Erik Uratsu

Partnering with Oasis Chapel In Rifu, Japan

“Here I Am, Send Me!” - Isaiah 6:8

About: 

I am a 4th generation Japanese-American, fluent in English and conversationally bilingual in Japanese. I was born and raised in Southern California, and was baptized at the end of high school at Gardena Valley Baptist Church. At the time, a large part of my testimony was working through and coming to peace with the loss of my maternal grandmother who was born and raised in Japan. I believe this to be the first seed of a heart for the Japanese people as I was not able to share the Gospel with her in Japanese when she had passed away. 

But the call to ministry did not come until a few years later in 2018.  Through my years serving in youth ministry at my local church, and the opportunity to go to Japan on short-term missions to two different areas of Japan, in various forms of ministry multiple times, I saw my heart in ministry come together, and the call to leave the career path I was on for full-time ministry.  The passion to walk beside and pour into the faiths of the younger generation, and desire to share the Gospel with the Japanese people met, as I served short-term at Rifu Oasis Chapel and connected with the youth there. 

I transferred universities to pursue preparation for a life of ministry in a degree in Christian Ministries at Biola University. Through that program, interning in Nihongo & Youth Ministries at Gardena Valley Baptist Church from 2019-2022, the worldwide pandemic, the struggles in those years, and my personal Vision Trip to Rifu, Japan in 2025;  God continued to equip and prepare me to go to Japan. Eight years later in 2026, I hope to go back to the place of my Vision Trip, and the place that brought my calling to the forefront, Rifu Oasis Chapel. 

My Vision: 

Growing up as a Christian in Japan, you are the minority of less than 1% of the country. That can make it extremely difficult to share and be vulnerable when life’s challenges come your way, you wrestle with doubt and the pressures of adulthood begin to rise. It is significantly more difficult when you are feeling alone in your circles and there can be a pressure to seem like you are all put together, the perfect Christian, as someone who has grown up going to church. There is also a great need for younger Christians to continue to mature and grow to become leaders, to reach their country’s communities and their peers. All parts under the overall great need for the Gospel to be spread relationally in Japan. 

I want to see more Japanese people come to saving faith in Christ, to disciple the youth to mature in their faith and become disciple makers themselves, and to be a catalyst in raising up young church leaders.

“...Entrust to faithful men, who will be able to teach others. Share in suffering as a good soldier of Christ Jesus.” - 2 Timothy 2b-3 

Partnership: 

Thank you for taking the time to read about my ministry and journey to Japan. I  understand that this calling and vision cannot be done alone. It is my desire and conviction to be in partnership with the global church body to reach the global lost. Please consider partnering in prayer and financial support to continue the wonderful work that God is doing in Japan. My target date to return to and partner full-time with Oasis Chapel is December 2026. 

Please join me in impacting the lives of young people with the Gospel in Japan by joining my ministry team: 

Prayer: 

Follow my journey on Instagram here. 

Sign up to receive my monthly newsletter here. 

Financially: 

Give online here or if you prefer to give by check, make the check out to “JEMS” and write my name on the memo line. Mail the check to P.O. Box 86047, Los Angeles, CA 90086-0047.

If you have any questions please call the JEMS office at 213-613-0022 or email info@jems.org.

Thank you for your support.