RJTA is broadly interdenominational so can accommodate a wide range of new and experienced missionaries from the broad array of charismatic and non-charismatic Protestant backgrounds as long as people share the same core beliefs regarding salvation and acknowledge the Bible as God's word.
For Experienced Missionaries. Whether you are continuing in a given ministry but looking for a broader connection, have had a change in circumstances and thus are seeking a new "umbrella," are seeking a new ministry team to join, or are building an inter-agency multinational team, there are many situations where RJTA may be a good fit. Please explore the rest of this website, then contact us.
For New Missionaries. 1) There are very few specific educational or other requirements with RJTA, though for Japanese visa purposes it's generally helpful to have a BA or BS degree. 2) Whatever your background though, you do need to be adequately prepared while also realizing it is God ultimately who enables us for the work of the ministry and there comes a time to "take the plunge." 3) For new missionaries, whenever possible, a one- to three-month internship with the ministry with which you wish to be placed is strongly encouraged, after which you may be extended an invitation to serve long-term. In some cases, this can be waived. After that, various lengths of initial commitments from one year and up can be considered, with three to five years being most typical. 4) But before you take the plunge and apply, we encourage you first to prayerfully and with the counsel of those who know you to do a self-assessment regarding your readiness for service. If you are a prospective new missionary, please consider the factors below prayerfully before deciding whether to pursue missions, via any channel.
A person ready for missionary service typically has first made meaningful progress in his or her home country in growing in these areas:
a) Saved. Must be a Christian saved through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ and walking with God, growing in your faith.
b) Affirmed. Must be a committed Christian active in a local church, accepted through the RJTA application process, and, where applicable, any application process requested by the local receiving ministry and/or sending entity (if any), and affirmed by others for service as a missionary as evidenced by references.
c) Mature. Applications from adults ages 20 to 100—young people, mid-career individuals, or retirees—are welcome. In Japan, life experience is generally a plus for ministry, though mature young people are welcome. Except when an exception is granted, candidates must be at least 20 years of age as of their expected date of arrival on field. For those under age 30, demonstration of responsibility and maturity through two or three years of successful post-graduation professional employment or some other means is encouraged. For those in their upper 50s or so, the length of service before you choose to retire relative to the length of time it takes to learn and use the Japanese language may have implications for the most viable kind of ministry in Japan.
d) Corporately Ready as a Family. A single man or woman, couple, or family are all equally welcome, and neither marital status nor gender limit one's role in RJTA Japan, though either marital status or gender or both may limit one's role in some specific local ministry placements. For those who are divorced, placement may or may not be possible, on a case by case basis. Due to specific conditions in Japan's educational and social environment, those coming when their children are already older than nine years of age and not yet graduated from high school are encouraged to first seek counsel from the RJTA Director or other missionaries living in Japan before coming and then decide whether it's the right season of life to come. Also, depending on the location within Japan, be aware that it may be pragmatically necessary to "home school" children or send them either to Japanese school or boarding school as there are many regions that have no international schools available. In the case of married couples, both husband and wife need to be in unity regarding missionary service before coming. And singles need to come to terms with and become content with their singleness until such time as that may or may not change. Especially for females, options for meeting prospective and compatible mates in Japan tend to be relatively limited, and, for those over age 30, even more so. There are more viable options for males, but cross-cultural relationships have their own share of challenges so should not be rushed into.
e) Educationally ready. Though not a rigid requirement, having a BA or BS degree (in any field) is highly desirable. It can be very difficult (though not necessarily impossible) to get a visa in Japan without one. Especially in the case of young people, finishing a degree before coming is highly encouraged. For older people lacking a four-year degree but with a call to Japan, contact us to discuss the possibilities in your specific situation. Bible college or seminary can be a plus, but it is not required provided one has a good working knowledge of the Bible through informal education. Willingness to learn the Japanese language is normally an essential; prior study is helpful but not required.
f) Ministerially ready. Prior experience in outreach/service in your home country is necessary. You cannot do overseas what you will not do in your home country. A move across an ocean does absolutely nothing to make you more ready to serve as a missionary. If you are not already faithfully serving in your home country, you have no business coming overseas. One can and will expand his or her ministry skills after coming, but one should not come without some prior volunteer ministry experience. Obtaining prior experience in personal evangelism and discipling is especially encouraged--and experience in a diverse array of other ministries is a plus.
g) Socially ready. God can use extroverts and introverts, but in either case, the ability to make contacts and "connect" with people of a broad array of ages and backgrounds is often key in missions in Japan. Yet one also needs to be prepared for the realities of often-limited social interaction with people of one's same language, culture, and/or age. The reality is, in most cases, there will be a mixture of extended time alone, work with and without teammates, and times with "too much" people contact.
h) Emotionally ready. The Japan cultural environment will exacerbate many emotional issues and bring out ones you may never have encountered in your home country. It is best to address as many emotional issues as possible prior to coming to Japan. Those who tend to be dominated by their emotions and also those who have addictive tendencies are especially likely to encounter extreme difficulty in Japan. Those with a tendency toward depression may especially struggle, and a subset of those may even find it impossible to adapt to the environment here.
i) Spiritually ready. You don't need to have "arrived," but you do need to be spiritually growing, reasonably mature, surrendered to Christ's lordship, possessing of a solid applied knowledge of the Bible, need to have a vibrant relationship with Christ, be attuned to the Holy Spirit, be prepared to "feed yourself" spiritually, need to have a meaningful prayer life, exhibit Christian character, love, and perseverance, and be God-reliant. A good dose of humility is also helpful. On the other hand, if you think you have "arrived," please stay home.
j) Battle ready. Awareness of spiritual warfare or willingness to become aware is important. You will face it in Japan.
k) Physically ready. Except in rare circumstances, good health and the ability to walk long distances, ride a bicycle, climb steps, etc., are all necessary for service in Japan.
l) Motivationally ready. Please don't apply 1. out of a sense of adventure, 2. because you've not found a place in your own country, 3. to escape something, 4. just because you lost your job, 5. because you are seeking someone to take care of you, or 6. out of a sense of the "glamour" of being a missionary. Make sure not to mistake either religious addiction or emotional excitement as a calling. And certainly don't come just because you like "anime" and "manga"! Proper motives and a servant's heart to serve unrecognized in a very hard place are needed. No one wants you serving as a missionary unless and until you know God wants you to. People experience God's call in very diverse ways and certainly shouldn't expect their experience of that to be like anyone else's. Whether or not you even use the term "call," you do need to know before coming that it is within God's will for you to come--and to serve.
m) Attitudinally ready. One needs to come to minister, rather than to be ministered to. Flexibility, a cooperative spirit, and initiative are important. Typically, one will need to be able to work under direction as well as to take some initiative and work with some independence; usually, a mix of both is necessary. Responsibility, reliability, a good work ethic, and commitment are important, and it helps to be willing to do a little bit of "everything." The ability to love the "difficult to love" and to forgive are important. And one should definitely leave his or her sense of entitlement at home. Come with a heart to serve. It is about HIM and the lost of Japan.
n) Ready to be made ready. One needs to be ready to grow and be stretched. However ready you think you may be or are when you come to the field, you will not be ready! You will face issues and challenges you never dreamed of, and you'll be stretched in new ways. Though reasonable preparation before coming is important, the time comes to "take the plunge." The most important thing is for you to let HIM make you ready, for after all the preparation that we can and SHOULD do, none of us are sufficient for ministry, and it is only He who is able to make us sufficient for these things. Above all, we must become God-dependent, rather than either self-reliantly proud or stuck in an inferiority complex (also a form of pride). Do you feel totally ready? Then you first need to grow to realize you are not able, only He is. Do you feel unable? Then, once you've reasonably prepared, you need to grow to realize that though you are not able, He is.