PROFILE
Dale & Ann are global workers with ServeBeyond (Evangelical Free Church of Canada).
Dale & Ann began serving in EFC church planting, mission leadership and theological education in Japan in 1984. As of 2023 they work out of TOKYO JAPAN 3-4 months per year and MAINE USA the remaining months. They oversee Tokyo Multicultural Church that they launched in their apartment complex in 2013 and Dale teaches theology part-time in Tokyo. During 2024-2025 they are also visiting their 21 supporting EFC churches in Canada and the US.
Tokyo Multicultural Church Oversight
In 2013 Dale & Ann launched TMC in their apartment complex. They now serve in-person when in Tokyo three times a year and remotely when based in Maine. Dale oversees TMC by recruiting and encouraging new pastors/missionaries who handle most pastoral responsibilities. He leads Leadership Team meetings each month and Members’ Meetings three times a year. Ann meets with and encourages members and attenders, especially when in Japan but also remotely. Their goal is to turn over all aspects of TMC leadership, perhaps in 2025. Dale & Ann provide a financial subsidy for helping establish TMC through their ServeBeyond ministry expansion fund.Theological Education
Dale is adjunct faculty at Japan Bible Seminary in Tokyo where he lectures in systematic theology (in Japanese) during two of the months the Littles are based in Japan (Jun, Oct). He also periodically presents papers and writes on theological reflections about church planting, and hopes to publish a book in Japanese on Contemporary Theology.Support Team Building in Canada and USA
During 2024 and 2025 Dale & Ann are visiting their 21 supporting churches in Canada and the US.PURPOSE
The purpose of Dale and Ann’s 40 years of ministry based mostly in Japan is to model and encourage BOTH the vision for making disciples of Jesus Christ through compassionate church planting AND the development of evangelical theology from which that vision rises.
Church Planting
Jesus Christ commanded his followers to make disciples. Paul obeyed by proclaiming the gospel, founding churches, and then nurturing those churches. Church planting lies at the heart of God's mission.
Jesus Christ commanded his followers to make disciples. Paul obeyed by proclaiming the gospel, founding churches, and then nurturing those churches. Church planting lies at the heart of God's mission.
Theological Education
God’s mission as it unfolds in the New Testament has a significant ecclesial component. Therefore thinking theologically about church planting has great potential for encouraging and equipping church planters.
God’s mission as it unfolds in the New Testament has a significant ecclesial component. Therefore thinking theologically about church planting has great potential for encouraging and equipping church planters.
