How about a place where faith and community intertwine? That place is the \u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a. It stands as a testament to Christian values in Nishinomiya, Hyogo. This church is easily accessible from both Osaka and Kobe. It is a welcoming space for all.
\u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a began in 1974. Neil and Jan Browning, missionaries with TEAM, established the Mondo Christian Center. They were assisted by other missionaries. These included Jan and Merry Goodman. In January 1975, the first worship service of \u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a took place.
The church joined JECA in 1981. JECA is the Japan Evangelical Christian Alliance. Later that year, the Brownings returned home. In 1984, Hidetake Kashihara became the pastor. He served until 1986. Masahiro Morita then took over. He pastored from 1988 to 2001.
\u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a moved in 1993. It relocated from its old building to the Mondo West Building 3F. The church experienced the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake in 1995. Daisuke Tokunaga became pastor in 2001. He continues to serve today. David and Beck Mackintosh, CMS missionaries, joined in 2016. Also in 2016, Takao Yamada became assistant pastor. Yoshiki Matsuoka became a cooperative pastor in 2018.
Currently, \u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a is located at Mondo West Building 3F. Its address is 15-3 Mondosou, Nishinomiya-shi, Hyogo-ken. The postal code is 662-0825. You can reach it by train. Take the Hankyu Electric Railway Imazu Line to Mondo Yakujin Station. The church is a short walk from the station’s west exit.
Each Sunday at 10:30, \u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a holds its main service. Prayer meetings occur every Wednesday from 8 PM to 9 PM. Approximately 60 to 70 adults and children gather for worship.
\u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a has seven prayers. These include loving and revering God. The church focuses on the Bible. Members support and love each other. They also pray without ceasing. The church aims to spread the gospel. It hopes many will find salvation. It seeks justice and peace.
In 2021, the church adopted a theme. It is “Give birth to the day in the deep night”. This theme reflects a passage from Romans 13:12. \u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a will celebrate its 50th anniversary in 2025. This milestone marks decades of faith. It shows community service in the region.
\u9580\u6238\u8056\u66f8\u6559\u4f1a stands as a beacon. It is a testament to faith and community. The church continues to welcome all. It invites everyone to share in its journey.