Shinsaibashi!

It all started with Japanese Christians who had a burden for a specific area of Osaka called Shinsaibashi. This area was known for being rougher and being a magnet for young people. More specifically, the Japanese Christians felt the need to go the American Village (Amera-Mura), a section of Shinsaibashi. Meant to be a replica of America, one walk through Amera-Mura and you can physically sense the darkness. Japanese would warn me not to go to Amera-Mura at night by myself. Japanese Christians began to meet once a week and prayerwalk the area, asking God to open doors to get the gospel in. Completely unaware this was happening, other missionaries and I felt a need for a volunteer team in May to prayerwalk this area. We didn't have any kind of ministry in this area of Osaka, but wanted to see something start there. We broke the team into four groups and sent them out to prayer walk Amera-Mura. After they had finished praying, they gathered back in the courtyard of the area, and as they were standing there, people began coming up to the team and asked them what they were doing. By just merely standing in the courtyard, the team talked and shared with 13 people that night. Later we learned that the area was consistently and fervently being prayed for by Japanese Christians. A Japanese Christian guy moved to an apartment in Shinsaibashi to live among the people there. His apartment has become a headquarters of sort...each weekend Christians, both Japanese and foreigners, gather there for prayer and worship, debrief and bounce ideas and strategies off each other, and then head out to Amera-Mura to be among the people and to purposely go out with the intention of evangelism. Doors are being opened and the gospel is entering an area that is without doubt under the enemy's dominion. It's very exciting to be part of this...an effort where Christians from established churches and house churches coming together to reach an area that is difficult but in desperate need of Christ. Pray for Shinsaibashi and Amera-Mura! The mini-Statue of Liberty in Amera-Mura. Street in Amera-Mura. A sign in Amera-Mura...it's a clothing store. The courtyard in Amera-Mura...a major gathering point in the area. On the weekends, it can get really crowded here. Street in Amera-Mura. Stores in Amera-Mura. Graffiti. I try to stay clear of any tattoo/piercing salons that say "No Pain, No Gain". Some fashion in Amera-Mura...it's kind of a new twist on the kimono.