Joel and Kristin Osborne's

Hiro and Megumi Akahoshis

The Osborne's and Akahoshis both team work with the local church in Mito, Ibaraki, Japan. Mito is the capital city of Ibaraki, about two hours northeast of Tokyo, an educational and cultural center located in the agricultural heartland of the Kanto plains.

The church in Mito is the second largest Church of Christ in the nation, and is uniquely international in its membership and outreach. Planted over 70 years ago, God has graciously birthed new generations, and recently the Holy Spirit has worked powerfully to draw younger generations to faith in Christ. From December 2018 alone, presently seven young people have become disciples of Jesus, surrendering their lives in baptism to him.

The work of these two couples, partnering with the Tsuneki family at Mito church, is primarily evangelism and discipleship. One of those areas is an active campus ministry at Ibaraki Christian University. Another area is a mission outreach in Siem Reap, Cambodia. They lead teams to work with a school they've established in the city, as well as partnering with local village schools and helping with other medical, dental, and basic life needs. Teams are often made of primarily seekers who, through their work in Cambodia, meet Jesus and eventually give their lives to him. This is a part of Hiro's and Megumi's own faith stories.

Hiro was born and raised in Hitachi, graduated from Abilene Christian University, and was baptized in March 2013. He went to Cambodia for the first time in December 2010, and worked as a relief staff after the disaster in March 2011. Megumi volunteered in the disaster relief as a student at Ibaraki Christian University in March 2012. Born and raised in Tokai village, she was baptized in April 2014, and she works as a kindergarten teacher at a Christian kindergarten.

Joel was born and raise in the Niagara region of Ontario, Canada. He's a graduate of Great Lakes Christian High School and York College. He moved to Japan in July 2002 as a part of a mission team to Sendai, and remained after the rest of the team returned to North America. He moved to work with Mito church in March 2010, where he met Kristin, a fourth generation Japanese American from Chicago, IL. Kristin was teaching high school in Takahagi through the JET program and worshipping with Mito church since August 2009, but moved to Mito in April 2015 to teach a range from preschool to jr high. In April 2020, she begins as a teacher at Ibaraki Christian High School.

The two couples were married in a double wedding in November 2015. Hiro and Megumi's daughter was born in January 2019.

We believe and are witnesses to God's powerful work in Japan. As new generations come to faith, there is an increased need for ongoing discipleship and leadership training. We rely on the guidance and power of the Holy Spirit. We are passionate about being disciples of Jesus ourselves, and about seeking the heart of God in prayer. We give glory to God alone for what He is doing, and give thanks for how He continues to raise up new people to partner with us so that we can continue this mission in what is otherwise viewed as an unreceptive nation. People are hungering and thirsting for more. They can and will be satisfied when they meet Jesus, and realize their longing has always been for him.