TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
TMC is a church planting project of ServeBeyond (EFC of Canada) and affiliated with the EFC of Japan.
Japan is known for its cultural conformity, perhaps euphemistically known as “harmony.” But Tokyo, the world’s largest megacity with a population of 37 million, is becoming increasingly culturally diverse because people from all over the world are moving to it. Its new cultural diversity is also sourced in Japanese people who have become internationalized by living outside Japan and have therefore gained a new perspective (Japanese “returnees”).

About one-fifth of TMC attenders are Japanese with the remaining coming from more than a dozen other countries. So TMC has ministries in three languages. Sunday worship services are held in English, Japanese, or Chinese, or a combination. Attendance is in the 40-50 range. (For reference, the average size of a congregation in Japan is about 30.) English and Japanese small groups meet once or twice a month. TMC's Chinese fellowship meets on Sunday afternoons when all-church events are not happening. This may become a regular Chinese Sunday worship service.Located within the second largest unreached people group and in the world’s largest megacity, TMC is a Christ centered, Bible based, disciple making church, trying to display the multi-faceted glory of God by worshiping and obeying Jesus Christ in a warm and welcoming multicultural setting.
The Lord has graciously provided TMC with four pastors/missionaries, two of whom are part-time and bi-vocational. Two are global workers with ServeBeyond and a third is moving in that direction. Lord willing, one more full time couple will join the TMC team in 2025. They too will likely become ServeBeyond global workers.
With the input of the pastors/missionaries, TMC members make the major decisions about selection of leaders, budget, vision, Sunday worship services, starting or stopping ministries, facility expansion, etc. The Leadership Team implements those decisions and carries out or delegates ministries. Members meet 2-3 times a year and the Leadership Team meets monthly.
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 USA. 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.
TMC FACEBOOK PAGE
TMC PARTNER CHURCHES
Primary Partner Church
The primary partner church of TMC is the English Department of Musashino Chapel Center (MCC) on the west side of Tokyo, where the TMC dream began in 2007. The Littles served at MCC for over two years as the interim pastoral couple with the understanding that they would help MCC develop a church planting proposal and then be sent out to plant the church. The vision was realized when the Littles launched TMC on the east side of Tokyo in April 2013. MCC English Department and TMC have had various ways of connecting, including annual fall retreats.Overseas Partner Churches
TMC also has one overseas partner church (Hallelujah Chinese EFC in Toronto, Ontario, Canada). In addition, one foundation in Canada and three individuals in the US partner with TMC. These partners contribute toward the TMC Church Planting Fund held at ServeBeyond (Dale & Ann’s Ministry Expansion Fund).TMC desires to connect with new partner churches, church associations, mission agencies, or individuals that could help develop TMC’s language-specific ministries (Japanese, Chinese, Tagalog, etc.).