Rev. Akira Sato, senior pastor of Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church, shared his congregation's collective experience of displacement, which he called "Exodus Church," after Japan's devastating earthquake and tsunami in 2011 at the fourth Impact Asia Alliance Summit in Tokyo, Japan.
At 2:46:18 p.m. (Japan time) on March 11, 2011, a massive magnitude-9.0 earthquake struck the Pacific Ocean northeast of Japan. The devastating quake triggered not only a powerful tsunami but also a nuclear meltdown at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant. Fukushima Prefecture suffered the worst of the catastrophe, with buildings crumbling, power systems instantly being disabled, and a tsunami more than ten meters high surging inland like a monstrous beast consuming everything in its path.
When the tsunami hit, the earth split, and the nuclear accident unfolded, many people could not help but ask, "Does God truly dislike us?" Rev. Akira Sato answers this question through his own experience—"No."
"The tsunami waves were right behind me that day," recalled Rev. Sato. "My heart nearly stopped. Yet God saved me, and I survived. Therefore, I can never give up on the grace of God in my life."
During the earthquake, members of Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church endured immense hardship. Their homes were destroyed, the church building collapsed, and several believers lost their lives or were separated from their families. Senior Pastor Akira Sato was compelled to lead more than 70 church members on a journey of displacement.
"The earthquake caused everything to collapse," Pastor Akira Sato recalled. "We left our hometown, and more than a dozen vehicles moved slowly through the snow." To survive, they were forced to abandon Fukushima and traverse the harsh winter landscape.
"Seventy people traveling 700 kilometers—a journey I could never have imagined," Rev. Sato recalled. "I worried about running out of money and food. But God said to me, 'You don't need to look too far ahead. Just take the next three kilometers.'"
With that divine encouragement, Rev. Sato pressed forward, advancing three kilometers at a time. Eventually, they traveled more than 700 kilometers and arrived in Tokyo, where they began the second phase of their life in exile—camping life.
They lived in a campground in Tokyo for nearly a year, with little personal space. To earn a living, some sought work in the city, and children had to transfer schools. Others, unable to endure life in the campground, returned to Fukushima. Recognizing that camping was not a long-term solution, they began searching for accommodation in Tokyo. Pastor Akira Sato approached a real estate agency about housing for 30 people, only to be told that not even a single unit was available.
A week later, a miracle occurred. A real estate agent contacted him, reporting that housing for all 30 members had been arranged. Pastor Sato was astonished. The agent explained, "It's incredible! One room became available the day after you left, and more opened up over the week. Within seven days, all 30 people had housing."
Even as they gradually established stability in Tokyo, the congregation remained determined to return to Fukushima to rebuild their church. Initially, gatherings were held in a wedding chapel without a roof, forcing members to gather under umbrellas when it rained. In that moment, God reminded them, "Why not build a new church?"
After receiving God's word, Pastor Akira Sato immediately began searching for land to build a new church. When he finally found a suitable site, locals told him that many businesses had previously failed to purchase it. Determined, Pastor Sato traveled to Tokyo to meet the landowner in person.
During their meeting, Pastor Sato shared the story of his congregation—their losses in the earthquake and how they had encountered God during their time of exile. "We long for revival, resurrection, and a new, thriving church," he said tearfully. "We have prayed for this for a long time. Please sell us the land so we can build a house of God." Yet the landowner showed no response. With nothing more he could do, Pastor Sato had no choice but to return home.
However, just as he was preparing to return home, the landowner called to tell him that he had decided to sell them the land. More than two years after the earthquake, Pastor Sato and his congregation finally set foot once again on their homeland—Fukushima—where they rebuilt their new church.
The new church's exterior resembles a great bird spreading its wings, facing the cordoned-off areas of Fukushima affected by the earthquake and nuclear disaster, which symbolizes hope for the hometown's resurrection. The church is well equipped, featuring a chapel, an English classroom, a senior citizens' room, and a traditional Japanese tea room. Having risen from the ruins of disaster, this church stands as a gift from God to families once broken by tragedy. Today, God is using it to rebuild faith, as many have come to know Him for the first time and been baptized into Christ within its walls.
Remarkably, during their time of displacement, nine people were baptized. Reflecting on that journey, Pastor Akira Sato cited, "It was good for me to be afflicted so that I might learn your decrees." (Psalm 119:71 NIV)
Fukushima First Bible Baptist Church was founded in 1947 by an American missionary who had originally planned to preach in China but remained in Japan. His wife, unable to adapt to Japan's environment and climate, passed away and was buried there.
The missionary once said, "God is the loom, and we are the threads He weaves. God uses threads of gold and silver, yet He weaves with a needle of sorrow. For when the fabric is unfolded, we will see the beautiful work of God."
After the 2011 earthquake, Pastor Akira Sato thought the church would close permanently. Yet God led them back to their homeland, which was once pioneered by missionaries, and blessed them with a new church. Today, the church is blessed with a new generation of pastors in their thirties and forties. "Everyone carries wounds in their hearts," Pastor Sato said, "but we must not return to or dwell on the past. We must move forward with courage."
Although missionary work in Japan remains extremely challenging, Pastor Sato urged believers not to lose heart. "Our faith does not rest in the difficulties, but in God, who transcends them and makes a way in the wilderness. God's works are truly marvelous," he affirmed.
Originally published by the Christian Times
- Edited and translated by Poppy Chan
