Josiah and Kristen Howard
See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it?
I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.
Isaiah 43:19
God is doing a new thing with us. Please join us in perceiving it!
A bit about us…
Josiah and Kristen are southern-California natives prayerfully looking to move to Osaka, Japan in 2026. We’ve been talking about ministry in Japan since 2019. In 2024, after half a year of marriage, we started looking into it more seriously. Through much research and many phone calls with missionaries and mission organizations, God has graciously met us with encouragement and confirmation: “Keep going; it is good”. Now we are blessed to partner with JEMS, and eager to get on the ground in Japan!
Our hope in ministry is to share the beauty and fullness of life and community in Christ. We have been blessed to experience rich friendships, a loving family, and an incredible home church in Community Presbyterian Church of Ventura. In these ways we have tasted and seen the Lord’s goodness, and want to invite others to do the same.
What will this look like?
We’re not sure! But here’s what we value and hope for:
Incarnational ministry: We desire to see Japanese people know and love Christ in a manner that is wholly Japanese. To help with this, we want to first take on a learner’s posture. Our first two years in Japan will be focused on language and culture acquisition, in part by enrolling as full-time students in language school. During this time we are also excited to see where God is already moving in Japan and how our passions and gifts might lead us to partner with him.
Nontraditional ways to interact with Christ: We love church, and we understand that it can be an intimidating environment for someone’s first time interacting with Christians. We hope to use our passions to invest in communities outside of church, inviting people in as they are ready. Kristen is passionate about environmental care and ways we can connect with God through nature. Josiah is an avid rock climber, and interested in how the collaborative community might provide opportunities for friendships. Josiah is also interested in the potential for a ministry at the intersection of faith and mental health care for Japanese people.
Discipleship and relational ministry: We want to meet and love people in their everyday life: breaking bread and sharing in struggles and joys. We have known the profundity of a discipleship relationship - meeting one on one or in small groups to discuss faith and life - and hope to find people willing to engage with us on that level. We anticipate the work to be slow. Please pray for endurance and patience!
Partner with us!
Prayer - We need prayer! We know we can’t do this work on our own and would love you to join in praying for us, the people of Japan, and God’s movement therein. Building a community of people prayerfully invested in how God is moving in Japan is one of the aspects of this we are most excited for. If you’d like more specific updates and prayer needs, let us know at jkhoward@jems.org and we will sign you up for our quarterly newsletter here when it is ready!
Encouragement - An email, card, or even a phone call means a lot as we are starting this process. Please be praying about how you can provide such soul care for us, and for other Christian workers you know.
Finances - We are looking for partners to reach our current ministry budget. If you’d like to join, you can give online at the link below. We are also happy to set up a time with you to share more about our hopes for work in Japan.
Give online here or if you prefer to give by check, make the check out to “JEMS” and write our 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