Here are other missionaries serving in Japan which are not connected with the Park Avenue church of Christ. We include them on our web site so that others will have access to their reports and learn of their work. We have regular correspondence with each of them.
Steve and Debbie Carrell
Steve and Debbie Carrell
Steve and Debbie are currently working with the Matsudo church of Christ in Chiba Prefecture to the east of Tokyo. They began their work with this congregation in the fall of 2007. Before this they worked with the Tachikawa church of Christ in a suburb, Tachikawa, of Tokyo.
Bill Carrell, Steve’s father, was a missionary in Japan in the 1950‘s and 1960‘s. Steve spent his early years in Japan. He and Debbie returned to Japan in 1979 and worshiped/worked with the Tachikawa church until they moved to Hokkaido. After working there they moved to Ibaraki to work with the Hidaka church before going to Tachikawa.
Ken and Etsuko Hysten
Ken and Etsuko Hysten with their children - Oct 2008.
Ken became interested in mission work in Japan during a Pacific Rim tour through Oklahoma Christian University. After graduating from Oklahoma Christian University, he returned to work with the Mito church of Christ in Ibaraki in 1998. He and Etsuko, a native of Ibaraki, married in 1999.
He served the Mito church as young adult minister until 2006. They moved from Ibaraki Prefecture to Shizuoka Prefecture to work with the Okitsu church. The Okitsu church was established in this little community before WWII.
They began work with the Nakada church in 2009 in the prefectural capital Shizuoka. He works with the minister for the Nakada church, Fumio Maeda.
Joel Osborne
Stacey Herrington, Joel Osborne, Paul Herrington
Joel became interested in mission work in Japan through a Let’s Start Talking campaign to Sendai while a student at York College. He and four other York College classmates returned to Sendai to work. They committed themselves to work with the congregation for five years.
After that time some of the group returned to the states for further study and Joel worked in various mission points in Asia. Upon returning to Japan in 2009, Joel entered into a time of prayer and reflection as he consider future work in Japan. He began working with the Mito congregation in April 2010 focusing on discipleship and spiritual formation.
Paul and Stacey Herrington
Paul and Stacey Herrington
Paul and Stacey arrived in Japan September 2009. They had an interest in Japan missions and gave up jobs in the states to commit to work with the Haruna church of Christ for two years. They are with the Helpers in Missions (HIM) program through the Memorial Road church of Christ is Edmond OK. They both are from Kansas.
The Haruna congregation was started by Shiro and Rumiko Obata in 2003. Haruna is a community in the town of Takasaki in Gunma Prefecture. While the newest missionaries in Japan, both Paul and Stacey have made good progress with the language and have a deep love for the people.
Brent and Sandy Rogers
Brent and Sandy Rogers with their grandchildren
Brent and Sandy Rogers have been in Japan for many years working as vocational missionaries. They operate an English school called Logos in Kojima, Kurashiki in Okayama, Japan (west of Osaka/Kobe). Sandy also works with another English school to help supplement their support. Supporting themselves from the English school they have reached out into the community to plant a congregation.
Previously they had done mission work in India. Both are from Arkansas originally.
Tracy and Anne Bezner
Tracy and Anne Bezner with family.
The Bezners went to Okinawa in May, 1995. They lived in Naha (the main city in the southern part of the main island) and worked as English teachers. They also held English Bible studies and helped the work of the local congregation in Naha.
Feeling God’s call to devote themselves to full-time missions, they returned to the U.S. in 1998 to raise funds and gather support for full time ministry. Tracy and Anne are graduates of Oklahoma Christian University. Initially overseen by the Northland Mission church of Christ in Kansas City, Missouri, their oversight was transferred to the Park Avenue congregation in 2001.
The Bezners work primarily with the Logos church of Christ. This congregation was planted in November 1995 by Robin and Cyndi Cannon. The Bezners began working with the congregation when the Cannons returned to the U.S. in 2001. Initially they utilized the facilities of the Chibana military congregation, but in 2006 began meeting in rented facilities.
