西宮南ルーテル・キリスト教会

Nestled in the heart of Nishinomiya, the Nishinomiya Lutheran Church has a unique story to tell. The church, also known as Nishiminami Fukuon Ruuteru Kyokai, isn’t just a place of worship. It represents the resilience and growth of Lutheranism in Japan. Our story begins not here, but on the southern island of Kyushu in 1893. Two Lutheran missionaries from the United States arrived, planting the seeds of faith in Kumamoto. The Lutheran movement slowly spread. By 1920, a small Lutheran church was formed in Japan. This early church faced trials during World War II, as the government pressured Protestant denominations to merge. Post-war, the Lutherans reorganized, and a wave of missionaries arrived. Between 1948 and 1954, twelve Lutheran churches from Europe and America established missions across Japan. The Lutheran Church–Missouri Synod (LCMS) focused on Tokyo, Niigata, Fukushima, Hokkaido, and Okinawa. This period saw an expansion of Lutheranism, leading to the establishment of five major Lutheran churches. One such church is the Japan Evangelical Lutheran Church (JELC) with around 20,000 members. The Nishinomiya Lutheran Church stands as a testament to this growth, serving as a beacon of faith in the Osaka area. It’s a reminder of the collaborative spirit among Lutheran churches, evident in joint seminaries and shared outreach ministries. The Nishinomiya Lutheran Church’s history is intertwined with the larger story of Lutheranism’s journey in Japan, a journey of faith, resilience, and community.