LAM currently has approximately 240 missionaries in 15 countries and is seeking to place 300 new missionaries in Latin America in the next three years. LAM's Canadian office is at 3075 Ridgeway Drive, Unit 14, Missassauga, ON L5L 5M6. Reprinted with permission from Latin America Mission News Service. To this point, the results of evangelistic efforts have been meager. Only about three percent of Japan's 120 million people are professing Christians.
Evangelism is extremely difficult.
Missionaries struggle to adapt to the complex language and culture, often see few results, and can lose their focus. Most Japanese profess no personal religion, but are culturally bound to the traditions of their ancient religions, Shinto and Buddhism, Operation World said. But that is changing. A church-planting movement is renewing weary Christian workers by teaching them to draw close to God and minister in His power, not their own, Mehn said. The Church Planting Institute is a network of missionary agencies that mentors leaders, he said.