God has called me to serve in Japan with the Reaching Japan church-planting team. I’m Johnathan Gardner, raised in a Christian home and shaped by lifelong involvement in the church. After several years pursuing medical careers, God redirected my path through a short-term trip to Chile in 2025 and a recon trip to Japan in March 2026. Those experiences confirmed a clear call to long-term ministry with James Miyashita and the Reaching Japan team in Nagoya.

Japan is a nation of over 120 million people, but less than 1 % know Christ. Many live with little or no opportunity to hear the Gospel in a personal way. Once on the field, I will begin a two-year internship, attend language school (aiming for N2 Japanese language proficiency), and serve alongside the church-planting team by building relationships, supporting the work, and learning where I best fit in reaching people with the hope of Jesus. You can learn more about the ministry at: reachingjapan.com.

I am currently preparing through ministry training, Japanese language study, and being mentored for pastoral and outreach roles. I’m trusting God for the remaining preparation, language growth, open doors for relationships in Japan, and the monthly financial support needed to serve effectively.

Please pray for me as I prepare, grow in Japanese, and gain the knowledge and experience that will help me serve well on the field. I would be honored to have you partner with me through prayer and giving. Your support helps me prepare fully now and remain focused on ministry once I’m in Japan. Please use the button above to give.