Jim & Masako Millard

I (Jim) was called to Japan at the age of 18. Eventually I began studying Japanese language and Asian Studies at the University of Oregon. I went to Japan for the first time in 1977 as a student. We were married in 1978 in Japan. We lived in Japan for a couple of years as short-term missionaries and then returned to the United States.

Our family continued to grow and God continued to lead us. We spent two years in southern California where attended the School of World Mission at Fuller Theological Seminary from 1982-1984. This was a strategic time for me. I was able gain a foundation in fundamental areas of missiology including theology of missions, history of missions, anthropology, leadership, church growth and multiplication. The framework to understand and function in other cultures has been especially vital as we have worked in Japan and in numerous Asian cultures over the years.

We established Sunrise International Ministries in 1984 and returned to Japan in 1985. We moved to the city of Yokohama and began doing ministry there. Our kids grew, eventually attended university in the U.S. and then returned to serve Jesus in Japan. Now our clan is spread out in various parts of Japan and are sharing the love of Christ with Japanese people, most of whom have never heard the gospel. Sunrise International Ministries now has 18 adult missionaries and continues to grow.

Japan is called the Land of the Rising Sun. Pray that Jesus, who is the light of the world, will shine upon Japan and open their hearts to receive His grace.

There are many verses about light that portray the challenge and calling of missions in Japan:

• “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will never walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
• I will also make you a light for the Gentiles, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” Isaiah 49:6
• I am sending you to them to open their eyes and turn them from darkness to light, and from the power of Satan to God, so that they may receive forgiveness of sins and a place among those who are sanctified by faith in me.’ Acts 26:17-18
• For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” made his light shine in our hearts to give us the light of the knowledge of God’s glory displayed in the face of Christ. But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. II Corinthians 4:6-7

Pray that God will shine His light through us into the hearts of people in Japan and around the world.

During the past 25 years Jim & Masako have been involved in leadership development and discipleship training in many Asian countries including Japan, Mongolia, China, Nepal, Myanmar, Cambodia, Vietnam, India, and the Philippines.

Recently they have engaged in discipleship training in several countries in Europe including France, Italy, Germany, Austria, the Czech Republic, and Sweden. We are especially trying to help people who are reaching out to the more than 10 million recent refugees in Europe who have fled from Syria, Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan, and from several African nations.

We have developed several equipping materials to help people grow as disciples of Christ. Many of these materials focus on learning to meditate on the Scriptures daily. These include Cross Bible Study and Knowing God Bible Study. They have been translated into multiple languages including Japanese, Mongolia, Chinese, Nepali, Burmese, Mizo, Bengali, Khmer (Cambodian), Vietnamese, Italian, French, Romanian, Macedonian, German, Swedish, Czech, Dutch, Arabic and Farsi.

These materials and our training are focused on making disciples of Jesus Christ. He commanded us to make disciples of all nations. We want to see a movement of disciple making in Japan and among all nations.

The goal of discipleship is not individual disciples, but to see Christ fully manifested through His Body. Paul explained in Ephesians 4:13 that God’s plan is for us to grow to maturity and attain, “the whole measure of the fullness of Christ.”

This is what we long to see happen in Japan. This is our vision and passion. Japanese need to see the life and love of Christ in us, His Body. This will happen when we grow together to maturity as His disciples in love relationship with Him. This is how Japan will be won to Christ.