The first Presbyterians entered Japan in 1859, before Christian mission work was permitted. They learned the language and translated Christian materials into Japanese. When the law that prohibited Japanese citizens from becoming Christians was changed in 1873, Christians soon began to assemble. In Nagasaki several mission schools were opened. One of them, Kwassui Gakuin (“Living Water”) was founded as a college for women, and mission co-worker Dr. Barbara Easton has taught English and Bible studies there since 1983.

Kwassui Women’s College began its ministry on December 1, 1879, when a young woman asked two Methodist missionaries to teach her English and the Bible. Gradually younger girls began to come to the new school. At that time there were no public facilities to educate girls in Japan, and even boys rarely proceeded beyond basic literacy. Since then, Japanese education has advanced greatly. Nevertheless, institutions with Christian origins continue to reach out to the spiritual needs of individual students.

The few members of the Young Women’s Christian Association at Kwassui Women’s College are catching a vision of the greater body of Christ. In the annual school festival, they promoted fair trade goods, not only to help people who earn little but also to educate other students as consumers in a global marketplace. They are finding God at work among them in the world.

PC(USA) People in Mission
United Church of Christ in Japan (UCCJ) (Kyodan): Yukiko Altman, counselor, Rev. Timothy Boyle, Burakumin ministry, Yuko Boyle, team ministry, Rev. William Geppert III, mission volunteer, English teacher, Carol Hastings, team ministry, Rev. Dr. Thomas Hastings, professor of Christian education, Emiko Taborn, team ministry, Sanford Taborn, English professor • Reformed Church in Japan (RCJ): Ann Moore, team ministry, Rev. William Moore, evangelist/new church development • Dr. Barbara Easton, professor of English, Council on Cooperative Mission • Rev. Thomas Goetz, mission volunteer, English teacher and lecturer, Hokusei Gakuen University in Sapporo • Sarah Oba, assistant to general secretary, Korean Christian Church in Japan (KCCJ) and Shadan

PC(USA) General Assembly Staff
Rev. Philip Gehman, BOP
Lacey H. Gilliam, GAC