Japan Makes History with More Than 3,000 Attendees at a Christian Conference

The first Empowered21 All Japan Conference recently wrapped up a record setting conference for the nation at the Kyoto International Convention Center. The final registration data showed 5,000 Spirit-empowered Believers came to this 4-day event that featured worship, prayer and teaching. This makes the All Japan Conference one of the largest in Japanese History.

Anne Gimenez, senior pastor of the Rock Church and presiding bishop of the Rock Ministerial Fellowship, at 81, spoke for the first time on Japanese soil at this meeting. "It is time for awakening in Japan," said Gimenez.

"We have been very blessed to be at the E21 All Japan Conference. The E21 Asia cabinet believes that we are at the beginning of the 3rd Pentecost and we believe we saw evidence of that this week," said Niko Njotorahardjo, leader of the Healing Ministry Movement, pastor of over 200,000 believers in Indonesia and E21 Asia chairman.

Empowered 21 JapanThe event closed with a special impartation service conducted jointly by Njotorahardjo and Lawrence Khong, senior pastor of Faith Community Baptist Church in Singapore and E21Asia co-chairman. There was also a significant and groundbreaking dialogue between the Spirit-empowered and Evangelical pastors in Japan.

A consistent theme throughout the conference was the call for change and revival in Japan. There has been great cooperation between the Spirit-empowered and evangelical Christians to reach more people in Japan with the Gospel, especially in the wake of the tsunami that devastated the nation in 2011 and the ongoing crisis at the Fukushima nuclear power plant.

"Leaders were awakened to the importance of prayer, not only for their families, churches and their own work, but for all Japan," said Akihiro Mizuno, chairman of E21 All Japan. "On the way home people started sharing the Gospel and people are get saved so easily, anywhere! Some said they can't stop talking, and when they open their mouths, nothing but the Gospel comes out!"

"As one of the largest gatherings of Christians in Japan, this is a historic meeting for the Spirit empowered Believers in the nation," said Empowered21 Global Chairman and Oral Roberts University President William M. Wilson. "I have been impressed with a deep sense that the Christians in Japan are earnestly seeking the power of the Holy Spirit and I believe this conference could be a catalyst for revival in the nation."