Vision and Mission
Summary
Section titled “Summary”YWAM Sendai exists to know God and make Him known in Sendai and the wider Tohoku region. Its vision is to see lives, communities, and institutions renewed through the presence of Jesus Christ, expressed through prayer, discipleship, hospitality, training, mercy, and long-term service.
Its mission is not only to run programs, but to cultivate a faithful Christian presence in one place over time for the sake of the Gospel and the good of the region.
What is the vision of YWAM Sendai?
Section titled “What is the vision of YWAM Sendai?”The vision of YWAM Sendai is to participate in the spiritual and social renewal of Sendai and the wider Tohoku region through a Christ-centered missional community.
This vision includes:
- people encountering Jesus Christ
- disciples being formed in character and calling
- communities experiencing hope, healing, and reconciliation
- the local church being strengthened
- workers being equipped for long-term service in Japan and beyond
- a sustained Christian witness rooted in prayer, humility, and love
What is the mission of YWAM Sendai?
Section titled “What is the mission of YWAM Sendai?”The mission of YWAM Sendai is to know God and make Him known through faithful presence, discipleship, training, hospitality, and service in Sendai and the wider Tohoku region.
This mission is expressed through:
- worship and intercession
- discipleship and spiritual formation
- training through YWAM schools
- local outreach and mercy ministry
- hospitality and shared life
- partnership with churches, ministries, and local relationships
- language learning and cultural humility
- long-term presence in Sendai
Why does YWAM Sendai emphasize training and formation?
Section titled “Why does YWAM Sendai emphasize training and formation?”YWAM Sendai believes that mission is not only about activity, but also about the formation of people who can live and serve faithfully over time.
For this reason, training and discipleship are central to the mission. Through schools such as DTS and DBS, mentoring relationships, and shared community life, YWAM Sendai seeks to help people grow in:
- intimacy with God
- Christian character
- biblical understanding
- cultural humility
- practical ministry readiness
- long-term faithfulness
What does YWAM Sendai mean by long-term presence?
Section titled “What does YWAM Sendai mean by long-term presence?”Long-term presence means choosing faithfulness over speed and rootedness over constant activity. YWAM Sendai seeks to live and serve in a way that is sustainable, relational, and attentive to God, rather than driven by busyness alone.
This includes:
- building trust over time
- learning language and culture seriously
- showing up consistently in prayer, ministry, and community life
- honoring rhythms of work, rest, and worship
- serving the region with patience and humility
What values shape this mission?
Section titled “What values shape this mission?”Several values shape the mission of YWAM Sendai:
- devotion to Jesus through prayer, worship, and Scripture
- incarnational presence among the people of Tohoku
- discipleship that forms both inner life and outward service
- hospitality, generosity, and shared community life
- cultural humility and teachability
- partnership with the Japanese church
- sustainable rhythms of work and rest
- faith-filled obedience to God’s leading
These values are expressed in more detail in the community and YWAM reference sections of this handbook.
What theological and movement foundations support this work?
Section titled “What theological and movement foundations support this work?”YWAM Sendai understands itself as part of the wider mission of the Church and the global YWAM movement.
Its work is shaped by:
- the historic Christian faith
- the authority of Scripture
- the shared confession of the Church across time (including the Nicene Creed)
- the foundational values of Youth With A Mission
- an interdenominational posture that seeks to honor and serve the local church
YWAM Sendai seeks to work in a way that is both clearly Christian and humbly cooperative within the wider body of Christ.
How does this vision become practical?
Section titled “How does this vision become practical?”The vision of YWAM Sendai becomes practical through ordinary and repeatable commitments such as:
- weekly worship and intercession
- local ministry in Sendai
- training schools such as DTS and DBS
- mentoring and discipleship relationships
- hospitality around shared meals and community life
- language study and cultural learning
- participation in local church life
- practical service to people in need
What kind of growth is YWAM Sendai seeking?
Section titled “What kind of growth is YWAM Sendai seeking?”YWAM Sendai is not pursuing growth only in numbers. It seeks growth in:
- spiritual depth
- faithfulness
- maturity of disciples
- healthy community life
- credibility in local relationships
- long-term fruitfulness in Sendai and Tohoku