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After several years of local church ministry, with the Nishi Okamoto Christ Church, in the city of Kobe, John and Tomoko Armagost have both narrowed and extended the scope of their work. Narrowing their focus primarily to youth and children's ministries, the Armagosts are serving with several churches of the Japan Baptist Union as they seek to reach and to disciple young people in the Kansai area of Japan. Our Ministry with the Japan Baptist Union (JBU) American Baptists, through American Baptist Churches - International Ministries, has a long and rich history of ministry in Japan dating to 1873. That history includes evangelism and discipleship, establishing churches (many are part of the JBU today), establishing schools, and ministry with the poor and those in physical, emotional and spiritual need. The Armagosts served in educational ministry, teaching at Hinomoto Girls School in Himeji, Japan for several years, as well as ministry in the local church of Japan, first at Hinomoto Baptist Church and more recently at the Nishi Okamoto Christ Church. The call to Nishi Okamoto Christ Church came in time of trial for the church. After the Great Hanshin Awaji Earthquake of January 1995, the church was left without a pastor when Rev. Hata became one of the victims of the earthquake. After four years without a pastor, the Armagost went to Kobe to join the members of the church in ministry, John serving as pastor and Tomoko serving in Christian education leadership. |
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Our Family
John and Tomoko met in Japan in 1986 when John was doing an internship in Japan as a seminary student. Tomoko was the Bible teacher at Hinomoto Girls School, where John came to teach English for one year. They were married in Japan in 1987, and have 3 children, Ami, Alisen and Andrew. |
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John
and Tomoko grew up in similar and yet very different family environments.
John's father was a Baptist pastor, and John grew up in small towns
of Montana before moving to Oregon City, in the Portland metro area
in Junior High. Tomoko's father was also a Baptist pastor and she grew
up in a small town in the Inland Sea area of Japan, before moving to
Tokyo in high school.