Motoki and Karis Fukuda

Born in Augusta, GA, and raised in Dallas, TX, Karis attended a Christian high school in San Jose, CA, where she had moved with her parents, after her dad was transferred there for work. It was there in her junior year that she confessed Christ as her savior, and there that her heart for missions, for everyone to know this life-changing news, was made. Karis was studying nursing when she first went on a vision trip to Japan in 2014 with her home church, Trinity Presbyterian Church in Plano, TX. On this trip, her heart became burdened for Japan upon learning about how few Christians there were, and the high suicide rate, and led her to daily pray for the salvation of the Japanese. She returned to Japan in 2017 as a summer intern with Christ Bible Institute (CBI), and felt her call to Japan was confirmed in these short two months. She graduated with her Bachelor's of Science in Psychology with a minor in Bible in 2018. From that time, she pursued a longer term internship with CBI from 2019 to 2022, and from 2023 has served in her current staff role at CBI as Outreach Coordinator. 

Born in Yokohama and raised in Tokyo, Motoki is the second son of Japanese pastor and church planter, Makoto Fukuda. While attending and serving at the church his father planted, Grace City Church Tokyo, Motoki, who is trained as a carpenter, made custom sofas from 2014-2023. 

Motoki and Karis met through mutual Christian friends in 2022, and Motoki moved to Nagoya in 2023. Motoki and Karis married in Nagoya in March 2024. Sensing a call to use his unique background as a Japanese Christian, and a Japanese pastor's son, Motoki enrolled and was accepted into Christ Bible Seminary (CBS) in April of 2025. He is currently pursuing a Bachelor's of Theology. 

Our ministry: 

Christ Bible Institute (CBI) longs to see the gospel of the glory of Christ cherished and proclaimed throughout Japan. We do this through our mission of equipping Christians in Japan for the work of gospel ministry. 

Karis serves at CBI as Outreach Coordinator, and is heavily involved in CBI's internship and residency program. 

Motoki became a student at Christ Bible Seminary in April of 2025 and is pursuing a Bachelor of Theology. 

Website: https://cbijapan.org/en/

Outside of CBI, Motoki and Karis seek to engage their local community and those they encounter with the gospel through Bible studies, hospitality ministry, and serving at their local church. 

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