Over the coming months, I’ll be sharing glimpses of the different ministries and programs happening through the church in Sendai. To begin, I’d like to introduce one of my favorite community activities—Shokei English Cafe.

One of the joys of ministry in Sendai has been finding creative ways to connect with the community. Once a month, after Sunday worship, our church hosts an English Cafe—a relaxed gathering where neighbors and church members come together to practice English conversation, share food, and build friendships.

The idea came from my own hobby of cafe hopping (カフェ巡り). When I was a language school student, I often met friends in coffee shops to study Japanese together, and I thought: What if we could create a similar space at the church? A place where people could enjoy conversation in a welcoming environment and experience the warmth of Christian community.

A typical English Cafe begins with an icebreaker-style game to help everyone feel at ease, followed by coffee or tea, and usually a homemade American snack (like brownies or chocolate chip cookies). We typically end with “free talk” time, when people of all ages and English levels can practice their conversation skills while getting to know one another better.

What has been most encouraging is seeing how this simple outreach is opening doors. Some participants who initially came to the church through the English Cafe have since joined Sunday worship, Bible study, or other church events. Step by step, relationships are forming, and deeper conversations about life and faith are beginning.

Please pray that the English Cafe will continue to be a place where community members feel welcome and where God’s love can be experienced in very tangible ways.

Even from afar, you can be part of stories like this—through prayer, encouragement, or support for ministry in Japan. Together, we are seeing God at work in small but meaningful ways!

About this series — “Stories from Sendai”
Through Stories from Sendai, I’ll be sharing glimpses of everyday ministry life in northern Japan. Each story highlights a small way our church is learning to love our neighbors—through language, community, worship, and friendship. My hope is that these snapshots will help you see how God’s love is at work here, one conversation and connection at a time.