Article Written by Abraham Heimbach, Director of Student Involvement at WGM’s student center at Ohio Christian University
Recently, some OCU students led by Abraham Heimbach, Director of Student Involvement at WGM’s student center at OCU, went on a mission trip to Japan. Our trip to Japan was part English language classes, part church relations, part prayer team, and part vision trip—all rolled into one. This was a hybrid trip that included one student and one leader from Taylor University. Representing Ohio Christian University were students Abigail Waugh and Chloe Watkins.
Our primary goal was to visit key locations throughout the Tokyo and Yokohama metro areas and cover them in prayer. These locations included the seminary where we stayed, universities, Bible studies, Japanese language schools for missionaries, the Japanese Diet (their parliament), cultural landmarks, Shinto shrines, and Buddhist temples.
We worked with young children, sharing the gospel through Bible lessons taught in English, and served in various church meetings and celebrations. We even hand-washed and waxed the church’s front door!
We cannot forget that every trip can be a vision trip. Someone from this trip has felt the calling to pursue the steps to becoming a missionary.
We were welcomed by loving and seasoned missionary veterans who fully leveraged their Japanese support networks to help ensure the success of these important ministry opportunities.
At World Gospel Mission, we want to prepare, equip, personally walk alongside, and receive people into our mission fields so their hearts may become both full and broken for a world that needs Jesus. We are very grateful for the partnership of Ohio Christian University and for Dr. Ronald Adkins’ efforts to keep missions at the forefront of our focus.
P.S. Be sure to check out the statue of John Wesley at Aoyama Gakuin University, which was founded by Methodists!
If you want to learn more about WGM at OCU and mission trips that are planned for 2027, contact Abraham Heimbach at wgmcenter@ohiochristian.edu.