TOKYO MULTICULTURAL CHURCH
In February 2026 TMC became a member church of the Evangelical Free Church of Japan.
Japan is a Buddhist and Shinto country known for its cultural conformity, euphemistically called “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 Mandarin, or a combination. Attendance is in the 40-50 range. (For reference, the average size of a congregation in Japan is less than 30.) Sunday worship schedule is as follows: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.
- 1st & 3rd Sundays: joint English/Japanese or Chinese Mandarin/English service
- 2nd Sundays: English service
- 4th Sundays: separate Japanese, English and Chinese Mandarin services
The Lord has graciously provided TMC with four pastors/missionaries, three of whom are part-time and bi-vocational (only one couple is full-time). Two more are needed.
TMC’s vision includes launching multiple churches in greater Tokyo and adding Chinese Cantonese ministries.
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. Dale & Ann provide a financial subsidy for helping establish TMC through their Project Fund.