Japan (MNN) — A powerful, 7.6-magnitude earthquake struck northeast Japan late Monday night, injuring at least 30 people. Although the quake was not massively destructive, people fear a second wave.
David Robison, a local missionary with Japan Evangelical Missions Society and a friend of A3, says, “Immediately after the earthquake, we started hearing the tsunami sirens going throughout the city.”
A warning system of sirens and public announcements alerted coastal residents to evacuate. The earthquake caused little damage, but it revived memories of the 2011 quake and tsunami, disasters that devastated the region and killed nearly 20,000 people.
“Every time something like this happens, it does reawaken a lot of trauma. People have been through a lot in the last tsunami, and there are people who lost houses, who lost family members, jobs,” says Robison.
Wave (Photo courtesy of Mikhail Nilov via Pexels)
That tragedy nevertheless opened doors to the gospel.
Though Japan’s Christian roots run deep, believers are few. “There are very few people who know anything about the Christian churches or what they do,” adds Robison.
But after the 2011 earthquake, life in the affected areas changed for many. International Christian missions partnered with local believers, and their practical aid — paired with biblical encouragement — brought real hope to communities desperate for help.
As a result, Robison’s home church, along with other missions agencies and denominations, recognized the need and began launching new church plants.
“There’s been, I believe, a new church plant in almost every city in Iwate prefecture that was hit by the tsunami,” he says.
Fourteen years later, Monday’s earthquake comes just weeks before Christmas. Robison says, “Our whole focus right now is to introduce people to the Prince of Peace and to offer the hope and peace they need,” underscoring how fitting Jesus’ title is for this fearful season.
Pray for safety from stronger earthquake waves and any tsunamis. “The big concern right now is that there will be another larger earthquake in the next week. So that’s what everybody’s worried about,” says Robison.
Pray for the Christmas outreach of Japanese believers and local missionaries amid the uncertainty of the weeks ahead.
Header photo: Japan (Photo courtesy of Faycal Ken via Unsplash).
