Sharing the gospel with a Japanese friend

I had the opportunity to share the gospel with my Japanese colleague during one of my business trips to Japan. Although we moved in a group visiting customers and conducting meetings, I had the opportunity to sit next to him in one of the long rides on a Shinkansen (bullet train) from Tokyo to Osaka.

I took this opportunity to know his background, hobbies and family better. It was been a while since we met and it was a great time to catch up especially on long train rides like this. I thought this would be an appropriate time to bring the message of God’s salvation across to him too. While my friend’s command of English is limited, I tried my best. Knowing his mobile phone was installed with language translation software. I requested him to check the translation on words like “Salvation”, “Sin”, “Holy Spirit” and “Speaking in tongues” as I shared the key points of God’s salvation with him. My intention was to make sure he understood me and he responded with “I see, I see.” each time he read the translation.

Later I asked him if he had anyone to share the gospel with him like I did. He told me he had an English teacher in the past who was a missionary. I did not ask if the missionary shared the gospel with him though. Nevertheless he commented that this is the first time someone shared his religion so “strongly” with him. In Japanese culture, I do not know whether “strongly” meant I was not polite or I was very direct in my sharing. He did not seem offended though and we had a great time even after my sharing. Anyway I believe the message has been clearly delivered.

God will be using someone else to touch him again in at the right time and at the right place. I want to thank God for allowing me to be part of His divine plan for my Japanese colleague.

Steve