We are God’s Family — Loving, serving, forgiving —
You are welcome to worship with us! Come and grow in faith with us.
Vision
* Life-Impacting Worship
* Community Focus
* Discipleship
* Family-Oriented
We have worship services every Sunday and Friday. Sunday services are bilingual (Japanese and English) and often attended by families and young people. Friday services are usually conducted in Japanese only and often attended by housewives. Holy Communion is conducted once a month at each service.
Our worship style mainly uses contemporary Christian music. If you love gospel music, you are most welcome to attend!
Sunday School (called “CS”, or Children’s School) is every Sunday at 11:00am. After joining the adults for worship songs, the children will go to their respective CS classes, which are divided by age group.
English conversation classes are conducted by missionaries. If you are interested in learning English, you are welcome to attend a free trial lesson. The classes are currently for adults of all levels (beginner, intermediate, advanced).
There are various groups for learning more about the Bible or enjoying Christian fellowship, including Mini Church (weekday Bible study for Japanese housewives) and English fellowship (catering to English speakers one Sunday per month).
We accept freewill offerings at every worship service. Please do not feel obligated to give an offering, especially if you are a visitor. As Christians, we give offerings out of a love for God and desire to support the church’s activities.
There is parking nearby for six cars. In addition, two small cars can park in front of the church. Within the neighborhood, there are also paid-parking lots. If you travel by bike, please park within the church area and not on the road.
We have several board members who meet to discuss church matters. Church members occasionally propose and plan activities.
IBF belongs to the Japan Evangelical Covenant Churches denomination. The denomination has headquarters in Naka-Meguro and owns Covenant Bible Seminary, Odawara Christian Center, and Akagi Bible Camp. We believe that the Bible is the sole source of authority that guides our faith and lives.
History
The church was pioneered in 1985 in Minami Nagareyama by Pastor Shoichi Ino and his family when they opened their home for outreach. Over the years, the church met in various places until they acquired the present building in October 2003 and held a dedication service in January 2004. (In those days, the Lake family lived on the church’s second floor and, as missionaries, reached out to the local community through English classes, music, etc.)
IBF also welcomed American missionaries from River City Church of Lewiston, Idaho: the Breithaupts and the Schaufeles. Besides their ministry in church, they taught English conversation and volunteered in local elementary schools. IBF also established a relationship with Taiwan Covenant Churches. We aim to be an international church where people of all ages, from small children to senior citizens, feel welcome. Currently, Pastor Ino is assisted in his ministry by missionary See Huang Lim and by Pastor Kitazawa.
International Bible Fellowship（IBF)
7-566 Shin-Matsudo, Matsudo City
047-340-0139
日本語