Joel & Elaine Loewen, and Bradley Church Ministries Joel and Elaine Loewen both grew up on farms in Kansas.  Through the influence of Christian homes and Godly Christian leaders, they both believed in Jesus at a young age and were baptized.  Joel was influenced to become a missionary through a summer he spent in Mexico on a short-term work project.  Elaine was influenced to serve the Lord through the many missionaries who visited their home.  Joel and Elaine met at a Bible college where they were both studying to be missionaries.  Through a summer internship in Japan, Joel felt called by God to be a missionary there.  Elaine was not as definite about "where".  She was open to serving the Lord with Joel in Japan.  They were married in 1984, and left for Japan two years later. Joel and Elaine spent the first two years in intensive language study.  This was followed by two years of ministry experience together with another missionary couple.  Their son Bradley was born in 1989.  From 1990 to 2004, they worked in Yokohama, Japan, starting a new church.  They evangelized through a Christmas party in their home, English classes, and by putting advertisements in every mailbox in the city.  When a small group began to gather, they nurtured their faith through worship, fellowship, and discipleship.  Now years later, there is a church of 20 members with their own Japanese pastor.  He is seeking to develop these believers into strong Christian leaders.  To a certain extent, they've been able to see the full cycle of starting a church, evangelizing a community, nurturing believers, and attempting to develop Christian leaders.  A daunting task, yes, but possible because of an all-powerful God. Their son, Bradley, is 16 years old.  If you ask him, "Has living in Japan been a positive experience?" he would tell you without hesitation, "I wouldn't trade it for anything else.  I have a broader perspective of the world from living in another culture, plus I have the added benefit of being able to speak another language."  By the time he graduates from high school, he will have attended five different schools, all with their own unique characteristics. The Loewen's next ministry in Japan will be to help an already established Japanese church train and equip reproducing disciples for church multiplication.  "Sixty percent of Japanese pastors are over 60 years of age."  Where are Japan's future spiritual leaders going to come from?  As we seek to make more disciples of Jesus and to plant more churches, there is already a great need for mature, reproducing Japanese Christians.  Won't you join us in this marvelous quest by praying, giving, and even coming to work with us? Joel, Elaine, and Brad loewenje@send.jp <<back to missionaries