Fellowship Groups

SMJ (Special Ministry to Japanese)

link to SMJ Website

SMJ would appreciate all your prayers as God continues to transform lives and continues to use SMJ as an instrument of His Love, Grace, Joy, and Salvation!

Christianity in Ecumenical Action

Origin	Board of Directors / Base Churches/ Regular Meeting
Purposes	Support
Function	Introducing the Coordinator
Newsletter	Contact Information

Origin
SMJ was founded in 1975 by a group of Christians concerned for the well being of Japanese working in the Greater New York area. The effort was headed by Rev. Justin Haruyama, then pastor of Japanese American United Church, Manhattan. Rev. Dr. Arthur Kamitsuka a recently returned missionary became the first Interim Coordinator. Rev. Haruyoshi Fujimoto was the first coordinator called directly from Japan and the work has been continued to the present day by a number of faithful leaders.

 

Purposes

To introduce the Christian Gospel in word and deed by meeting practical needs.
To facilitate the networking of relationships between the members of SMJ.
To facilitate networking for members relationships to the base & cooperating churches (American, Japanese-American, and Japanese).
To enrich the social and spiritual experience of all involved.

Function
These purposes are realized in the form of a number of activities and programs designed to reach out to the community.

I. Meeting Practical Needs through:
a. English Classes
b. Culture Classes
c. Personal Counseling
d. Japanese Bible Study

II. Networking for relationships with members through:
a. Publication of the Newsletter
b. Annual Retreats

III. Networking for relationships to local (base) churches through:
a. Cultural exchange
b. Multicultural worship experience

IV. Connecting individuals and families with churches in Japan upon their return.

Newsletter
SMJ Newsletter is published monthly. Please contact Rev. Kido if you wish to recieve SMJ Newsletter.

Board of Directors / Base Churches / Regular Meeting
The Board of Directors serves to oversee, counsel, support and encourage the coordinator and work of SMJ.

Park Ridge United Methodist Church
c/o Park Ridge United Methodist Church
Highview at Berthound, Parkridge, NJ 07656
Tel: 201-391-2208
Rev. Jun Yoshimatsu

Tenafly Presbyterian Church
55 Magnolia Avenue, Tenafly, NJ
Rev. Craig Rule
Japanese worship service
Bible Study

Union Japanese Church of Westchester
c/o Hitchcock Presbyterian Church
6 Greenacres Avenue, Scarsdale, NY 10583
Tel: 914-337-4592
Rev. Kazuo Moriya

Hartford Regular Meeting

Support
Denominations

Disciples of Christ
Kyodan (United Church of Christ in Japan)
Reformed Church in America
Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.)
United Church of Christ
United Methodist Church

Base Churches

Japanese American United Church
Park Ridge United Methodist Church
Tenefly Presbyterian Church
Union Japanese Church Westchester

SMJ Alumni

We are proud to mention that alumni also contribute to the ongoing ministry even long after returning to Japan.

Please send contributions to the Treasurer:
Mr. Junsuke Motoi, Treasure SMJ
290 Devon Road, Tenefly, New Jersey 07670

Introducing the Coordinator
Rev. Brian Kido received his Bachelor of Arts in Christian Education with a Minor in Teaching English as a Second Language from Eastern Nazarene College in Boston, Massachusetts. In 1998, he graduated from Kyoritsu Christian Institute (Tokyo Christian University) in Inzai, Chiba, Japan, receiving a Master of Arts in Missions. He also served as pastor of Kochi Church of the Nazarene in Kochi, Shikoku, Japan from 1998-2001. Currently, Rev. Kido is a minister in the Church of the Nazarene on the Metro New York Nazarene District.

Contact Information
Rev. Brian Kido, Coordinator
Tel/Fax: 516-679-6848 (Home - English & Japanese are OK)
Email: Kido@KidoKido.com (English & Japanese are OK)

SMJ Website: http://www.smjusa.com

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