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equipper conference
c/o JCFN
3590 Elm Ave. , Suite H
Long Beach , CA 90807
Tel: 562-427-1783
or 562-427-1861
Fax: 562-427-9028
equipper@equipper.org
What is ec?
purpose
who should come?
history
date & location
Equipper conference (ec) is a five night conference which “equips” (Ephesians 4:12 ) Japanese Christians who met Jesus overseas for their eventual return to their home country as ambassadors of Christ.
“It was He who gave the apostles, the prophets, the evangelists, the pastors and teachers, to equip God's people for works of service, so that the body of Christ may be built up until we all reach unity in the faith and in the knowledge of the Son of God.” Ephesians 4:11-13
Currently many Japanese are living abroad for various reasons. These include ongoing studies, business ventures, and international marriages. Under these circumstances God's work of salvation, in the lives of Japanese people, is clearly seen as it extends to many different countries. The Gospel touches these people often while living overseas, and many of them become believers in that foreign country, later returning to Japan . There are also those who became Christians in Japan but are now growing spiritually as they experience life overseas. God can work through them in a great way after they return to Japan to witness to their families and friends and to spread the Gospel message as they become connected to local churches.
Yet in reality, many of these returnees suffer what is often called "reverse-culture shock" beyond the level they had 
expected, which affects even their walk with Jesus. As a result, and regrettably, many of them depart from churches within a few years of returning home.
God has started equipper conference by gathering several missions organizations in order to reverse this sad trend in returnee Christians' life (please see history ). The purpose of equipper conference is to prepare Japanese Christians abroad (mainly in North America ) by cultural and discipleship trainings before their return, so that with God's encouragement they will be equipped as the disciples of Christ to share His love and forgiveness in Japan .
Equipper conference (ec) 04 serves people such as,
- Japanese Christians who plan to go back home;
- Japanese Christians in North America who serve the Lord;
- Non-Japanese Christians (English speakers) who are serving such Japanese Christians;
- Christians in Japan who want to receive and help returnee Christians; and
- those who are interested in ministry to Japanese people.
(please see the Program for the details).
history In 1997, under the vision that Japanese Christians would be encouraged and equipped for the work of the Lord's before their return to Japan, several missions organizations worked together to host the first equipper conference in Seattle, WA.
themes and main speakers at past ec
- ec 97 “ returning to our home land with Christ” Rev. Yuichiro Nakano in Seattle
- ec 98 “ home for the Harvest” Rev. Arthur Hollands in Seattle
- ec 99 “ambassadors for Christ” Rev. Mitsuo Fukuzawa in Seattle
- ec 01 “looking to Jesus” Rev. Hidenori Takahashi in Forest Falls , CA
- ec 02 “our Christ, our confidence” Rev. Kazuhiko Uchida in Forest Falls , CA
voices of past conferees
“God encouraged me through my encounters with new and old friends. Through messages and worship, God revealed to me what I need to repent and helped me to know that I didn't have to blame myself any more. I want to practice His love which enables me to rejoice in the midst of difficulties and to rejoice for others.”
“[ec] convinced me of God's existence.”
“By God's grace, the purpose of ec which is to encourage future returnee Christians was fulfilled.”
“I was delighted that God reminded me of my Japanese identity at ec, because I do not have many Japanese Christians around where I live.”
“I was able to understand the love of God through the cross. God also helped me to see that I had the gift of leadership through my volunteer service at ec.”
“Ec renewed my devotion to Jesus. My desires to love the Japanese people and study their language were also renewed.”
“At ec I realized that I had become weary and lethargic in my busy and spiritually difficult life in Japan . But through praising God, sharing with each other, and praying with my wonderful brothers and sisters I met at ec, my soul was filled with the Holy Spirit. Even after I came back to my routines in Japan , my heart is still burning. I would never lose sight of God from now on.”
“I am not a Christian. At ec I made many precious friends. I think it was a gift from God, because I'd never thought the friendship would become this important to me.”
date & location equipper conference 2004 (ec 04)
December 27, 2004 - January 1, 2005location
Calvary Chapel Conference Center : http://www.calvarychapel.com/mhs/
39405 Murrieta Hot Springs Rd., Murrieta , CA 92563 , USA
