Japanese Fellowship Church was established in 1976 by Pastor Takashi Matsuda, of the Luthern Church, in a pioneering effort to bring the word of Christ to the Japanese people living in the Twin Cities area.
Initially gathering in a room borrowed from a nearby church, they continued to have worship services while desiring to have their own sanctuary. The church began fundraising and although the first donations were just 25 cent coins, they persisted and eventually were able to purchase a small electric company building in 1993, which is the current church building today.
After Pastor Matsuda’s retirement, the leadership of the church has been passed down to Pastor Nobuya Kaneko, Pastor Gen Hashimoto, and Pastor Kazhiro Sekino, who is the current pastor (starting in 2024). Despite the decline in the number of Japanese residents in Minnesota over the years, the church now gathers people from all backgrounds and walks of life that have an interest in Japan, the Japanese language, and Japanese culture.
Services are conducted bilingually in Japanese and English every week. This gives native speakers a chance to hear the gospel in their own language while also giving language learners a chance to practice Japanese while hearing the word of God. While there are many large churches in America, we have the only Japanese church building, not only in Minnesota, but in this area of the midwest outside of Chicago. We are able to offer a smaller close knit Japanese environment where individuals can connect with each other while feeling a true connection with God.
Worship and Activities
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
(Bilingual in Japanese and English)
Worship
Every Sunday from
10:00 AM to 10:40 PM
(English only)
Bible Study
Held twice a month after worship (Japanese food such as ramen is served once a month).
Lunch Gatherings
Are available upon request. Please contact instructor Kaoru Thomson for details.
Japanese Language Classes
Worship and Activities
11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
(Bilingual in Japanese and English)
Worship
Every Sunday from
10:00 AM to 10:40 PM
(English only)
Bible Study
Held twice a month after worship (Japanese food such as ramen is served once a month).
Lunch Gatherings
Are available upon request. Please contact instructor Kaoru Thomson for details.
Japanese Language Classes
Help Us Rebuild:
Your Support Matters
We’re currently facing a significant challenge with extensive roof damage that has led to unexpectedly high repair costs. Your generous donation can make a real difference in helping us overcome this crisis and restore our space to its former condition. Every contribution, big or small, brings us one step closer to stability and ensures that we can continue our mission without interruption. Together, we can turn this setback into a new opportunity. Thank you for your support and commitment during this critical time.
