About Us
Who Are We?
We are a newly established YWAM Base located in the city of Otaru, on the West Coast of Hokkaido; a neighbouring coastal Port town of Sapporo. YWAM Otaru first began mid 2023, with a vision to bring rest, community, and discipleship to the area.
The foundations of the base and building ministries flow from Acts 2: 42-27, following the example of Jesus’s teachings, and the early church. Through this scripture our core values of rest, hospitality, training, and relationship are formed.
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe at the many wonders and signs performed by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. They sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
— Acts 2: 42-47
Core Values
The foundations and values that we have are rooted in the core YWAM values, statements, and vision. As a base, we feel there are specific values that have been highlighted to us that we are pouring into which are stated below, however, our base and ministries will always be anchored by the overall values, beliefs, and vision that YWAM established.
Rest
Psalm 46:10
“Be still, and know that I am God! I will be honoured by every nation. I will be honoured throughout the world.”
By seeking and pursuing the Lord’s rest and being obedient to how he is calling us to live, there will naturally be an overflow into the community around us. The call to lean on Jesus is drawing in those who are seeking, hurting, weary, and needing true lasting rest.
Hospitality
Hebrews 13:2
“Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters. Do not forget to show hospitality to strangers, for by so doing some people have shown hospitality to angels without knowing it.”
Through all we do, we want to be the hands and feet of Jesus, expressing His love, through relationship and radical hospitality to the Japanese community, and our brothers and sisters in Christ.
Training
Matthew 28: 18-20
“Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptising them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.”
We aim build up and encourage the body of Jesus, and to train and equip the Japanese people through the word, discipleship, and training schools.
Relationship
John 13: 34-35
“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.”
We aim to build relationships with the local community, establishing connections through love, mercy, generosity, and hearts of servitude - shining the light of Jesus in every interaction. Just as we are built to live in relationship with the Father, we aim to live and build into community with each other.
Our Focus & Goals
Worship & Intercessory Prayer
Worship and intercessory prayer are integral to laying the foundations of our base and ministries here in Otaru. We are dedicated to building deep, intimate relationships with God as we worship Him above all else. We are committed to aligning ourselves with His purpose, seeking His will in everything we do through prayer, as well as interceding for the people and causes on God’s heart, standing against evil in every form.
Hosting Teams & Guests
Flowing out of our heart of hospitality, one of our main ministries is hosting guests and outreach teams. With the space that God has given us, we want to use it to further the kingdom of God and provide rest and resources to those who need it. Through this, we want to reflect the deep and generous love God has for his people, and be His hands of love and compassion.
CASA Japan: Currently, God has opened a partnership with another Japan based ministry located in both Otaru and Sapporo. This ministry has a huge heart in hospitality, for kids programs and camps, and run a local church in Sapporo. Both our team, and outreach teams we host are able to partner and serve with this local ministry. Learn more at https://www.casajapan.org.
Pioneering New Ministries
Our aim is to pioneer new ministries as our vision, team, and capacity continually expands. Currently we are building into our community café centre, setting foundations for future schools, and winter outreach ministries such as snowboarding.
Community Café Centre: Our foundations of rest, hospitality, and relationship flow organically into the heart of our community cafe centre. Through creating a safe place for people to come, connect, and retreat - we want to facilitate a space of rest, joy, and relationship with each other and God the creator. Drawing people together from all spheres of life, combating loneliness, isolation, and exhaustion by fostering community and companionship.
Pioneering Schools
Our goal as a base is to build into fostering training programs and discipleship schools. Our heart is to build up Jesus’ body together, to equip his disciples with God’s word. Our vision is to have the Discipleship Training School, the Discipleship Bible School, and the School of Biblical Studies based here in Otaru as God continues to grow our team and resources.
Active Learning
We want to be continual, active learners in ministry. Our foundations are based in the word of God, and as a team aim to be of one mind and spirit.
Set the Table: Acts 2:44-47 being the inspiration, we try to “Set the Table” by facilitating a safe time and space for people to gather and share any questions, revelations, observations, and things of that nature from their personal times in the word and to be able to discuss it together in a loving and exhorting manner. This is to further encourage people to engage more with the word in their own time and to be able to discuss it healthily.
Weekly Bible Study: As a team, we come together to learn the word of God and apply it to our lives. Our hope for this space is that it continues to grow as our team expands, and our local community.
Language Classes: Learning the Japanese language is a priority for us as a team to help foster understanding and relationship in the community we are serving. Even if we are just beginning, or have been speaking the language for 10+ years, there is always more to learn.
Mercy Ministries & Building Community
We are building relationships in community, and establishing a presence in Otaru. We want to be a blessing for the community, and be the hands and feet in this place. Practically, we are finding ways to help and serve our local community whether that be through volunteering in the city, helping out the farming community, local businesses, or shovelling snow for our neighbours.
Matthew 25: 34-40
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’
