The Ballinger family reached Japan in March 2022, following a long period of waiting for the border to reopen.  James has been enjoying running the Tokyo-based Samurai Projects in person!

At present, half of Japanese pastors are over the age of 70.  At the same time, there is also a dearth of Christians able and motivated to reach out to others with the good news of Jesus.  It is clear that there is a huge need to raise up more gospel workers. The Samurai Projects seeks to partner with local churches to help encourage and train the next generation of leaders, and to provide opportunities for people to serve as apprentices under able and experienced Japanese leaders.  

James and Charley have spent five years living and working in Japan. From 2009-2012 they lived in Sapporo studying the Japanese language full time. From 2012-2014, they were involved in the leadership of a church in Morioka, Iwate Prefecture. They have four children Wren (8), Ena (6), Louis (4), and Rupert (1).

Until March 2021 James was the Assistant Pastor of an Anglican Church in Christchurch, New Zealand. James and Charley have a passion not just to be doing ministry themselves, but to “equip the saints for works of service” in a way that enables other Christians to grow in their love and knowledge of the Lord and to develop and make use of their gifts in serving the Lord.  

The Ballingers were planning to move to Tokyo in March 2021 but the Covid situation in Japan has meant they've been unable to obtain visas until quite recently.  We give thanks to God that the family has now arrived in Japan and is settling in.

James and Charley would love to hear from you. In particular, they would really appreciate your partnership in prayer and financially.  

Partner with James and Charley financially

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Check out this video which presents the wider work of the Tokyo Marunouchi Partnership, of which the Samurai Projects is a major part: