Vision & History
Vision
Tokyo Life Church exists to be a diverse community in the greater Tokyo area that will bring life and give hope, so that Japan will experience the Gospel and be transformed.
Mission
Transformation through:
- Connecting with God Personally:
- Connecting with God's People
- Connecting with God's Purposes
Core Values
*Grace (Ephesians 2:8-9): God’s grace is the only basis for our salvation. It is not due to anything we could do or earn. Just as God loved us despite our mistakes and sins, we desire our community to be a place of grace, where we are loved and accepted despite our past or failings.
*Relevance (1 Corinthians 9:19-23): As the creator and sustainer of our world and life, God is relevant to our world. Since God wants to speak and connect with everyone in Japan, we communicate the Bible, which is God’s Word, in ways that are accessible and meaningful, so that the ancient truths can speak fresh words of life for us today.
*Authenticity (Hebrews 12:1, Colossians 2:6-7, James 5:16): We aim to become people of integrity and character, who look more and more like Jesus. As we are all at various points in this journey of growth, our community is to model honesty, transparency, and love. Our church is a safe place to open up about our lives, struggles, and doubts. With the help of a loving, encouraging community, we believe God can transform our lives and enable growth.
*Community (John 13:34-35, Acts 2:42-47, Ephesians 4:15-16): Life was created for relationships. God Himself is community: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. God intended us to be connected with one another. It is in community that we grow, as we share life together, extend forgiveness, listen to each other, and encourage one another. Though sin divides us, the cross unifies us from all ethnicities, ages, social classes, and backgrounds.
*Evangelism (Matthew 28:18-20, 2 Corinthians 5:18-21): We are compelled by Christ’s compassion and commands to share the Good News (the Gospel) about God’s love with everyone. Just as God has given us new life and hope, we invite others to experience this new life that is possible through Jesus. Through our words and actions, we seek to share God’s love in ways that are respectful, personal, relevant, and prayerful for all those who do not yet know God.
History
The story of Tokyo Life Church begins in a place you would never imagine. In a house that stood on Highrock Street in a suburb of Boston gathered a small group of Korean Americans. They would pray and study the Bible in a living room, dreaming one day they would become a different kind of church where they could invite their friends. Their dream came true. Highrock Covenant Church is now one of the fastest growing, multi-ethnic churches in the greater Boston area, even reaching out to Japanese families studying there. Within the last five years, Highrock has planted four other Highrock Churches. This momentum was carried into Tokyo as the pastors of our church came back to Japan in 2013 with the vision of starting a church that gives life and brings hope to the people of Japan.
As a child is born of two parents, boy needed to meet girl in order to give birth to Tokyo Life Church. Highrock met a partner church, Kurume Bible Fellowship (KBF), where the leadership had been searching how they could best use their gifts and resources to impact Tokyo. They seriously wrestled with the challenge from God: “To whom much is given, much is required.” God providentially opened the door for the pastors of Tokyo Life Church to serve on staff at KBF in order to form a launch team for the church plant. One year later, several Japanese and the internationals felt called to join the church plant even though it meant they would leave their friends and comfort at KBF. These God-loving, passionate, missional people who are called out by God began worshipping in the heart of Ikebukuro in July 2014, slowly inviting their friends to their community. This community officially launched as Tokyo Life Church in January 2015.