Craving a church with a unique name and a global mission? Then welcome to TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH. This church has a rich history and a distinctive approach to faith.
TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH is located in Musashino. Musashino is a city immediately west of Tokyo. It has about 140000 residents. The church’s name reflects its location and its core values.
“Evangelical” shows the church’s commitment. It is committed to proclaiming the Gospel. They believe in the authority of Scripture. They see it as without error in its original form. Scripture is the only guide to faith.
“Free” describes the church’s governance. Local churches are free from a central authority. Lay people actively participate. They work alongside pastors and elected leaders. They make decisions for the church together.
Interestingly, TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH is also known as MCC. MCC stands for Musashino Chapel Center. This name came about when the church was founded. It reflected the “chapel model” of church planting. Now, a “sister church” association has superseded the chapel model. But the name MCC remains.
TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH started in October 1981. It was a joint effort. The Evangelical Free Church of Japan and the Evangelical Free Church of America Mission partnered. Pastor Yosuke Furuyama and missionary Stan Conrad founded the church.
From the beginning, Pastor Furuyama had a vision. He wanted English to be integral to the church. It wouldn’t just be an “English class outreach”. It would be a broader ministry. This would reach Japanese returnees and English-speaking foreigners. So, the “English Service” was born.
The English service grew. It took on a life of its own. The church decided to maintain a pastor specifically for the English congregation. In January 1985, Howard and Marilynn Plucar came to MCC. They came with the Evangelical Free Church of America Mission.
Since then, TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH has seen many changes. Pastors have come and gone. The church has faced trials. Yet, it has remained faithful. It continues to minister to both Japanese and international communities.
TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH is part of a larger movement. It is part of the Evangelical Free Church of Japan. This denomination started in 1949. Missionaries from the Evangelical Free Church of America founded it. Today, the Evangelical Free Church of Japan has over 60 churches.
The “free” in Evangelical Free Church means something specific. It means freedom from authority in faith. It means autonomy in church administration. It values voluntary faith. This is based on the free will of the individual. It opposes any coercion of faith. This reflects on problems when church and state were linked.
As you stand here, consider the journey of TOKYO MUSASHINO EVANGELICAL FREECHURCH. From its beginnings as a joint mission to its current role. It stands as a testament to faith. It is a beacon of community. It is a place where people from all nations can gather.