I began thinking about doing missions for longer than just the short-term trips I had taken in the past . I decided to go for three months to try it out . When I contacted my sister-in-law Heather , who worked as an OMS mobilizer at the time , she encouraged me to go for a year . She told me about OMS ’ Embark program and explained that a yearlong experience would give me a better understanding of the culture and ministry . I decided to go for a year .
Because I grew up playing basketball and helping coach many summer camps , I wanted to use my love of basketball to serve the Lord . Heather shared an opportunity to lead OMS ’ sports ministry in Japan . After praying , I felt God wanted me to go to Japan . I spent the year growing the sports ministry . When I first arrived , 5 to 15 children attended each week . By the time I left after my first year , nearly 50 children and family members were participating regularly . I saw that God was doing a great work in Japan and that he had used me , so I returned for another year to continue the ministry .
Now , after spending nearly two years in one of the hardest-to-reach places , spiritually speaking , I have seen God at work in Japan .
About 30 people come to the basketball courts every day . In the last few
months , we have shared the Gospel with more than 50 people !
Japan needs missionaries . Many longtime OMS missionaries to Japan have retired without enough incoming missionaries filling their places . In March , our Asia / Pacific regional directors visited Japan . They , too , saw God moving on behalf of the Japanese people . We discussed how to best grow the sports and youth ministry to keep reaching Japanese youth and their families for Christ .
With everything God has been doing , I am praying about returning to Japan as an OMS career missionary to continue the work with the sports ministry . We want to build a team that includes new missionaries who have a passion to reach Japan . With a growing team , we could do more events , clinics , and even camps while continuing outreach through Bible studies , English classes , and street evangelism . We hope to see a harvest of young people come to Christ and future generations transformed by the Gospel . Email embark @ onemissionsociety . org for more information .
photos , pages 12-13 , top : OMS Embarker Lindsay Ohler leads OMS ’ sports ministry in Japan . bottom : Lindsay and fellow missionary Tiana ( center ) join the Japan team to do street evangelism .
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