Japan's are very know most of the main Japan's are very busy and they have only time maybe a busy and they have only time maybe a busy and they have only time maybe a weekend and in a few times a month and weekend and in a few times a month and weekend and in a few times a month and and also my wife is always out with my and also my wife is always out with my and also my wife is always out with my kids you know we have a kid and their kids you know we have a kid and their kids you know we have a kid and their parents you know so my mother my wife parents you know so my mother my wife parents you know so my mother my wife and their mothers game getting good and their mothers game getting good and their mothers game getting good friend mm-hmm so it takes time by no friend mm-hmm so it takes time by no friend mm-hmm so it takes time by no less than you know if you know us you less than you know if you know us you less than you know if you know us you know start living life here and we meet know start living life here and we meet know start living life here and we meet people at park and we meet people at people at park and we meet people at people at park and we meet people at school and here through there you know school and here through there you know school and here through there you know we try to get a deeper relationship well we try to get a deeper relationship well we try to get a deeper relationship well everyday life yeah can you tell us a everyday life yeah can you tell us a everyday life yeah can you tell us a story it may be one person that you've story it may be one person that you've story it may be one person that you've met maybe there it's you know at the met maybe there it's you know at the met maybe there it's you know at the park or you know through a relationship park or you know through a relationship park or you know through a relationship and you know give us a sense of how that and you know give us a sense of how that and you know give us a sense of how that that you know progressed yes I started that you know progressed yes I started that you know progressed yes I started to involve with our neighborhood you

to involve with our neighborhood you to involve with our neighborhood you know we have some government that run know we have some government that run know we have some government that run our government our neighborhood and we I our government our neighborhood and we I our government our neighborhood and we I just join the group and we you know just join the group and we you know just join the group and we you know sometimes we clean up a parking up rock sometimes we clean up a parking up rock sometimes we clean up a parking up rock and and they asked me to be a asked me and and they asked me to be a asked me and and they asked me to be a asked me to be their team and so I just you know to be their team and so I just you know to be their team and so I just you know serving our neighbors and through that I serving our neighbors and through that I serving our neighbors and through that I met one of the guys son he is he goes to met one of the guys son he is he goes to met one of the guys son he is he goes to college and I invite him for our two college and I invite him for our two college and I invite him for our two come to home for dinners and he knocks come to home for dinners and he knocks come to home for dinners and he knocks and then we hain't start hanging out in and then we hain't start hanging out in and then we hain't start hanging out in our living room and I know good movie our living room and I know good movie our living room and I know good movie and all that and yeah and and he sounds and all that and yeah and and he sounds and all that and yeah and and he sounds like he is very interested to learn more like he is very interested to learn more like he is very interested to learn more about a story of God so that we started about a story of God so that we started about a story of God so that we started you know after the one year relationship you know after the one year relationship you know after the one year relationship we start doing the story of God hmm so we start doing the story of God hmm so we start doing the story of God hmm so now tell me about that you know what now tell me about that you know what now tell me about that you know what what did that would that look like when what did that would that look like when what did that would that look like when you started talking about the story of you started talking about the story of you started talking about the story of God oh he really loved that story you God oh he really loved that story you God oh he really loved that story you know he never had the gospel before and know he never had the gospel before and know he never had the gospel before and he really liked it and he had many he really liked it and he had many he really liked it and he had many questions and after the story of God and questions and after the story of God and questions and after the story of God and he really accept Christ wow that's he really accept Christ wow that's he really accept Christ wow that's amazing yeah and then he decided to get amazing yeah and then he decided to get amazing yeah and then he decided to get baptized wow yeah that's amazing that's baptized wow yeah that's amazing that's baptized wow yeah that's amazing that's very clever that's two years of very clever that's two years of very clever that's two years of relationship yeah that's that's amazing

relationship yeah that's that's amazing relationship yeah that's that's amazing now in in your context have you moved now in in your context have you moved now in in your context have you moved from you know two public meetings is from you know two public meetings is from you know two public meetings is that a part of your strategy you know I that a part of your strategy you know I that a part of your strategy you know I the thing I appreciate is your your the thing I appreciate is your your the thing I appreciate is your your patience in this process and um you know patience in this process and um you know patience in this process and um you know and then but you know have you moved and then but you know have you moved and then but you know have you moved towards doing you know kind of public towards doing you know kind of public towards doing you know kind of public meetings yes we like first three years meetings yes we like first three years meetings yes we like first three years you know we just meet in my house and we you know we just meet in my house and we you know we just meet in my house and we started doing once a month we we start started doing once a month we we start started doing once a month we we start meeting at a bar in our neighborhood ok meeting at a bar in our neighborhood ok meeting at a bar in our neighborhood ok cool No so so once a month we start cool No so so once a month we start cool No so so once a month we start doing a gatherings and so Wow very cool doing a gatherings and so Wow very cool doing a gatherings and so Wow very cool what are those gatherings look like just what are those gatherings look like just what are those gatherings look like just more like you know equipping st. more like you know equipping st. more like you know equipping st. equipping Christians so we you know equipping Christians so we you know equipping Christians so we you know since we have a two missional since we have a two missional since we have a two missional communities you know we started meeting communities you know we started meeting communities you know we started meeting once a month all of a Christian come once a month all of a Christian come once a month all of a Christian come together and that since this year we together and that since this year we together and that since this year we started doing every week you know we started doing every week you know we started doing every week you know we just meet Wow doing gathering every week just meet Wow doing gathering every week just meet Wow doing gathering every week so that's amazing Yoshi that's that's so that's amazing Yoshi that's that's so that's amazing Yoshi that's that's incredible i love you know i love incredible i love you know i love incredible i love you know i love hearing that story what do you think the hearing that story what do you think the hearing that story what do you think the future looks like what do you think future looks like what do you think future looks like what do you think where does your ministry go next what where does your ministry go next what where does your ministry go next what are you looking forward to are you looking forward to are you looking forward to in the future we love to make disciples in the future we love to make disciples in the future we love to make disciples who good really plant missional who good really plant missional who good really plant missional community and living everyday life with community and living everyday life with community and living everyday life with the gospel intentional geez so we wanted

the gospel intentional geez so we wanted the gospel intentional geez so we wanted to see more communities missional to see more communities missional to see more communities missional communities everywhere in tokyo's so communities everywhere in tokyo's so communities everywhere in tokyo's so that people could see and the people that people could see and the people that people could see and the people could hear the gospel very cool we have could hear the gospel very cool we have could hear the gospel very cool we have said people can see the gospel what is said people can see the gospel what is said people can see the gospel what is the harm to you I mean like you know how the harm to you I mean like you know how the harm to you I mean like you know how I know Jesus say you know if you love I know Jesus say you know if you love I know Jesus say you know if you love one another you know they all know you one another you know they all know you one another you know they all know you at a disciple of Jesus so like a not at a disciple of Jesus so like a not at a disciple of Jesus so like a not because in Japan they never heard the because in Japan they never heard the because in Japan they never heard the gospel before and one with a powerful gospel before and one with a powerful gospel before and one with a powerful way to uh to proclaim Jesus is the first way to uh to proclaim Jesus is the first way to uh to proclaim Jesus is the first you know they have to see the gospel you you know they have to see the gospel you you know they have to see the gospel you know how much we love and how much we know how much we love and how much we know how much we love and how much we bless the people and how much we care bless the people and how much we care bless the people and how much we care about people very cool yeah and how much about people very cool yeah and how much about people very cool yeah and how much is how important is that do you think is how important is that do you think is how important is that do you think you know for people to understand or see you know for people to understand or see you know for people to understand or see how much you love folks when such a how much you love folks when such a how much you love folks when such a small percentage of you know your small percentage of you know your small percentage of you know your community you knows even knows what the community you knows even knows what the community you knows even knows what the Bible is or knows the story of God is Bible is or knows the story of God is Bible is or knows the story of God is that would you say that's critical oh that would you say that's critical oh that would you say that's critical oh yeah very much so and because like in yeah very much so and because like in yeah very much so and because like in Japan especially in Tokyo there are many Japan especially in Tokyo there are many Japan especially in Tokyo there are many other religions and many more men and other religions and many more men and other religions and many more men and many you know yeah everywhere so you many you know yeah everywhere so you many you know yeah everywhere so you know we wanted to be my wise to help you know we wanted to be my wise to help you know we wanted to be my wise to help you know yeah very cool well a lot of the know yeah very cool well a lot of the know yeah very cool well a lot of the people that listen in fact the majority people that listen in fact the majority people that listen in fact the majority of the people that listen to the show of the people that listen to the show of the people that listen to the show are from from the US and I wonder if you are from from the US and I wonder if you are from from the US and I wonder if you have any kind of advice or any you know

have any kind of advice or any you know have any kind of advice or any you know kind of a word of wisdom to church kind of a word of wisdom to church kind of a word of wisdom to church leaders in our country about you know leaders in our country about you know leaders in our country about you know about leading from you know from what about leading from you know from what about leading from you know from what you're learning in in Tokyo yeah I've you're learning in in Tokyo yeah I've you're learning in in Tokyo yeah I've been learning like you know God's been been learning like you know God's been been learning like you know God's been teaching me to be patient and you know teaching me to be patient and you know teaching me to be patient and you know we sometimes to look for a quick result we sometimes to look for a quick result we sometimes to look for a quick result so true and but making disciple takes so true and but making disciple takes so true and but making disciple takes horrible life you know and is it okay to horrible life you know and is it okay to horrible life you know and is it okay to not to see any fruit for not to see any fruit for not to see any fruit for two years or first 10 years and 5 20 two years or first 10 years and 5 20 two years or first 10 years and 5 20 years even 50 years are we still years even 50 years are we still years even 50 years are we still faithful to call debate in the front faithful to call debate in the front faithful to call debate in the front seat hmm that's a that's a good word seat hmm that's a that's a good word seat hmm that's a that's a good word brother I appreciate that you know the I brother I appreciate that you know the I brother I appreciate that you know the I think we can often we try to microwave think we can often we try to microwave think we can often we try to microwave discipleship we try to think what's the discipleship we try to think what's the discipleship we try to think what's the fastest way between you know today and fastest way between you know today and fastest way between you know today and fully devoted followers but it just fully devoted followers but it just fully devoted followers but it just takes time I yoshi i really appreciate takes time I yoshi i really appreciate takes time I yoshi i really appreciate you being on the show today thank you so you being on the show today thank you so you being on the show today thank you so much is there if people want to get in much is there if people want to get in much is there if people want to get in touch with you or learn more about your touch with you or learn more about your touch with you or learn more about your church how can they do that please look church how can they do that please look church how can they do that please look for home ma Japan com ok cool and I for home ma Japan com ok cool and I for home ma Japan com ok cool and I usually hear more story very cool yes usually hear more story very cool yes usually hear more story very cool yes yoshi thanks so much for being on the yoshi thanks so much for being on the yoshi thanks so much for being on the show today thank you very much thank you show today thank you very much thank you show today thank you very much thank you for tuning in to this week's unsung re for tuning in to this week's unsung re for tuning in to this week's unsung re podcast don't be shy we'd love to podcast don't be shy we'd love to podcast don't be shy we'd love to connect check out uncie maneri inbox you connect check out uncie maneri inbox you connect check out uncie maneri inbox you can sign up at unsummon re calm and can sign up at unsummon re calm and can sign up at unsummon re calm and we'll send you helpful training we'll send you helpful training we'll send you helpful training resources every week plus you'll gain

resources every week plus you'll gain resources every week plus you'll gain immediate access to our exclusive immediate access to our exclusive immediate access to our exclusive members area with tons of resources you members area with tons of resources you members area with tons of resources you can use connect with rich on twitter at can use connect with rich on twitter at can use connect with rich on twitter at rich birch or through email rich at rich birch or through email rich at rich birch or through email rich at unset Maneri calm don't forget to check unset Maneri calm don't forget to check unset Maneri calm don't forget to check out the show notes for this episode at out the show notes for this episode at out the show notes for this episode at unset maneri calm it includes links to unset maneri calm it includes links to unset maneri calm it includes links to what we talked about today and more what we talked about today and more what we talked about today and more leave a comment we'd love to hear from leave a comment we'd love to hear from leave a comment we'd love to hear from you did you enjoy today's episode drop you did you enjoy today's episode drop you did you enjoy today's episode drop by itunes and leave a review thanks by itunes and leave a review thanks by itunes and leave a review thanks again for tuning in to this week's on again for tuning in to this week's on again for tuning in to this week's on seminary podcast join us next week when seminary podcast join us next week when seminary podcast join us next week when we'll learn more stuff we wish they we'll learn more stuff we wish they we'll learn more stuff we wish they taught in seminary