April
Missionaries of the Month

Mark and Megumi Bocanegra with Mission to the World, Japan
&
Ben and Julie Jensen with Mission to the World, Japan

The Bocanegra family (Mark, Megumi, Kate (9), Nina (7), Sarah (6), Luca (3), Erica (6mo)) serves in Chiba, Japan. Mark pastors Kaihin Makuhari Grace Church--the only church located in a small but dense neighborhood of about 27,000 people. KMGC is currently praying that our church doubles in size over the next 5-10 years and that we would be able to build a church that can house 150-200 worshippers. (https://www.mtwjapan.org/kaihin-makuhari/)

“A more comprehensive prayer list:
- One of our daughter's non-Christian classmate has been coming to Sunday school regularly. Her mom (Megumi's friend) has been attending a moms bible study and came to worship for the first time. Pray for their continued participation and for them to be part of the church community. Please pray for other non-Christians who are in Bible studies and learning about Jesus.
- Our third child is going to start elementary school and our fourth child is starting preschool in April. Pray for them as they transition into a new environment.
- We are a church that averages about 72 worshippers. Currently, we have 13 people who are hoping to become members of this church. We are thankful for the growth!
- Two new exciting developments: 1) One of our missionary units has been asked to start a new team in order to support the missionary school in our region. We're thankful that our team can train missionaries and send them to strategic works in Japan! 2) A seminary graduate will start to work with us at KMGC in April. The hope is that we can train him for three years till ordination and send him out to another church in the PCJ. Exciting development.
- We have USD 950k from overseas raised for the land. PTL! We are hoping for the remaining 50k. Domestic giving is a bit slower, but we are hopeful. Pray for an appropriate piece of land for KMGC.”

The Jensens serve on the MTW Nagoya church-planting team. Ben and Julie Jensen have developed a love for this region of Japan, the third largest metro area but also the prefecture with the least number of churches per population in the country. They are currently based at Nisshin Christ Church (NCC) and lead the university student ministry there (called Hospi), which seeks to evangelize, and disciple interested students from several major universities just a short walk from the front steps of the church. Ben preaches regularly at NCC and at Nozomi Chapel in downtown Nagoya. He leads exploratory Bible studies for not-yet-saved young adults, discipleship and baptism classes for those who have become Christians. He is serving as the MTW team leader of the Nagoya church-planting team, which includes both expat missionaries and national partners. Ben and Julie are both involved in supporting the small Christian school that their team began several years ago to help keep missionary families on the field in Nagoya.