“How did \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a start?” someone asks. Let me tell you its story.
Here we stand before \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a. It is a beacon of faith in Chiba. This church has a rich history. It is deeply rooted in the community.
The seeds of \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a were sown long ago. The church belongs to the Japan Holiness Church. It is a Protestant Christian church.
Its history can be traced back to 1930. At that time, missionaries from Tokyo Bible Institute formed evangelistic teams. They came to Chiba to spread their faith.
In the years 1931 to 1933 a church was established in 本町3丁目. Pastor 静四郎 田中 was dispatched to lead the congregation. In 1934, the church moved to 長洲町. 大林 勇夫 took over the pastoral duties. However, World War II brought immense challenges. The church was forced to disband.
After the war, in 1949, the Japan Holiness Church was re-established. The Oriental Missionary Society formed the “Gospel Cross Army”. It achieved great success throughout Japan. In 1952, 富士見町 and 長洲町 in Chiba saw missionary work.
That year, Pastor 山里 忠男 led the efforts. He had served in Taiwan for about 20 years. He gathered people in private homes for worship. This continued for about nine years.
In July 1961, Rev. 松村 悦夫 and his wife, 百子, were assigned to 千葉. They received full support from Pastor 山里. On August 6, 1961, \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a was officially founded.
The first service was held at Pastor 山里’s home. Later, services were held at two locations. These were 作草部 and 松村 Pastor’s home in 若松町. For seven years, until August 1968, the church met at the Chiba Prefectural Old Education Hall. The church grew during this time.
In August 1968, a new church building was constructed. It was located in the current 仁戸名町. On November 3, 1968, a dedication ceremony was held. Missionary work began in 仁戸名.
In 1979, \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a gained recognition as a religious corporation. In 1986, the new church building was dedicated at 仁戸名町502-4.
Today, \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a continues its mission. It stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of hope in the community. The church has two branch churches. One is the Hachijo Christ Eiko Church. The other is the Sakaida Christ Mission. About 50 people gather every Sunday for worship. The church also hosts various events. These include prayer meetings and Bible studies.
\u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a is more than just a building. It is a community. It is a family. The church welcomes all to experience God’s love.
As we stand here today let us remember the journey of \u5343\u8449\u6804\u5149\u6559\u4f1a. Its history is filled with faith perseverance and a deep commitment to serving the community. It is a place where faith and community intertwine.